1. ***** Melvin Fellows (6-4, 255, DE/DT; Garfield Heights)

Melvin Fellows is one of those “five play’ prospects. All you need to see is five plays and you can move on to the next player. You know this is a special one. He has a great looking body, something that is so key to this process as projecting where a player is going to be three years from now is more important than where he is today. Fellows is the prototype strong side defensive end but he could end up at tackle before he hits a college football field. For now he is everything you would want in a strong side defensive end and has the frame to carry more weight and stay as a defensive end. With a player this size you think automatically that he will move inside to defensive tackle. Fellows is looking like one of the unique ones like the best lineman the class of 2008, DaQuan Bowers from South Carolina who is so fast and athletic at 265 lbs that it is not going to surprise anyone if he stays a strong side defensive end in college. Fellows speed and his burst to the ball carrier is something to see. On the first play I ever saw of him, he swims over top of the blocker and runs down the quarterback who is running away from him. He gets to him before he crosses the line of scrimmage. It is not just size that makes him a strong side player. He is tough against the run. Fellows has some nasty in his game. You don’t often talk about hitters when you talk about defensive linemen. Fellows is a punishing tackler. He has the wingspan that I think is so important to an edge player. Committed to Illinois early on. Coach Zook and his staff will have a hard time fighting off Ohio State who came in a little later with an offer. Michigan has offered too. Fellows is the best strong side defensive end prospect I have seen in Ohio and will challenge Ben Martin for the best ever with a strong senior year.

2. ***** Storm Klein (6-3, 225, ATH; Newark Licking Valley)

Klein is a year older than the first time I saw him and I have gotten a better look at him. I thought he could end up as a defensive lineman eventually but now I think he will be a linebacker. Klein played more at linebacker his junior year than as a freshman and sophomore but still has not played a lot at his projected college position. He is so important to his team as a running back and they don’t want to wear him out. He has great closing speed and is an explosive hitter. I don’t want to compare him to Andy Katzenmoyer, the best linebacker I have seen in Ohio as a linebacker, but as a hitter that is who Klein reminds me of. You don’t see yards after contact with Klein. He is a very physical player whether he is playing linebacker or running back. He is also a very solid tackler. For as little as Klein has played as a linebacker he shows such great instincts. He is a natural for the position. He shoots gaps to make plays in the backfield and he takes on blockers like he has been playing the position his entire high school career. He is such a natural football player. He showed a great deal of toughness in the state championship game when he was injured late in a tight game and had to be physically restrained from going back on the field despite needing to be hospitalized after the game. Despite being a starter since he was a freshman, Klein may have the best upside of any player in the class, certainly any highly ranked player, because he has so little time in high school at his college position. His performance at Ohio State camp last summer earned him an offer. He ran very well even though he was wearing shoes that worked against him. He was offered as a linebacker by Ohio State and accepted last October.

3. ***** Cornelius Carradine (6-4, 230, DE; Cincinnati Taft)

For the longest time I have heard about Cornelius Carradine. I never could lay my hands on any tape. I have begun to believe he was an urban legend. Just when I was about to give up, I asked former Cincinnati Withrow coach Doc Gamble if he had seen him. He told me Carradine gave them fits. I finally got Taft Coach Mike Martin. He said Carradine had 25 sacks as a sophomore and should have had 35. It took me time to get tape but it was worth it. He reminds me of a young Jevon Kearse. Great body for a DE and has the wingspan of a 747. He can fill out more and it will have no impact on his speed and athleticism. I can see a 265 lb weak side defensive end in his future. He is such a natural pass rusher but he plays the run very tough. There is an edge to his game. He is not out there dragging ball carriers and quarterbacks down. He is running through them. I think motor is the thing that completes the package for any lineman. No question about that with Carradine. Coach Martin, a former Cincinnati Bengal, lines him up all over the place. He has played both end spots in the 4-3. He has played defensive tackle. He has played end in a 3-4 alignment. He always finds a way to the quarterback. Carradine uses that imposing wingspan to great effect. He does a great job of keeping blockers off his body. He has a reported 4.65 forty and will run the hurdles this spring. He looks solid in the classroom and just needs to get a test score before we see the offers come pouring through the door. I suspect we will see Ohio State and Illinois come in on him as soon as he shows a qualifying test score and I think those will be the schools to beat for his signature. Coach Martin is an Illinois alum.

4. ***** John Simon (6-2, 250, DT; Youngstown Mooney)

John Simon reminds me of another Hall of Fame defensive tackle. Former Dallas Cowboy star Randy White. If recruiting were just about what is going on on the football field Simon would be the states number one player, and at one point Simon was the number one player. About the only chink that I can find in his armor is he does not have the ideal size that I want to see in a defensive tackle prospect. That is why he reminds me so much of White, who was not a prototype player for his position when he came out. Despite not being 100 percent and missing a lot of practice he still managed several tackles for loss in the first game of the year against Mentor then followed that performance with a dominating outing in game two against Monroeville ( Pa.) Gateway. He improved dramatically as the year went on as he healed from an injury that looked at first like it was going to cost him the year. Simon is just a powerhouse. His weightlifting numbers are off the charts. He has a 425 bench at last report, and even more impressive numbers in the clean with a 325 best lift, and a truly amazing 700 lb squat. He uses that strength to keep himself clean and running free, and he splits double teams so easily it is almost pointless in trying to put two blockers on him. There is so much to like about Simon but the one thing that stands out most is how well he finds the ball. I can’t remember ever having a defensive tackle the size of Simon rated this highly before and I doubt I ever will again. Simon is just a unique talent. He did not wait around long after receiving an offer from Ohio State. He committed to the Buckeyes at Christmas time.

5. ***** Marcus Hall (6-6, 300, OL; Cleveland Glenville)

Hall first got my attention when he was a sophomore. At the time he was just a body. You don’t see kids this big who are as well conditioned and well put together as Hall. Not at that age. There was no baby fat on him. He looked like a senior. I did not see him again until I saw film of a scrimmage against the loaded Youngstown Mooney defense. I had Mooneys Taylor Hill, who committed to Oklahoma and changed his mind later to pledge Michigan, rated higher than anyone. Watching Hall stone him gave me some idea of what kind of player he was going to be. Taylor should have been too quick for Hall. He was too quick for everyone else. His offer list shows what kind of quality player he was. I did not see him beat Hall once. I got to see Hall quite a bit as last season wore on. He played against a level of competition that cannot be questioned and he dominated in every game. He followed up his stellar junior campaign with a performance in the national junior combine that had everyone in attendance buzzing. I think Hall is a right tackle, born to play the position, but his performance in Texas has left me wondering if he does not get a shot at playing left tackle. He handled the top junior pass rushers in the country. I see a player better at going forward. He dominates at the point of attack but if he can handle the best pass rusher lined up on the other side of the ball, having a left tackle that is also a great run blocker is nothing but a plus. He is holding offers at this early stage from Ohio State, USC and Illinois. The Buckeyes are going to be hard to beat here.

6. ***** Chris Fields (6-0, 180, WR/CB; Painesville Harvey)

Whenever there is a game breaker in the state of Ohio he will be compared to Teddy Ginn. It is even worse for Chris Fields who happens to be from the Cleveland area like Teddy Ginn. That both are play makers is not in question. Neither is speed. Fields has racked up a string of 4.4s and sub-4.4s over the last couple of years. I don’t know if he is as elusive but I don’t know if I will ever have the pleasure of seeing another player in this state as elusive as Ginn. He is a once in a lifetime talent. Chris Fields makes tacklers miss as often as any player I have seen other than Ginn. One thing stands out to me about Fields that I did not see in Ginn. He is very strong and a very determined runner after the catch. He regularly breaks tackles. You don’t often see receivers this size with yards after contact. It happens more often than not with Fields. I also like the fact that you see him running slants. He is not afraid of the middle of the field and does not shy away from contact. I have been watching Fields since his sophomore year. I have seen him run out of bounds twice and both times I am sure Harvey head coach Delvin Culliver would have pulled him off the field and asked him what he was thinking taking a shot like that if he would have done anything but get out of bounds. I would compare him more to Carolina Panther Pro Bowler Steve Smith than I would to Ginn because of the tough minded nature of his game. Any other year this is the number one player in the class. Fields was offered a scholarship by Ohio State in February and accepted immediately.

7. ***** Justin Turner (6-3, 190, Ath; Massillon Washington)

A few years ago there was an athlete at Cleveland Glenville named Dareus Hiley that was such a great player that he earned the nickname “Superman.” It was beyond the fact that he was such a great athlete. He was so good at so many different positions that he could play any of them. Most players that earn the athlete label are best at position but could play one or two others. Players like Hiley earn the moniker Superman. I would put Justin Turner in that same category. I really do not know what to do with him. I saw Turner first as a running back and still like him as a running back but he has played cornerback, wide receiver and even some quarterback. The only position he has played that I do not think he can play at the college level is quarterback. I would like to see him at receiver with a really good quarterback. He has the size and athleticism that is the hallmark of the top receivers these days. I like a player that can make plays on offense but he is such a tough and physical defender that I want him on defense too. He is an excellent tackler and has outstanding ball skills. He has a long lean frame that is going to fill out a lot more so I think safety is in his future but whichever coach gets him I suspect he will be give an look at corner. He is very much like Eugene Clifford, the super athlete from two years ago. Ohio State, Michigan and Illinois are all awaiting the results of his test score before making an offer. This will likely come down to a classic Ohio State-Michigan battle.

8. ***** C.J. Barnett (6-1, 175, CB; Clayton Northmont)

We have seen runs recently here in the state of Ohio on a number of positions. Linebacker, wide receiver and offensive line have been the positions catching the most attention but every year it seems there is one elite cornerback in the state of Ohio. This year is no exception. C.J. Barnett belongs up there in the same conversation with the likes of E.J. Underwood, Donte Whitner and former Thunderbolt Kurt Coleman. He has the size that every college as well as every pro franchise is looking for in corners these days to offset the size we are seeing in wide receivers. Barnett is every bit his listed 6-1 and could be taller than that now. He has the feet and hips that are necessary to be a good corner. He has the ball skills and the confidence to play man to man, but also seems at home in zone coverage. The only question that remains about Barnett is whether he will follow in the footsteps of the other recent elite corner prospects that have come out of Ohio and move to safety. He has the size, and the first thing I noticed about him when I saw him as a sophomore was his tackling. He brings it. He is both a solid tackler and a big hitter. I think he is better in coverage than either Whitner or Coleman and plays with a little more control so I think he will likely stay at corner. He is odds on to be a national top twenty corner in the class of 2009. I think he is that good. He is also a 4.0 student. Barnett was one of the first players from the class of 2009 to be offered by Ohio State and committed soon after.

9. ***** Jonathan Newsome (6-4, 230; DE/LB; Cleveland Glenville)

This is a very interesting class of defensive ends. This time last year Melvin Fellows was a name I was familiar with. I had heard about Cornelius Carradine but I had also heard about BigFoot. I had not seen either. Jonathan Newsome was a player I was completely unfamiliar with. Now all three are in the Ohio High top ten. Linemen usually come along later as it takes time fort coordination to catch up with the big bodies but we are usually talking about offensive linemen. Upside is the word with Newsome. His body is nowhere near filled out. He has a long body and very long limbs. There is no more high profile program than Glenville in the state of Ohio but nobody was talking about Newsome until seasons end so he is just now coming into his own. The one thing that I think about when I watch his film is just how good is he going to be when he fills out. There is talk of him possibly paying linebacker but I just don’t see it. He is nowhere near filled out. I have seen him listed at 215 and I have seen him listed at 230. I don’t think it matters. He is a 265 lb kid by the time he fills out and could be bigger than that. He makes plays all over the field. Relentless is the word I would use. He uses that amazing wingspan to keep blockers off his body and he runs like a receiver. Newsome is both quick and fast. He comes off the ball like you want an edge player to come off the ball. He has early offers from Ohio State and Illinois. I am sure there will be more offers but his decision will likely come down to those two schools.

10. **** Devontae Payne (6-6, 220, QB; Cleveland South)

Payne is the best looking quarterback prospect I have seen in Ohio since Justin Zwick and Troy Smith back in 2001. Reminds me a lot of Byron Leftwich but is a better athlete, good enough that should he end up buried on a depth chart wherever he goes to college, he could accept a move to tight end. You see a lot of players getting credit for being bigger than they actually are, especially quarterbacks, a position where height is a make or break issue. That is not the case with Payne. He is every bit his listed 6-6 and looks thin at 220. He has a big arm and throws over the top. I saw him running to his left and throw a ball 35 yards in the air with a flick of the wrist. As I watch him play I think I have never really seen him cut it loose. Another thing that makes me believe that Payne is special is the fact that he has not thrown the ball but 250 times in his entire high school career. We are seeing high school quarterbacks throw the ball twice that many times in a year all over the state of Ohio. He has thrown 29 touchdowns in that time but only six interceptions. That tells me he is an excellent decision maker despite his lack of reps. He had 35 dropped passes in his junior year alone. Payne is such a competitor that he went to South head coach Jarvis Gibson and volunteered to play on the offensive line because he thought the team had a better chance of winning if a bigger player was up there. I think intelligence is the most underrated aspect of player evaluation. Payne has a 3.25 gpa and has had at least one 4.0 grading period. He has been to Ohio State several times and over to Notre Dame. Illinois is showing a lot of interest. A big time player whose best is still in front of him.

11. **** Jamie Wood (6-1, 190, Ath; Pickerington Central)

Jamie Wood is one of the elite athletes in the state of Ohio in the class of 2009. Wood jumped out at me on film right away with his playmaking. He was lined up on the line of scrimmage from his safety position and just reeking havoc coming off the edge. He has that knack for timing the snap and is an excellent tackler. Later he was in the defensive backfield disrupting the passing game. Finding players that are comfortable in both roles is something every school in the country is looking for. On offense he lines up at tight end and gives defensive coordinators headaches running down the middle of the field. No linebacker can come close to covering him. He had 65 tackles on the year and broke up fifteen pass attempts. On offense Wood caught 25 passes. He turned eight of those receptions into touchdowns. Speed is important but for receivers and defensive backs it is the thing that makes or breaks their recruitment. I was not sure about Woods speed so I have him down the list in my first “mock” top 100. I have since learned he has a 4.5 forty and a 33 inch vertical. I did not have any questions about him as a player. I wanted to see him run this summer before I moved him up. The offer list he had in front of him before committing to the Buckeyes in February was all I needed to see to go ahead and move him up. In addition to Ohio State, Penn State, Stanford, Ilinois, Northwestern, Kentucky, Indiana, Akron and Miami of Ohio came in with offers. The Stanford and Northwestern offers are all the evidence necessary to show academics are not going to be a problem. Wood will be a safety at Ohio State.

12. **** Will Studlien (6-2, 220, LB; Big Walnut)

I see the next in the “Hawk” line, A.J. Hawk to James Laurinaitis to Ross Homan to Andrew Sweat. Here is the next player in that line. Studlien has the same game and the same body. What I see when I look at his film is my kind of linebacker. He makes plays at the line of scrimmage and he makes plays in the opponents backfield. It seems like the desire to add speed at linebacker has left some forgetting what a great linebacker does. Making plays all over the field but five yards down field does me no good. I am getting passed a lot of tape of linebackers with lots of speed but they show no ability to read the game. Studlien has made over 350 tackles in the last two years. He led his team to the state championship over Storm Kleins Licking Valley in the game of the weekend at the state championships. He has the frame to add another twenty lbs to his body and it will not impact his speed and athleticism. He reminds me of Hawk in so many ways. Both are a step ahead because they read the game so well. Both have that “stealth” ability. What I mean by stealth is they seemed to be able to disappear on the field. They keep themselves clean of blockers and run free. He has outstanding closing speed. Some players seem to find another gear when they get a ball carrier lined up. That is another attribute Studlien has in abundance. Play after play I see other players closer to the ball carrier but Studlien makes first contact. I have watched full games of Studlien and not seen him miss a tackle yet. Another area where the he reminds me of Hawk is the lack of attention. Before he camped at Ohio State and received an offer, Penn State was the only major school that had offered A.J. Hawk. As it stands right now Illinois is the only big school to offer Studlien. I suspect that will change as he gets to camps this spring and summer. Ohio State has been showing interest recently.

13. **** Denicos Allen (6-0, 205, ATH; Hamilton)

I bet back in the Pony League days many a mother pulled her kid off the field because of Denicos Allen. Does this kid ever bring it. He ends up playing a lot of what looks like middle linebacker. I don’t know if that is what coach Place calls it when he has a strong safety sized player lining up there but that is surely what it looks like. What I am sure of is the defense is designed to put Allen in the middle of the field where he can just run to the ball. His instincts are second to none. He is reading and reacting to plays before they develop, and has the speed to get there, has the speed to get there and make the play, and does he ever make plays. His is one of the longest highlight tapes of the year. He is such a great tackler. You could make how to tapes with Allen as the demonstrator. He had 132 tackles for the Big Blue. Allen ran a10.9 in the 100-meter event as a freshman and was an All-GMC selection on the grid iron as a freshman. I suspect every school in the region will try to get him to camp and get a better idea about where he will play in college. He is more a strong safety in size but is so dynamic at the line of scrimmage. If he shows ball skills his stock will go up but a lot of schools are looking for smaller faster linebackers who can be every down players in this pass happy age. He boasts a 3.2 GPA and coach Place says he is a great character kid, a player every college coach wants in his lockeroom. He reminds me a great deal of former Buckeye All-American Mike Doss. He was a regular at Buckeye games this past season and says the Buckeyes are his favorite school.

14. **** Chris Freeman (6-8, 285, OL; Trotwood-Madison)

Freeman finally made it back to the football field and he impressed enough in his short time to get an early offers from LSU, Florida, Kentucky, Miami, Penn State, Nebraska and North Carolina State as well as offers from the Mid-American Conference. He is a basketball player at this size. Some think in time he could be a scholarship player in that sport. That speaks volumes. The most impressive thing about him is that he did not even play football until the playoffs. That amounted to one football games as Trotwood was knocked out in the first round of the playoffs. Take a look at the names on that offer list. It is a who’s who of college football, and they came in on him after one varsity football game. That is correct. It isn’t that Freeman was out with injury. He has never played in a live football game before as his mother greatly feared he would get injured. All he had ever done was practice before. Ohio State brought him in for a junior day and he has three teammates that committed to Michigan out of the 2008 class. Grades are not going to be a problem. Upside is a key word in recruiting. When you consider that Freeman has played one football game in his life but has the offer list that he has, you have to say he is the all-time upside king.

15. **** D.J. Hunter (5-11, 190, Ath; Middletown)

All it takes to see where the top cornerbacks are coming from in Ohio is a glance at the Ohio State depth chart. We think about skill players coming out of northeast Ohio but right now there is not a single cornerback on the Buckeyes roster from that traditional recruiting hot bed. The Ohio born cornerbacks are all from southwest Ohio. D.J. Hunter is looking like yet another cornerback from that part of the state to have the top colleges in the country lining up to get his signature on a letter of intent. Hunter has great cover skills. He has a good feel for the position. Sometimes it looks like he is just trying to bait the quarterback into throwing the ball. He can turn and run with receivers and has ball skills that any receiver would love to have. Hunter is a complete corner as he has a linebacker mentality against the run. In fact, I could see him as a safety. The way he hits I think he would relish the opportunity. If not for D.J. Barnett, Hunter would be the top corner in the state. He is faster than Barnett. The biggest advantage Barnett has is the size. Hunter is worth a scholarship as special teams player. I have said in the past that other players were worth a scholarship as a kick returner but with Hunter it is about covering kicks as much as it is about returning kicks. He is an outstanding gunner. Many a freshman gets on the field because he is a good special teams player. Michigan, Indiana and Kentucky have already offered.

16. **** Darrell Mason (6-1, 210, ATH; Youngstown Ursuline)

Most of the talk about Mason has been focused on whether he will be a safety or grow into a linebacker. If you want to make it about his athleticism then he is probably a linebacker but if you want to play him where he is best at then he should be a running back. He played most of the season with a torn MCL in his knee. I think he will likely need to get to camps to show colleges that his knee is sound. He will need to show he has regained the speed that made him the top player in the class as a sophomore. Another thing that came from the knee injury is there is so little film of Mason as a junior on defense. He did manage to rack up 58 tackles and three interceptions. On offense he had over 500 yards rushing and scored five touchdowns. Mason is a physical player. He does everything going downhill, whether it is carrying the ball or tackling. On one memorable play he takes the handoff, gets hit the first time at the line of scrimmage, bounces off that tackler and the next, gets hit clean but keeps moving and takes on two more defenders before finally being dragged down when a third tackler jumps on him but he Mason has already carried them all into the end zone. He is the kind of big back that excels because he runs with his eyes and has good feet. He uses his blocking very well. I think his size says he will play linebacker if he stays on defense. He is up to right around 215 lbs and I do not see the kind of ball skills that would make a coaching staff want to keep him as a safety. Mason is already getting national attention and has been to Ohio State several times. He has an offer from Illinois.

17. **** Bud Golden (6-0, 190, Ath; Cincinnati Sycamore)

When I first saw Bud Golden it was in a game that Sycamore dominated. He impressed me enough in that game to make my initial top twenty for the year but it was not until I saw him later in a more extensive film that I saw why he has the early offers from Ohio State and Illinois. He reminds me a great deal of former Akron Buchtel star Antonio Pittman who went on to a career at Ohio State that was impressive enough to get him to the NFL. I needed to see more of Pittman back then too. Golden has the same efficient style, an economy of motion. Other runners might be more dazzling but runners like Golden and Pittman beat you. He rushed for 1200 yards last, and added 15 touchdowns. Golden has a better body and is faster. He is credited with a 4.5 forty. He looks that fast or faster on film. He has a better body and looks to be a better athlete. In fact, when I first saw him I thought he might project on defense or maybe as a receiver, he has shown really good hands as a receiver coming our of the backfield, but after seeing him more I try him as an RB first. To my knowledge he does not play any defense in high school. His offer list includes Ohio State, Illinois, Indiana, Cincinnati and Bowling Green. He is likely to add more offers as he has not named a favorite and is not close to making a decision. Golden runs track and is looking like he will not have any problems qualifying.

18. **** Adam Bellamy (6-4, 275, DT/OT; Aurora)

My early pick for the why isn’t everyone all over him title. On the first play of his video he comes from the far side of the line and runs down a small quick back outside the numbers. He does not blow by and get him before he gets outside. He literally runs him down. He weighs about 270 lbs when he does this. It was not the only time I saw him do this. Bellamy is so explosive off the ball. He is making plays in the backfield before they get started. On one play he is on the quarterback so quickly he has to move the lineman who is pulling out of the way so he can tackle the quarterback. He shows a good burst and finds the ball very well. Motor is such a kid with the big kids. You take it for granted with the top skill kids but it is not a given with linemen. He may grow into an offensive lineman but for now he is a great looking DT prospect. He had a great performance at the Cleveland combine. He ran a 5.0 on a track that most were knocking anywhere from a tenth to two tenths off the times. The importance of forty times for lineman is not as important as it used to be. A good one is a plus. A bad one is not really a negative. A 5.0 is a solid time. A 4.8 is quite a good one. Those in attendance were impressed with his body. That Cincinnati, Indiana, Akron and Miami of Ohio are the only schools that have seen fit to offer this talented player leaves me scratching my head. It comes down to this. If he is not a great defensive tackle, I am sure he is going to be a great offensive tackle. Showed the wingspan of a 6-7 player at the combine. I am really happy to see someone checking that measurable.

19. **** John Prior (6-6 1/2, 280, OL; Portsmouth)

I saw Ryan Spiker before I saw John Prior. That is the only reason I gave Spiker the title of the most physical player in the class. Prior is just as destructive a player as Spiker and maybe more so. The biggest hole I have seen this year was on a short yardage play for Portsmouth. He blew his man completely out of the play then peeled off and pancaked a linebacker. No question the one most impressive block I have seen on film this year. He comes off the ball with such explosion that he has already won most of his trench battles before he has touched his man. He is huge and gets so much thrust that his target is just overwhelmed. He scores more knockdowns than Mike Tyson. The only reason we are not hearing as much as we are hearing out of his teammate Nate Cadogan is because Prior missed a lot of time with injury. He missed all of two a days where fundamentals are taught, something that is especially important with linemen at this stage of development. He didn’t have a full practice until midseason. When camps roll around this is a player that is going to shave an offer list that any player in Ohio would be proud of. Prior is just scratching the surface of what he is going to be in time. He is a high school tackle and likely will stay there in college. He is what you want to see in a right tackle. Prior is currently 6-6 ½ with a 330 bench press and a 480 squat.

20. **** Ryan Spiker (6-3, 290, OG; Dresden Tri-Valley)

Every Monday during football season there is always a buzz about one segment on ESPN SportsCenter. The title of the segment has become a part of the sports vocabulary. He got “jacked up” has become a catch phrase in our language. Ryan Spikers highlight film is one long he got jacked up tape. He plays the game with such violence. He has a motor that never steps running and an explosive first step. I take a player like that and at least take a look at him as a defensive player first. There is no such thing as too many good defensive tackles. Spiker does not have the kind of frame you want in an offensive tackle so he will be a guard on offense. That makes it all the more a good idea to take a look at him as a defensive tackle. He is very disruptive. He plays with good leverage and pad level. You don’t see him get moved out of the hole. That is especially impressive when you consider he is just now getting into the weight room. I don’t have a total for the number of tackles for loss he racked up last season but there is an impressive number of them on his highlight film. I know this. I can’t remember the last time I saw a defensive tackle have more. He is solid in pass protection, not allowing a sack last year. Indiana and West Virginia have offered, while Purdue, Michigan, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Notre Dame, Minnesota and Georgia Tech are all giving him a hard look. Spiker has been down to Ohio State at the invitation of the Buckeyes and will camp here. An offer likely ends his recruitment.

21. **** Jake Brandt (6-6, 260, DT/OL; Bexley)

I just saw this kid recently. That is a big surprise. It is unusual for a player of this caliber to be out there and I do not find him until this late in the process. The only question about Brandt is where is he going to play in college. He is a high school defensive end but I don’t see the explosion or athleticism to play there in college, and he is going to get a lot bigger. He is a lanky 260 lbs. He has the frame to go over 300 lbs. I think he could be a defensive tackle but where he stands out to me is as an offensive lineman. He moves very well. He is a fluid athlete for such a big kid and has great feet. He shows an impressive punch, sometimes taking players off their feet with it. In run blocking he uses it to knock his man off balance, get lower and drive him off the ball. One of the defining things about this class is the number of two-way tackles, players that could line up on either side of the ball in college. Brandt falls into that category but he is such a good looking tackle, he plays left tackle in high school, that I would not waste time messing around with him on defense. Let him get as many reps as possible as a left tackle. Of the two-way tackles, Adam Bellamy is the only other one that would be a college offensive tackle. Bexley is off the beaten recruiting path so schools have not found their way to Jake Brandt but that will change very soon

22. **** Corey Linsley (6-4, 275, OG; Youngstown Boardman)

Linsley comes off the ball as well as any lineman in the state. With his first step explosion he is moving at a rate of speed that overwhelms most high school linemen. He locks his guy up and it is over. He shows good pad level and uses leverage very well. Linsley shows what kind of athlete he is very early in his film. He is downfield throwing second level blocks. On one play he is sent to block a safety, and he does get his man. He is in a run dominated offense so we have not seen as much out of him as I would like as a pass blocker. What little I have seen of him gives me confidence that he is not going to have problems getting up to speed. He has excellent feet and hips. I love his tenacity. He stays after it until his man goes down or until the whistle. He is a very physical player. If not for Ryan Spiker I would be talking about Linsley as the most physical player in the class. He is so athletic and quick I might give him a day or two in practice at defensive tackle. To my knowledge he has not played defense in high school. He is a high school offensive tackle but projects as a guard. Ohio State has been in touch. He has offers from Michigan State, Stanford, Illinois, Pitt, Akron and Connecticut.

23. **** Jack Mewhort (6-6, 285, C; Toledo St. John’s)

If I could only use one word to describe the offensive line class in Ohio this year it would be nasty. Positions run the gamut. There is someone top drawer for every position on the line. They are from all over the state of Ohio. The one thing that unites them all is they bring it. Jack Mewhort is no exception. He may be the strongest of the lot. He has a punch that looks like a George Foreman jab. On his film there is a play early on where he punches an opposing defensive tackle, a good sized kid, and literally lifts him off his feet. He is athletic enough to pull. You don’t see that from a center. That is a lot to ask of a player at the college or pro level, let alone high school. I am unsure what is going to happen with Mewhort at the next level. He has the height and frame of an offensive tackle. He has very long arms. I have never seen a 6-6 center at any level of football, but natural centers are hard to find. He has been a center since the beginning of his sophomore year. Despite his long arms Mewhort is benching 365. He did not want to wait around, committing to the Ohio State Buckeyes a week after getting his offer. Mewhort also had scholarship offers from Michigan State, Northwestern, Toledo and Bowling Green.

24. **** Mike Edwards (6-0, 185, CB; Cleveland Glenville)

A name fans are not familiar with but that is going to change as he heads into his second season as Glenvilles starting cornerback. Edwards transferred in last year and immediately grabbed one of the starting spots. He put himself on the recruiting map with a solid season where he racked up over 40 tackles and had three interceptions. He took his recruitment to another level with an eye catching performance at the Cleveland Combine where he ran a 4.4 on a slow track and put up an impressive 34 inch vertical. 13 reps on the bench press was pound for pound as impressive a number as any of his speed and athletic numbers. So often freshman do not play because of little things, one of them is not being strong enough. Edwards is a solidly built corner. With his strength and college ready body he may be a candidate for early playing time. On the field he shows he is capable of playing on an island. He is aggressive and utterly fearless. He is a very willing run support player and chases the ball until the whistle. One play on his film defines Edwards. He shows the speed as well as the tenacity when he chases a back down who has busted through the middle of the line. The ball is on the right hash, at the 45 yard line. Edwards is lined up one on one outside the opposite hash. It looks like Glenville can just go get ready for the kickoff. Edwards won’t quit on the play and has the speed to do something about it. It defines what kind of player he is. Has an offer from Indiana but Ohio State has had him down and could offer. That would end his recruitment.

25. **** Dan Fox (6-4, 215, LB/DE; Cleveland St Ignatius)

One of the most intriguing players in the class of 2009. All you need to do is see the Glenville game from his junior year. Year in and year out no school puts more skill and speed on the field than Ted Ginns Tarblooders. Last year was no exception. In this game Dan Fox may have been the best player on the field, as well as the fastest. Keep in mind that Cordale Scott was on that field. He intercepts a pass and outruns everyone for a touchdown. He runs down one of the Glenville receivers from behind. Maybe he grows into a defensive end eventually but right now he is a great looking linebacker who is fast enough and athletic enough to cover slot receivers. He has the wingspan of a bird of prey. He has plenty of room to fill out into a defensive end but it doesn’t really matter if he doesn’t. He has everything you would want in a linebacker. He currently has offers from Virginia, Illinois, Michigan State, Maryland and Northwestern. He has been over the Penn State and Ohio State has inquired about him. Camping will be difficult. He is an excellent hurdler with a best of 14.9. If he goes as far as his times indicate he could be busy this summer.

26. *** Chris Snook (6-2, 220, LB; Medina Highland)

Snook put himself on the radar as a big back. If he was not going to get much bigger I think someone would offer him as a back. He is a fine back. He shows vision, a good burst and is a very physical runner. But I look at the body and see a player that is not done growing. I see 240 lbs in his future. Such a great looking frame on this kid. He can really run and is so athletic that he lines up at safety sometimes. He is arguably the best striker in the class. It should be illegal for him to play safety. He plays very well in space on defense at both linebacker and safety. No matter where he lines up he makes plays. He is off to a really go start in the athlete season, catching the eye of many observers at the Cleveland combine. Last summer he ran a 4.6 at the Ohio State camp and had a 4.25 shuttle. He went up to the Michigan camp and benched 225 for 1 fourteen reps. He bested that at Cleveland with 23 reps of 225. He also put up an 8-10 broad jump. I am not going to be surprised if this kid is a top fifteen player by seasons end, and has Big Four offers. His GPA is 3.1

27. **** Branko Busick (6-1, 220, LB; Steubenville)

Don’t forget the name. Branko Busick is a small school superstar that hits a ton and has great instincts. He is a great blitzer. He reads the game as well as any linebacker I have seen in the past few years. I marveled at how many times I saw this kid step into the right hole pre-snap. He sometimes appears to have been in the opponents huddle. On one memorable play he ran over the guard and the fullback who tried to pick him up and still managed a tackle for loss. That is how quickly this kid diagnosed the play and was in the backfield. He is reading and reacting to plays so quickly blockers are having a hard time finding him. On another he grabs both the quarterback and the running back because he has gotten there so fast he is not sure who has the ball so he grabs both until he figures it out. A couple of plays later in the film against a different team he does it again. The most impressive play is on an end around. He is moving before anyone else on the defense knows what is going on. The receiver gets about three steps before Busick lines him up. He is as football smart as any player in the class. He is not getting the attention he deserves because he is not ideal sized and plays at a smaller school. Someone is going to overlook that and get a really great player. One of the best blitzers I have ever seen.

28. **** Patrick White (6-0, 175, CB/WR; Pickerington Central)

This son of former Buckeye Terry White is one of the elite athletes in the class. Where he plays is the question. A lot of schools, including Ohio State are in contact. He has offers from Akron and Cincinnati at this early stage. He has the best hands I have seen this year, and that is saying something. He could be even better as a cornerback. Some players seem to have an almost unnatural attraction to the football. We call it instinct. White is one of those players. No matter where the ball is on the field White is there. He attacks the ball in the air no matter if he is on offense or defense. The best skill players have that mentality. The ball is theirs. That is especially the case with White who has an explosive leaping ability and catches anything he can reach. He is a very combative player. He had an impressive 27 passes defended and three interceptions but the most telling stat might be his 49 tackles. That is why I see him on defense. He has a solid body and can get bigger. He comes up in run support like a safety. In my first rough draft I had White a top ten player but I need to see him run. He has the skills of a top ten player but he needs to show he cam run like a top ten player this spring and summer in the athlete season. If he does that he is going to have his pick of schools.

29. **** Isaiah Bell (6-2, 200, Safety; Youngstown Liberty)

Simply put Isaiah Bell is the best safety nobody is talking. I don’t know where he is best at. He has the instincts of a linebacker against the run and is a very good sized safety. The 6-2 200 seems a bit on the small side. He looks to be a bigger kid but Liberty coach Jeff Whitaker reports accurate heights and weights. He has the wingspan of a lineman. In fact, I would not be surprised if he ends up growing into a linebacker. He has a nice frame and I have noticed these long limbed kids tend to fill out a good bit. He is big enough to take on blockers and still make plays, but he is fast enough to make plays in the open field. Once he finds the ball he closes like nobodys business. But he has such tremendous ball skills that he could just as easily be a free safety. He has the best ball skills I have seen from a projected safety in this class. He returned at least two interceptions for scores, including a 102 yarder, and at least one punt. He has more return yards off of interception, punt and kickoff returns than any player in this top 100. Getting to camps could put this underrated kid on everyones want list. I can see Big Four offers in Bell’s future.

30. **** Aaron Mershman (6-3, 200, QB; Bowling Green)

I had not heard anything about Aaron Mershman until right before we went to press. You see that sometimes at other positions but a quarterback this good coming in this late is really rare. Mershman is a joy to watch. There is very little to be critical about. He is a mechanically as sound as any quarterback I have seen in Ohio. He sets his feet and delivers the ball over the top. He has a really good arm. He can make every throw in the book. Outs, ins, slants, posts, fades. You name it and I can pull up a clip where Mershman throws it. He sees the field so well. He is not just sitting on certain routes. He sprays the ball all over the field. He throws on the run about as well as he does sitting in the pocket and throwing. Mershman put up nice numbers as a junior, 109 of 208 for 1466 yards and 13 touchdowns. He shows really good mobility. His 370 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns are testament to that. That I have not heard about this kid until now is as strong a piece of evidence as I have seen about the mess quarterback recruiting has become. That nobody is talking about such a fine looking quarterback shows just how bad it has gotten. A couple on inches taller and I would have likely heard about him two years ago. Camps will be crucial for Mershman.

31. *** Patrick Tucker (6-4, 200, Ath, Cincinnati Princeton)

This is a name that only the most hard core recruiting fanatics and high school football fans will know. He is the other four-star sleeper in this class along with Jake Brandt from Bexley. Whether it is as a safety or a linebacker this is a player with the potential to be a star. He is a big hitting free safety with outstanding range. He has a great frame and is very long limbed. In addition he is highly athletic. I don’t know where he is going to end up. He is so lean but weighs 200 lbs. He could fill out into a linebacker. I would not be surprised. In fact, if I had a gun to my head I would say that is what is going to happen with Tucker. He is a free safety but his tape says he is more comfortable in a strong safety role. There is not a lot of film of him on pass defense. In run support he is in his element so I don’t think he will have a problem moving closer to the line of scrimmage. He is a very physical player. No word on schools showing interest. I think once the athlete season gets started we will see his name everywhere as schools get to see what a special athlete he is and what kind of body he has

32. *** Pat Muldoon (6-4, 240, DE; Cincinnati St. Xavier)

Aaron Kampman, Aaron Schobel, Jared Allen, Kyle Vanden Bosch. Not exactly a bunch of household names. They were all unheard of coming out of college. They are now members of an elite handful of players that are the best pass rushers on the NFL. They were not high draft picks. None was a first rounder. If the were in a roomful of fans of the team that drafted them, they likely would have heard a collective, who, when they were chosen. I bring them up because Pat Muldoon has a lot in common with them. They are all high motor guys and workers. Others are going to have better combine numbers but nobody is going to be more effective. That is what I see with Muldoon. He did not stand out physically when I saw him but he was always around the football. However, someone that I respect greatly saw him up close and thinks Muldoon looks like he is early in his physical development and will get a lot bigger. He has played against a level of competition second to none and he racked up double digits in sacks and tackles for loss in both his sophomore and junior years. I think he likely grows into a defensive tackle. Muldoon has an impressive offer list at this early stage with Ohio State, Wisconsin, Michigan State, Iowa, Pitt, Purdue, North Carolina State and Northwestern leading the way.

33. *** Dan France (6-6, 260, Ath; North Royalton)

I remember the first glimpse I got of Dan France. He was playing standing up as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense. Are you kidding me, was the thought in my mind. He is every bit his listed 6-6 and 260. That is a decent sized defensive end in a 4-3 at the NFL level. I got my next surprise when he ran down a quarterback when I hit the play button again. The next play he chases a quarterback down from across the field. This went on for the rest of the film. I saw every type of blocking scheme tried against him. None of them worked. As impressed as I am with France as a defensive player, I think his future is on offense. He is the one tight end in the class that shows he could be a national player. France fits the kind of tight ends that the Big Ten offenses are looking for. He is an outstanding inline blocker. He has the frame to add the kind of size to be just as good at the next level. He catches everything thrown to him and knows what to do with it after he catches it. He reminds me a lot of Springboro tight end Jake Ballard from a few years ago who ended up at Ohio State. Great frame and a really fine athlete for his size. One of the best players nobody is talking about. Once he gets to camps that will change.

34. *** Adam Homan (6-3, 233, ATH; Coldwater)

I am going to make a big statement here and one I am sure someone would challenge me on. Adam Homan is as good a linebacker as older brother Ross, an Ohio State linebacker. Adam has the same kind of instincts. He reads the game as well as Ross. He dominated the game to the same degree as Ross. He is as physical, or even more physical, than Ross was. I know I saw more memorable hits out of Adam. He showed his football I.Q. to be as good as Ross. Then why is he not a Buckeye linebacker recruit like Ross? So much of this is about bodies. I have more arguments about that with fans on the Bucknuts message board than any other subject. These two brothers are a text book example. Adam was likely going to outgrow linebacker but was not going to be quite big enough to be a defensive line recruit. The other thing he shared with Ross was both were excellent high school running backs. Adam was very smart to accept that fullback was the ideal position for him. I think it is such a wasted position in todays offenses. I can’t believe that coaches have voluntarily given up a skill player. Adam Homan is big enough to be the battering ram everyone wants in a fullback but he can make something happen when he has the ball. He is committed to Ohio State. Maybe the Buckeyes have re-discovered the back part of fullback.

35. *** Terrence Davis (6-4, 205, WR; Fremont Ross)

 I ended up seeing three full games from Fremont Ross. The one thing I came away saying was they have a pretty good sophomore quarterback and he needs to throw the ball to Terrence Davis on every play. It doesn’t matter that if the defense knows if he is going to get the ball. They still have to stop him from catching it and tackle him after he gets it. When I first saw Davis I thought I was looking at a linebacker, a linebacker who may be headed to defensive end. He is that big. He reminds me of Terrell Davis. After the catch he is so difficult to corral because he is so strong. I have not been able to confirm a forty time but I am told he has run a 4.55. His size is the reason he is down the list a bit for a player who reminds me of Terrell Davis. Davis is an NFL veteran. This is a high school kid. He is going to get bigger. If he holds his speed as he gets bigger he is an NFL player himself. Last year Davis had 15 touchdowns and had over 600 yards receiving. He averaged over 20 yards a catch. Michigan, Notre Dame, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Purdue and Cincinnati are all showing interest. If he runs well in the athlete season that interest will turn into offers and he will be in the top twenty on this list.

36. *** Cody Pettit (6-4, 230, DL/OL; Patrick Henry)

This is the year of the two-way tackles in Ohio and Cody Pettit does not have to take a backseat to any of them. There are so many things he does well that I do not know where to start. There is no question about his motor. He plays the game like his life depends on the outcome. A coach is going to have to work on calming him down instead of trying to light a fire under him. He runs very well. I see a defensive tackle in his future but where you see it best at is when he pulls as an offensive lineman. The first play I saw of him as a tackle on offense he gets downfield faster than the receiver on that side of the field. He is very fluid and athletic. Pettit is a high school defensive end whose body will likely take him down to tackle. You don’t often see high school lineman whose jerseys flap around in the breeze at the waist. You do with Pettit. He is in that kind of shape. He comes off the ball as well as any lineman in Ohio. He is winning so many battles just with his first step. He is by them before they get out of their stance. This is a player who could be a summer rising star. His level of competition is going to be the big question. How he does in drills against big school kids will tell the tale about the schools he has to choose from. The most underrated of the two-way tackles this year.

37. *** Chris Williams (5-11, 175, DB/WR; Cincinnati Winton Woods)

The first two plays I saw from Chris Williams made me think what a great decathlete he would make. On the first he lines up at receiver and leaps out of the stadium to make a one handed grab. The next play he gets down in a sprinters stance and shoots through the line and makes a sack. Williams is one of the most explosive players I have seen this year. He shows it when he goes up to make a play on the ball and when he lines up a ball carrier for a hit. Most of the defensive film is of Williams making plays at the line of scrimmage but he shows his ball skills on the offensive plays. I think it is premature to say he is a safety at the next level. He shows such great hands and play making ability that I think someone is going to get the idea to give him a shot at wide receiver. Williams is a very physical player on both sides of the ball, as he is one of the better blocking receivers in the state this year. As a defensive player he brings it. This is one of the most underrated players in the class of 2009. I suspect after the athlete season we are going to hear more about him. The camps and combines are so much about checking these players as athletes. Williams will make an impression.

38. *** Nate Cadogan (6-6, 265, DE/OL; Portsmouth)

When I first heard about Nate Cadogan Portsmouth head coach Curt Clifford said he was going to be a special one. It looked like he was going to be a defensive end but he has undergone a growth spurt and is now mostly being recruited as an offensive lineman. He plays tight end on offense so he is pretty raw as far as playing the offensive line is concerned at this point, but it does give an idea of what kind of athlete Cadogan is. When He is a fine defensive player, and more and more we are seeing tall defensive tackles but the build I see on Cadogan tells me he is going to get a lot bigger, more along the lines of his older brother, Penn States All-Big Ten offensive tackle Gerald Cadogan. He has the long arms that are important to an offensive tackle. Penn State has already offered and Northwestern has come in on this outstanding student. He is hearing from Ohio State, Purdue, Nebraska, Michigan State and Illinois. He was one of the most impressive physical specimens at a combine in Cincinnati late in February. I suspect his offer list will improve when he gets to camps this spring and summer where schools can get a better idea where they think his best position is. Like his brother Gerald, he is a student-athlete in the truest sense of the word, and will be an asset to any locker room whether he ever plays a down.

39. *** Brian Slack (6-5, 215, TE; Akron Hoban)

The first thing that leaps off the film about Brain Slack is his size. He has a huge frame. It is hard to believe he is only in the 215-220 range. He looks gangly. He is going to get so much bigger. He will get into the 260 range by the time he is finished filling out.

Slack brings a lot to the table. He can do the classic things in the receiving game that you want out of the tight end. He moves the chains and understands making himself available, getting where the quarterback can find a big target when he is in trouble. I also see a player that can stretch the field. He is not the kind of elite athlete we are seeing in that role but apparently Slack did not get the memo. If the safeties roll wide he will head to the house. I think that has everything to do with his football mentality. He is one of those receivers that looks for the soft spots. He shows soft hands. The icing on the cake is Slack is an outstanding blocker. He is so good that he is on the front side of Hoban running plays. I don’t remember seeing a tight end racking up pancakes until I saw Slacks film. One of the real sleepers in this class and I player I will be keeping my eye on.

40.*** Fitzgerald Toussaint (5-10, 180, RB; Youngstown Liberty)

Sometimes I watch a player and I see another level of speed. That is what I saw the first time I took a look at Fitzgerald Toussaint. Speed is something top 100 skill players have in common but there are some players that just leap off the screen at you. He ran a 10.7 100-meter as a freshman. Last year he ran a 10.59 hundred meters, and had a 21.79 two hundred meters. That is an entirely different level of speed. Toussaint rushed for 1100 yards and 15 touchdowns as a sophomore. He came back with 1400 yards and racked up 24 touchdowns as a junior. I don’t know if Toussaint fits in every offense as a back, and I don’t know how much bigger he is going to get, but his speed fits any system. If he shows he can catch the ball I think his stock will soar. Toussaint is about the same size as Buckeye recruit Chris Fields. If he shows he has the hands to play wide receiver in college he will be a top twenty player like Fields. He is as elusive as he is fast. Some of his runs look like something staged, they are so incredible. He currently has offers from Michigan State, Illinois, Akron, Cincinnati and Pitt. He has been an invitee to Columbus and favors the Buckeyes. He will camp in Columbus.


41. *** Bradley McDougal (6-1, 190, Ath; Dublin Scioto)

The first thing that hit my mind after seeing a few plays from Bradley McDougal was, how was this kid running under the radar? He is playing at a major D-1 program right here in Columbus. It is a program that has put players in major programs, and done so recently. It is a program that has had recent success. In just a few plays I could see this was at least a top fifty player in this class. McDougal is a poor mans Eric Turner. He poses the same problem for me. He is so good at so many things I really cannot pencil him in to one spot. His regular position on offense is running back but the Scioto coaching staff lines him up receiver sometimes. He has good hands and is elusive after the catch so they want to get him out in space. As a running back he impresses me greatly. He makes use of his elusiveness there but he runs tough and shows excellent balance and a good burst. He has really good vision. If I was looking at him as an offensive player I would put him at running back. As a defensive back he plays corner but I think he projects better as a safety. He is very aggressive on the ball and on the ball carrier. He is a solid tackler. McDougal is an excellent return man and a good gunner. I think need is going to determine where he plays. I like him best as a running back. I think he has the body to fill out some more. One of the best players you have never heard of.

42. *** Jeff Walker (6-4, 200, WR; Akron Coventry)

I have gone back and forth on Jeff Walker more than I have any player this year. When I first watched his tape I could not be more impressed. He has a skill level second to none. He can go up and over defenders. He is a beautiful smooth athlete. He makes playing the game look effortless. He gets open against press coverage and zone coverage. He has outstanding hands and is elusive after the catch. The one thing that I could not resolve was his speed. He is a long kid that will probably fill out a good bit more. All my questions were resolved when he ran a 4.58 forty on a slow track at the Cleveland combine. He also put up an impressive 9-3 broad jump, a number that gives a good indication of explosion. Those are the kinds of numbers that can draw the big boys into his school. What I did not know until recently is Walker is just as impressive if not moreso as a defensive player. He had over 100 tackles as a free safety. I would be very interested to see a player with this kind of frame and athleticism as a defensive player. Right now it is Louisville and the MAC schools showing the most attention. If he gets to camps this summer he could add some schools to that mix.

43. *** Tyler Scott (6-3, 230, LB; Warren Howland)

The first thing that I noticed about Tyler Scott is he is big. I was surprised to hear he is 6-3. If I had been told he was 6-5 I would have believed it. The second thing is he is deceptively fast. He is running down backs outside the numbers and closing on quarterbacks who think they have time to throw but learn the hard way that they don’t. One play on his film shows what kind of athlete Scott is. He tries a “Lavar Arrington”. He dives over the top of the line and tries to make a tackle. Unlike Arrington, he missed, but the play speaks volumes about his athleticism. He has the frame to get a lot bigger. One thing that you don’t see a lot with high school linebackers is good pass defense. Scott is one of the really good ones. A high school coach told me Scott drove his quarterback to distraction because he was such a good pass defender. He impressed those in attendance at the Cleveland Combine. He has no offers right now but I think we see that change once he gets to camp during the athlete season. One of the more underrated players in Ohio. Scott is a pretty good high school tight end but will be a linebacker in college.

44. *** Dannell Smith (6-4, 290, OT; Newark)

Smith is a raw and athletic prospect with a great frame. He reminds me of a taller Robert McFarland. He has the same wide thick build. He is about 290 right now but I can see 320 in his future with no impact on his athleticism and quickness. He is a better defensive tackle right now. He plays hard all the time. Comes off the ball really well and stays after it to the whistle. The very first play I see out of him sets the tone for the rest of the film. He chases a back who is running wide but doesn’t get. He continues to chase and gets him twenty five yards downfield. As an offensive lineman he can be a dominating player. He blows people off the line and regularly gets more than one block because he stays after it to the whistle. He is very fluid and athletic. He has quick feet. As a pass blocker he is a work in progress but does it very well. He is tenacious and uses his hands well. He plays both guard and tackle in high school but I think he will be a guard at the college level. I would call him the most underrated lineman in Ohio.

45. *** Brian Underwood (5-10, 175, WR; Cleveland Heights)

That I am not fan of small backs is not news. My attitude about smaller receivers is different. I prefer big receivers but there is an old expression that speed kills. There is a place in the game for the smaller players if they bring speed to the game. Brian Underwood is one of those players that can change the game with one touch. I don’t know if he is really 5-10 but for what he brings to the game, it really doesn’t matter. He gets open, he catches really well, then he hits the clutch and finds a gear that very few players can. You can see it on tape. The best thing about it is, he knows it. Some players that have speed do not have confidence in it. Underwood kicks in that gear and knows he is going to run by everyone chasing him. He has run 4.31 and that time was recorded independently, not at school. I am going to hear he is too small until about January. That is always the case. Schools find reasons not to offer a player. They are focused on what is wrong with a player. The closer we get to signing day the more they will remember why he is on the board in the first place. Some have already realized it. North Carolina, Colorado and Cincinnati have offered. Great kick returner.

46. *** Dale Peterman (5-11, 175, CB/WR; Youngstown Ursuline)

Peterman first came to my attention as a receiver. He is a playmaker. He can take a slant and turn it into a score, or he can go over the top and take a ball away from a defender. He is a player that can change a game with one touch as a receiver but where I think he is special is at cornerback. Sometimes size doesn’t matter. Dale Peterman plays bigger than his size. Take a look at this kid as a cornerback. He is right there with C.J. Barnett and D.J. Hunter, the top two corners in the class as a run defender. Both have the kind of bodies that it is not surprising to see them be good against the run. Peterman has great hands and can leap out of the building. There is no question about the level of competition Peterman compiled his ten minute highlight film against as Ursuline played division one legends like Massillon and Warren Harding, as well as Youngstown Mooney. When I first saw him, I had Peterman in the top twenty. He has that kind of skill and playmaking ability. His first time of the year at the Cleveland Combine was good but not what I expected. He is a tough, smart, highly skilled player. If he puts up a speed number that I think he can, he will be back in the top twenty. South Carolina is already convinced. Steve Spurriers Gamecocks put an offer on the table.

47. *** Aunre Davis (6-0, 180, Athlete; Warren Harding)

Davis plays quarterback but will get a look at receiver in college. He is one of the great playmakers in Ohio this year. I think he could get a look as a safety or possibly at cornerback but he has that ability to change a game with one touch of the ball. His film speaks for itself. Someone is going to get him to camp this summer and see if he can catch the ball. Being a quarterback in high school will help him in moving to receiver as he has a feel for the timing involved in running patterns. He is off to a good start in the athlete season as he was one of the standouts at the Cleveland combine. He ran a 4.62 on a slow track and broke off an impressive 9-11 in the broad jump. It is no surprise that his explosiveness was something everyone in attendance noted when he can post a broad jump like that. It is apparent on film too. When he decides to tuck the ball and run, he is at top speed in a couple of steps. He can change direction at speed. Davis is a smart football player and a crafty one. He is not making mistakes and despite not being a great passer, he makes great decisions. Whether at receiver or somewhere on defense, I think Davis is a big time football player.

48. *** Perez Ashford (5-11, 175, WR; Shaker Heights)

I saw Perez Ashford as a sophomore and received his junior film early in the process. I put it away and did not think about it again for awhile. I pulled it out again when it was time to put together the Ohio High top 100 for the class of 2009. I had forgotten how good he is. The first four plays on the film should be enough to land him scholarship offers. He makes a leaping touchdown catch on the right side of the end zone, follows that with a one handed stab that would have been enough but sidesteps a tackler and takes it to the house. On the third catch he leaps up between two defenders to take what should have been an interception away then fights off both to dive into the endzone. On the fourth he beats a corner on a fade, makes the catch, then times a stiff arm perfectly to throw the defender off balance and waltzes into the end zone. He is a well put together receiver and has a big receivers game but he has better speed than most big receivers. He goes over the top and takes passes away from defenders. Ashford is a good cornerback. Some may like a player his size better there but I see a receiver. He has such big play ability. He is a good kick returner too. Running well in the athlete season will put him higher on this list come the preseason issue.

49. *** Sean McClellan (6-4, 241, DE; Cincinnati Moeller)

Sean is the younger brother of a former Ohio High top 100 member. His older brother Patrick was a safety/linebacker two years ago. Sean has the same long body. He is just a little bigger than Patrick. He is a 3-4 down lineman that would really find a home as a 4-3 defensive end. I think he fits best as an strong side end as he is strong against the run, despite a build that looks like it belongs on a weak side rush end. That is not out of the question. Sean is a relentless player with a 4.7 forty time to his credit. He does a good job of shedding blockers and is adept at splitting double teams. He is showing some impressive numbers in the weightroom with a 470 squat, a 500 lb deadlift and a 255 clean. He has a frame that you could hang a lot of weight on. Moeller has had a coaching change so McClellan is flying low on the radar but that will change once the athlete season gets going and schools get a look at his body. If he runs under 4.8 he could be a player that sees Big Ten offers by seasons end. He falls into that category of big kids that can run. You know my mantra. There are never too many of them.

50. *** Tyler Arend  (6-5, 290, OL; Paulding)
Arend has a good base and uses his hips well. That is what makes him a good drive blocker. He regular drives his opponent completely out of the play and gets his share of pancakes. He plays tackle in high school but I think he projects as a guard at the next level despite good feet and long arms. Right tackle is a possibility. He needs to work on his pass blocking. He tends to want to stand in one spot and reach sometimes but that is something we see regularly with high school lineman who are used to dominating just because of their size. He shows good tenacity against an opponent that will not back down from him. He looks his listed 290 but is no way sloppy. He can add some more weight to his frame. Level of competition is going to be an issue so getting out on the camp and combine circuit will be crucial for him.

51. *** Rickey Steele (5-11, 175, CB; Cincinnati LaSalle)

Steele is one of the most underrated players in the state and certainly the most underrated cornerback. He just happens to come along in the same year as a couple of players that have Ohio State and Michigan offers in C.J. Barnett and D.J. Hunter, as well as a top corner in one of the most high profile programs in the country in Glenvilles Mike Edwards. The very first play on his video shows a textbook example of corner play. One thing Steele brings to the table is more experience at one on one coverage. LaSalle asked him to do a lot of that, but he is also very tough against the run and is an outstanding tackler. He got his hands on more balls than any corner I have seen this year. Steele played against Josh Jones from Elder, Connor Ryan and Joey Paris from St. Ignatius, Tony Harris from Moeller and Kenny Stafford from DeSales, not to mention lining up every day in practice against superstar Devier Posey every day in practice. No defensive back in the state say they went up against better competition. Any other year this is the top corner in the state of Ohio.

52. *** Kevan Westenbarger (6-4, 190, QB; McComb)

There are some things I have learned to question over the years in this business. One is getting a film where the receiver runs a 4.4. The other is quarterbacks that are 6-4. The former are usually nowhere close to 4.4 and the later are usually closer to 6-1 than 6-4. That is not the case with Westenberger. He looks every bit of 6-4. He is given a 4.75 and looks at least that fast on tape. He ends up running around quite a bit in this offense. He throws on the run very well. His release is the best in the class. It is hard to get a look at arm strength in the offense McComb runs but the few plays where he does show it off it looks like he has a really big time arm. I would love to see him just set up in the pocket and throw the ball. He will need to get to camps. Last year that point was driven home when outstanding small school quarterback Trevor Walls ended up with an offer from New Mexico late in the process. Westenbarger is a more mobile than Walls. I think that played a role in his lack of offers.

53. *** Jowan Peterson (6-2, 180, Safety; Cincinnati Withrow)

The very first play on Petersons tape sums up what kind of player he is. His read and reaction to a long handoff is what you want to see from all defensive players. The run part of the read-react-run equation is superb. He gets there just after the ball arrives. He was ten yards from the receiver as the ball is thrown. When he arrives he drives the receiver two yards backward with a picture perfect tackle. That is strong safety play at it’s best. Peterson is one of the better strong safeties in the state but I have to think he is on his way to linebacker. He is so long and lean. He is going to add a good deal of weight. He plays at the line of scrimmage a lot so the transition will be a smooth one. He does a good job of dealing with blockers, and is a great blitzer. One of the most underrated players in the state.

54. *** Brad Rogers   (5-10, 220, RB; Toledo Central Catholic)
When I first heard about Rogers it was for his play as a linebacker. I got a look at him just before deadline. I was impressed with what I saw of him as a linebacker. He shows good instincts and a great read, react, run. He is a sure tackler and a good hitter. He does not have an ideal body for the position but he is a talent and at some level he could be a linebacker. The reason I have Rogers ranked this high in the Ohio High top 100 is because he is an even better running back. Talk about instincts. Rogers offers a strong argument for being the best back in the class. He has very quick feet for his size. He is a very decisive runner because he has such great vision and is a powerhouse runner, so if someone shows up that he missed on his read, he is not really worried about it. Rogers is going to win most one on one battles. I did not see him tackled one on one. He is one of those backs that always falls forward. Do not assume because of his size and running style that he is purely a power back. One of the things that makes Rogers so adept at winning battles against the first tackler is his subtle elusiveness. The best big backs learn that never giving a tackler a clean shot is the best way to beat them. Rogers is an excellent receiver too. A little quicker and Rogers would be at least twenty places higher on this list.

55. *** Jake Feldmeyer (6-2, 260, OL; Centerville)

Jake Feldmeyer is the next great one out of this storied program. The Centerville offense did a lot of damage running behind this outstanding lineman. Like so many of his class of 2009 linemates, Feldmeyer is a very physical player. He gets a good punch and shows great lower body strength. He locks up his man and it is over. He is an adept run blocker but will need to work on pass blocking as Centerville rarely throws the ball. He is a very lean 260 lbs. He moves really well. His technique is quite good for a high school player. He gets his pads underneath and moves his feet. I see a player that can get to the 290-300 range and still be the same kind of football player. He plays tackle in high school and has some length to his body but I think Feldmeyer will be a guard in college. One of the more underrated linemen in the state this year. No word on offers yet. 3.82 gpa.

56. *** Ricky Harris (6-3, 320, OL; Westerville South)

If I was asked to pick one player on this top 100 list that has the potential to make me look like an idiot it is Ricky Harris. On film he is a powerhouse. He runs over top of whoever is in front of him. He packs a punch that often leaves opponents out of the play before it gets started. He shows a burst that is surprising for his size. He is relentless in pursuit. I have seen him make tackles twenty yards downfield. He played offense only until his junior year and he was just as dominating there. The question now is does he end up on the offensive side of the ball or on the defensive side. I think he is better on offense. Or should I say his body fits better on offense. When I look at Harris on film I see a top 20 talent. When I look at his body I see a player that has maxed out his frame. He can not get much bigger without impacting the speed and burst that made him a top 20 player when I first looked at him. Every report he gets bigger. The first number I heard was 280. I was told right after the season that he played last year at 300-305. The last report I received was he is now 320. At 280 Ricky Harris is back in the top 20, and a defensive lineman. He has an offer from Illinois. How many more he gets will likely have everything to do with how close he gets to that 280.

57. *** Dan Molls (6-1 ½, 215, LB; Padua Franciscan)

Football is an ever evolving thing. Innovation is part and parcel of the game. Offenses are always looking for ways to move the ball and score. Defenses have to adapt to that and force the offensive masterminds to come up with something new. The spread offense has become a part of everyones offense. It is the base offense for many teams. The counter to that is the hybrid strong safety/ outside linebacker. I heard the venerable John Madden talking about the search for such players at the NFL level. They need to be fast enough to cover but sturdy enough to play the run. Colleges are looking too. I doubt many colleges know where Padua Franciscan is, but they will want to get there. Here is a player that fits the role perfectly. Dan Molls is as good in pass coverage as any linebacker in the class but he plays the run like a linebacker too. He is comfortable in zone and shows he can play man coverage as well. He has a very good frame. I see 225-230 in his future with no impact on his speed and athleticism. Like with any small school athlete, Molls will have to show well in the athlete season. If he confirms his reported 4.57 forty he will have his choice of schools. He ran a 4.68 on the slow Cleveland combine track. 3.9 gpa and good genetics. His dad and two of his uncle played D-1 college football.

58. *** Zac Costlow (6-3 1/2, 235, DE/DT; Steubenville Central Catholic)

Zac Costlow is a perfect example of how level of competition plays a role in recruiting and how important the camps and combines are. I am hearing negative things about the combines in particular these days but I am also seeing the names of players who are not as good as this kid getting kicked around while Costlow is not. They are in high profile programs and Costlow is not. He is a high motor defensive end whose body likely will take him to tackle. He has the square build that is a good indicator of a player that is going to add weight, and he will be able to handle it. He plays smart and is relentless. He shows the speed to chase plays down outside the hashmark. His athletic numbers are as good as any lineman in Ohio. He has a 4.72 forty, a 28.5 inch vertical and a very impressive 10-5 long jump. He is benching 330 and has a 555 squat. He has 12 tackles for loss and 10 sacks, with 68 tackles. He is already qualified with a 4.2 gpa in honors classes and a 27 on his first ACT attempt. Costlow is already planning a busy schedule in the athlete season. I think we hear a lot more about him after he has been to a few camps. Small school but a bigtime player.

59. *** Henry Conway (6-7, 320, OL; Shaker Heights)

Conway could not be more raw talent and he is a late bloomer but what an upside. He does not know how to use his hands very well and needs time in the weight room but what he can be makes him a very intriguing prospect. He has a body you can’t coach. He weighed 320 at the Cleveland combine, but that does not mean he is carrying too much weight. He ran a 5.29 at that weight. He looks just fine at whatever weight he is playing at on his film. He has the wingspan of an aircraft carrier. Conway is so raw because he has played so little football. Last year was really his first year. Maybe a right tackle but I think by the time he is ready to play he will be a guard. Someone with the depth to not need him for about three years could secure a real find in Conway.

60. *** Lamar Passmore (6-3, 190, WR; Cincinnati Sycamore)

Lamar Passmore is another super athlete with size in this class. I have seen him listed as between 6-2 and 6-4. It does not matter which number is accurate. He is the kind of big receiver with a big receivers game that everyone is looking to add to their lineups. Great hands and knows how to use his body. When he gets a defensive back one on one, it is over. He has excellent body control and field awareness. He makes the sideline catches and the fades look routine. I have not seen speed numbers for Passmore but his football speed looks to be just fine. The lack of offers tells me schools are waiting to see him up close and get a stopwatch on him before making a decision. If he runs well he will be one of the hottest commodities in Ohio this summer. He has everything else.

61. *** Travis Freeman (6-1, 190, Linebacker/Strong Safety; Glenville)

When we talk about these linebacker/strong safety hybrids, we are usually talking about athletic kids, usually lined up at linebacker, that can run. They make plays with their speed. Not Travis Freeman. He definitely has the speed to play the hybrid position but he is more a true linebacker because he is so physical. You see him taking on blockers. One of his best plays is when he takes on a lineman and stuffs him, forcing the back wider, then defeats the fullback and makes the tackle. Great play by a 220 lb linebacker, let alone a 190 lb player. He is so tough and physical that he plays fullback on offense. That might not be a big deal at lower levels but Glenville plays at the highest levels of division one. Their regular fullback was 230 lb Jermil Martin, a Buckeye recruit. A little bigger and Freeman will shed the hybrid position and just be an outside linebacker. I suspect when more schools see him we will see an impressive offer list from this outstanding football player. Michigan State and Indiana have already offered.

62. *** Patrick Nicely (6-4, 210, QB; Willoughby South) - NO FILM

Nicely was a starter as a freshman at quarterback and a varsity baseball pitcher.

It was a tough year for him as a junior with a number of new starters at key positions. There is no question about his physical tools. His numbers from the Cleveland combine were definitely got my attention. He came in a legit 6-4 and ran a 4.67. Those are the kinds of numbers that are going to get him a look just as an athlete. He added a 29 inch vertical and an impressive 4.56 shuttle. I got this from an opposing coach, “Pat Nicely is a big, strong physical kid who has lots of the attributes that you look for in a big time QB. He is just about 6'5 and has a very smooth over the top throwing motion. It is difficult to block his passes or disrupt him as a passer because of his good mechanics and the fact that he moves very well from within the pocket and outside of it. Pat throws a very catchable ball, with great touch on the deep ball and the ability to put some smoke on a 20 yard dig route. He struggled some during his junior year, but so much of it had to do with a young and inexperienced offensive line. Some of it may have also been being under center a good deal more than he has in the past.” If he performs like this coach thinks he can in camps this athlete season, this ranking is way too low.

63. *** Pat McFall (6-3, 225, Outside linebacker/Defensive End; Boardman)

Pat McFall came to my attention first as a tight end. I don’t know McFall did not play any defense that night or if my associate was just not paying attention that night but how he could not have noticed how good a linebacker McFall is is beyond me. He is a good tight end but he is on this list as a linebacker. We see middle linebackers in this class and we see a good number of the hybrid linebacker/strong safeties but the true 4-3 outside linebackers are scarce. McFall is one of them. I think he is the only true strong side linebacker in the class. He plays a lot of strong side in high school and you can see why. He is strong at the point of attack but he can play in space. He is asked to cover slots receivers at times. McFall is at his best when he attacks off the edge. He could be an ideal 3-4 stand-up defensive end, or with his frame growing into a 4-3 defensive end is a possibility.

64. *** Jamaal Ali (6-1, 220, OLB/DE; Garfield Heights)

When you take a look at the film of number one player Melvin Fellows, look at the other end of the line. You will see an awfully fine player in his own right in Jamaal Ali. Any other year he is the one recruiters are coming to Garfield Heights to talk about. Ali is the one playing the glamour position of weak side defensive end. He has a great first step and is relentless in pursuit. He gets off blockers well and shows outstanding closing speed. He is not just a rush end. He is strong against the run and shows good football sense. He is a great looking athlete. If Ali were just a little taller he would be about twenty places higher on this list. Outside linebacker is a possibility but his best position would be as a standup defensive end in a 3-4. If he runs well in the athlete season he could open up his recruiting options as most schools run a 4-3.

65. *** Roman Lawson (6-0, 215, LB; Shaker Heights)

Roman Lawson has grown on me. I knew he was going to be a top 100 player but when I first looked at him I did not think he was going to be a player just outside the top 50 like I have him right now. On first blush I said Lawson was a player with good straight ahead speed and could be a better FB prospect. When I took time to break it down I see a really smart player. He makes really good reads as a linebacker and is very physical. He attacks the hole like a linebacker should. He is one of the better linebackers in the state as a pass defender. He shows more agility and a better burst as a running back than I first thought. He changes direction very well and is tough to bring down. If he can run his listed 4.55 this is ranking is way too low.

66. *** Ben Moody (6-2, 175, Ath; Lakeview)

Ben Moody is a ong lean high school running back with an explosive turn of speed. I can see him making a move to receiver. He ran a 14.72 in the 110High Hurdles as a sophmore. Lets keep in mind that the last couple of elite hurdlers from Ohio are now household names, Ted Ginn and Brian Hartline. Moody put up a 9-10 broad jump at the Cleveland combine. That is a good measure of explosion, and there is no question Moody brings that to the table. If he shows he can catch the ball he is going to be a hot commodity this summer. There is no such thing as too much speed and Moody has a great body. Defense is always a possibility with a player who has good size and outstanding speed but this kid is something with the ball in his hands. He is not just fast. He is also quick and elusive.

67. *** Maalik Bomar (6-2, 185, LB; Cincinnati Winton Woods)

When I first took a look at Maalik Bomars film I thought I was looking at another undersized linebacker that is going to look good because he is athletic and being put in a position where he is running around with no blocker in front of him, free to make plays. Everyone has a package for players like that at the high school and college level. That all changed when I got to a section of film where Bomar was not running free. The downside of the undersized outside linebackers is they are vulnerable to being run at. Bomar showed he is not so vulnerable to that strategy. I saw him stand up a number of blockers. I am not just talking about backs. He was stepping in and taking on linemen. He showed no hesitation, and really stood up some really big guys, then made the play. He can fill out some more but is not going to get a lot bigger. From what I can see it is not going to matter. He brings it on every play. Bomar is a high motor player with good instincts and outstanding speed. He has an offer from Toledo. Size is going to be the only question.

68. ** Luke Kuechly (6-3, 215, LB; Cincinnati St. Xavier) - No Film

I was looking at a St. X game tape from 2008. I wanted to get a good look at outstanding St. Xavier linebacker who was a senior in the 2008 class, Fred Craig. I was really impressed with the player I was looking at. I did not recall that he was as tall and rangy as I remembered from 2007. I remembered that Craig was a single digit number playing linebacker. So is Kuechly. He is the player I was looking at. Kuechly is a bigger player and more athletic but his game is very similar to Craig. Both have top drawer instincts. Both can run really well and both play with good discipline. He had an impressive 143 tackles and 6 sacks against a level of competition that nobody can question. He has offers from Stanford, North Carolina State, Miami of Ohio, Louisville and Cincinnati at this early stage.

69. ** Jamon Wagner (6-2, 190, safety/linebacker; Youngstown Liberty)

Despite having to share the spotlight with a stacked lineup, Jamon Wagner stands out. The more I look at Wagner the better I like him. He has a great frame. I can see another twenty lbs on him. He is physical enough to play at the line of scrimmage but quick enough to play corner. He lines up on slot receivers and seems very comfortable there. He sits in the zone and plays disciplined football but does not look out of place when asked to play man coverage. One of the more impressive plays on his film is when he drops into his assigned zone and leaves his man to get in the passing lane and gets a hand on a pass intended for the receiver that stayed in his zone. Everyone is looking for the hybrid linebacker/strong safeties these days. The ability to cover and a comfort level in coverage is usually the litmus test. Here is one that looks like he is going to pass the test.

70. ** John Taylor (6-5, 260, Ath; North Olmsted)

When I have presented John Taylor to others the response is always the same. He needs a lot of work but what a specimen to work with. Taylor is a work in progress. He has one of the best bodies in the class of 2009. He has the kind of frame that is going to draw everyones attention. I don’t know if there is one position where he stands out but if the call was given to me I say tight end. He carries his 260 lbs very well. I think he can add twenty more and still be a tight end, especially in the Big Ten region where you see bigger tight ends. I think Taylor could be an excellent in-line blocker. He plays tight end in high school so I get an opportunity to see him play there. He can catch the ball. With more reps I think he could be a very effective classic tight end. He plays defensive end but I don’t think he can be a college defensive end. If he is a defensive player I think he will be a tackle. The good thing about him is the worst case scenario is he adds enough weight that he needs to move down to the offensive line.

71. ** Zakee Bashir (6-2; 210; OLB/DE; Walnut Ridge)

When I first saw Zakee Bashir I thought I was looking at a much bigger player. He looks so long. I don’t know if I have ever seen a player with this kind of length. I am certain I have not seen it on a player that was in the 6-1 to 6-2 range. He plays as a defensive end in the Walnut Ridge scheme. Usually defensive ends in a 4-3 are taller than Bashir but length has everything to do with the desire for tall players, not to mention taller usually means more athletic. There is no question about Bashirs athleticism, and can he ever run. His teammate, Brandon Rice, is one of the fastest football players in the state. He breaks a long run. The player running right beside him stride for stride is Zakee Bashir. He has room to add more weight. Maybe with his reach he could be a 4-3 defensive end but I think his best position would be as a 3-4 standup defensive end.

72. ** Victor Rodriguez (6-2, 220, LB/DE; Eastmoor Academy)

To my disappointment it is not a great time for the Columbus City League as far as football is concerned. We are not seeing the number of players coming out of there like we were just five years or so ago. Rodriguez is one that really stands out. He has a great frame. He looks more like 6-4, and I am not the only one that says that. He looks more like a defensive end. When I first heard about him that is where my associate projected him. I don’t see a defensive end in Rodriguez. I see an old fashioned middle linebacker, his current position, with good range, who is a solid tackler. He seems comfortable in a pass defense role, something that is a really big plus in this day and age. He gets a good drop, locates possible receivers in his zone and reads the field well.

73. ** RonCarlos Hilton (5-11, 185, SS; Youngstown East)

RonCarlos Hilton is one of my favorite players in this class. He is an undersized playmaker at safety. Hilton plays the ball and the run equally well. Definitely belongs in the conversation about the best hitters in the class. He is a natural strong safety. I know he is not the size everyone is looking for in this day and age of small linebacker sized strong safeties but when I watch Hilton one word comes to mind, playmaker. Against the run and against the pass, not to mention on special teams, Hilton makes plays. He is a playmaker on offense as a receiver but defense is why he is in this top 100. If I were on a college coaching staff I would bring Hilton in and see if he can cover. I know he has ball skills. He makes plays on the ball as a safety and catches everything thrown his way as a receiver. If he can cover RonCarlos Hilton could be a real steal for someone.

74. ** Sylvestry Gibbs (6-0, 170, RB; Austintown-Fitch)

Gibbs is one of my mystery players this year. I am surprised we are not hearing more about him. He is an explosive player. He has that “suddenness.” He hits the hole like he is shot out of a cannon. He shows good vision. He has a slashing style and runs with reckless abandon. When I speak with others that have seen him one thing they point out is size. He is legit 6-0 and I need to see the scale to believe he is only his listed 170 lbs. If he told me he was 190 I would believe him. If he isn’t big enough to be a running back he is big enough to be a corner. He catches the ball as well as any back in the class so a move to receiver is not out of the question. I think he can get bigger. I am a little surprised we have not heard more about him.

75. **Sam Longo (6-5 260, OL/DT; Bellbrook)

I would put a star or something beside Sam Longos name if I could. Something to note that this is a player to watch during the athlete season. You want to talk about great frames. Sam Longo is one of the first names out of my mouth when the subject comes up. He has a long body and long limbs. He will weigh 300 lbs even if he was not trying to weigh 300 lbs. He has really good feet and plays nasty. Level of competition is suspect. That is why the athlete season is so crucial to him. Longo showed toughness playing with his hand in a cast for a number of games this year. He also plays defensive end. He will outgrow that position but a player this athletic might get a look at defensive tackle. His Dad was an Ohio State linebacker. He has early offers on the table from Cincinnati, Miami of Ohio and Bowling Green. That list could get a lot longer if he does what I think he is can when the combines and camps start.

76. ** Ryan O’Rourke (6-2, 190, QB; Avon)

Ryan O’Rourke is my nominee for the player who will not get the offers he deserves. Lack of ideal size is the only thing keeping him out of the top 50. I have railed against the quarterback recruiting template for years. I have no intention of stopping until someone offers an argument as to why quarterbacks have to be tall. One big advantage for him is the offense Avon runs. He is in a basic pro set most of the time. He has had to learn to read defenses. O’Rourke spreads the ball all over the field. He can make any throw. He has great touch and his accuracy is uncanny. He shows poise, a D-1 arm and good mechanics. He is mobile enough to be a problem once he breaks the pocket. Simply put, Ryan O’Rourke is the most ready to play quarterback in the class. Someone is going to get a steal as so many are going to not give him the good look he deserves.

77. ** Brandon Rice (5-9, 180, RB; Walnut Ridge)

We have discussions on the Bucknuts.com message boards about small backs. Which side of that argument I am on is not in question. The definition of a small back is. I do not have a problem with a backs size. I have a problem with backs that cannot run between the tackles. Small back is the term we use because the backs that cannot run between the tackles are the smaller. That is why Brandon Rice is on this top 100. He is a between the tackles runner. I counted a grand total of four plays where Rice went outside the tackles on his entire film. Three were designed and the other he ran to daylight. He is like the last smaller back that I really liked, Javon Ringer, in the fact that he is so elusive in tight quarters. He never gives the defense a clean shot at him. Tough runner too. He runs over his share of tacklers and breaks tackles.

78. ** Dillon Voss (6-1, 220, LB; Garfield Heights)

Under coach Reisland Garfield Heights has regularly put out D-1 talent but this year is the motherlode with three top 100 players. Voss runs very well. He does a great job of keeping himself clean. The importance of that cannot be emphasized enough. It means a linebacker is reading and reacting at another level, and that allows him to not be slowed down by blockers. He has very good range and does not look out of place in pass coverage. When I first saw Voss I thought he might not be big enough to play inside as a college player but I think it is his best position but now that I get a better look at his body I think he can carry another twenty lbs. Voss is an outstanding student. Smart is a much underappreciated aspect of recruiting as far as I’m concerned. The NFL has the Wunderlich test. Colleges tend to follow the lead of the NFL in most things but have not done so with this kind of testing.

79. ** Dante Marsh (5-11, 185, RB, Warren Howland)

Marsh is a tremendously skilled runner. I would argue that he brings runner skills to the table that are the equal of any back in the class. He has great vision. He is elusive and so smooth he makes running look effortless. It looks like he is not running hard. It looks like he is gliding. He is not a powerful runner but his quick feet and superior balance have him stepping out of a lot of tackles. Tacklers have to hit him square and solid to bring him down. Marsh is an absolutely fearless runner. He is as effective inside as he is outside. He uses his off hand well to fend off tacklers. He slaps hands away that are reaching for him. It is such an effective but not often used technique that can throw a tackler off balance. He has a reported 4.5 forty. I cannot confirm that but his football speed is not something I have a question about. His size is. He is 5-11 to 6-0 but has a slight build. It may force a move to receiver in college.

80. ** Blake Fraley (6-3, 205, LB; Hilliard Darby)

It used to be that we saw the D-1 talent coming out of Davidson. Now it seems that Darby under coach Paul Jenne is putting a player in the Ohio High top 100 every year. Watching outstanding 2008 linebacker prospect B.J. Machen last year, it was easy to see he was not alone. He teamed with outstanding junior Blake Fraley to form one of the better linebacker corps in the state. Fraley reminds me a lot of Cincinnati St. Xavier linebacker Fred Craig from last year, who will play at Stanford next year. Fraley finds the ball quickly and gets there quickly. He always seems to be around the ball. I see a better frame on Fraley. He will fill out into a 230 lb player by the time he is ready to hit a college football field. How well he runs this athlete season will say who comes in with offers.

 81. ** Mark Hilty (6-4, 235, DT; Olentangy Liberty)

It is beyond me how this kid is not on the radar. He leaps off the film at you. He has a body that is as close to perfection as you can get for a defensive tackle. Hilty is a high school defensive end but will move down at the college level. He is square and lean as he could be. Any leaner and he would need to add weight. He is so raw. He does not use any moves. He bull rushes every play. When I say he bull rushes, I mean bull in a china shop. There is no subtlety to his game. He plays the game with such intensity. Instead of lighting a fire like coaches have to do with so many big kids, Hilty may have to be calmed down. He is so quick and explosive out of his stance that once he learns to hit gaps he will beat opposing linemen off the snap. His closing speed is something opposing ball carriers are not ready for. Hilty has the length of a defensive end and has very long arms, but I think he will fill out into a defensive tackle in college. Playing in a 3-4 as a down lineman is another possibility. That is what he plays in high school. He could fit nicely into that position in college. Level of competition is not in question. Hilty is already qualified. There is a class full of big kids with great bodies. Line them up without name tags and Hilty is the one you would probably pick.

82. ** Dwayne Woods (6-0, 200, LB; Cincinnati Princeton)

Here is the leading candidate for best hitter in the class of 2009. Woods just punishes ball carriers and blockers alike. He is clearly the best pass defense linebacker in the class. He drops into coverage as naturally as a good defensive back does. He steps into passing lanes and makes interceptions. That is what puts him in this top 100. His natural position is middle linebacker. He was born to play the position. He reads quickly then attacks the hole with the recklessness you want to see in a middle linebacker. He is just not close to being D-1 middle linebacker size. His pass coverage ability means he has a chance to make it as an outside linebacker. Purely on football skills Dwayne Woods is one of the best football players in Ohio. Two inches taller and twenty lbs heavier, Woods would be a top 20 player.

83. **Lamar Ross (6-1, 190, Strong Safety/Outside linebacker; Walnut Ridge)

It is a great year to visit Ohio for any college coach looking for the hybrids. Lamar Ross is another than fits the profile. He plays in the box a lot and covers enough. He plays at linebacker but he is shows good coverage skills. He has really good instincts. He gets in the passing lanes. Sometimes he is asked to line up over a slot receiver. He does a good job in press coverage when asked to do so. Where Ross really excels is attacking off the edge. He doesn’t just use his speed. Ross is a tough minded kid. He will stand in there and take on blockers. He shows the kind of speed that makes him viable as a true safety but he has a long lean build that suggests he might fill out into a true outside linebacker. As impressed with him as I am with his play at the line of scrimmage, I think his natural pass defense skills make him a safety in college.

84. ** Jason Pinkston (6-2, 170, DB; Cleveland Benedictine)

There are a number of other good high school football players on the Benedictine roster and they are getting more publicity, but Jason Pinkston is the best college prospect of the lot. This team has the kind of talent that a coach like Art Bortnick can make a run at the state title again with. He can take Pinkston and live him up one on one against the opponent’s best receiver and not have to worry about him. He is one of those players that always seems to be around the ball. He doesn’t have to take a backseat to any defensive back in the state on ball skills. He gets his hands on the football a lot. He also has that uncanny ability to find the ball when it is on the ground. I don’t know how many fumbles he picked up. His body will tell where he plays in college. He is likely to get bigger. He could end up at free safety.

85. ** Randy Greenwood (5-11, 175, Ath; Mentor Lake Catholic)

A poor mans Danny McCarthy. In fact, Greenwood first came to my attention from running down the Notre Dame recruit from behind in a game last year. He is a good running back but where Greenwood gets his offers will be as a defensive back. Good offensive player but a great defensive player. If he runs well this spring and summer, and I think he will, Greenwood becomes a rising star. He is off to a good start with a 4.51 forty, a 9-5 broad jump and 34 inch vertical at the Cleveland combine. Those are really good numbers. He will need to do more of that as most of his film is as a running back. What we do see of him as a defensive back shows a player with good cover skills and one that can really run. Getting into the athlete season and drilling as a cornerback is really going to help his stock.

86. ** Anthony Talbert (6-5, 220, TE/DE; Cincinnati Winton Woods)

Talbert was not what I expected but that is not a bad thing. I did not see him until recently. I thought he was going to be a defensive end, Ray Edwards type edge rusher. There is in fact no defensive line play on the film. Not one play. It is all Talbert as a tight end. I do not even know if he played any defense. An athlete of this caliber would have made some impact plays on defense if he played. As a tight end I like what I see very much. He is an old school tight end. Everyone wants the field stretchers, the tight ends like Kellen Winslow and Jeremy Shockey. Talbert is like Ohio State recruit Nic Dilillo from last year. He is a chain mover and a safety valve. He sits in the underneath zones and helps his quarterback get out of trouble. He looks athletic enough that he could create problems for the defense if he were called on to do so. Talbert is an outstanding blocker. I thought Dilillo was the best blocker of the outstanding tight end class of 2008. This kid is at least that good. A good showing in the athlete season moves him up this list in the next issue. Talbert is an outstanding student.

87. ** Julius Ferrell (6-1, 245, LB/DE; Youngstown Liberty)

Sometimes I think about putting together a list of the best players in the state just for the fun of it. Take the bodies and the athleticism out of it and just look at what they do on the football field. If I did that Julius Ferrell would be one of the top five players in the state. He is a highly skilled football player. He is as complete a linebacker as there is in the state. He is as good in coverage as he is at the line of scrimmage. Ferrell is as physical as any player in the class. He is just an outstanding football player. His body is going to tell how heavily he is recruited. Right now he reminds me of a former Ohio State player Darrion Scott who arrived at Ohio State as a linebacker but entered the NFL as a defensive tackle. I think Ferrell follows a similar path. At 6-4 and 220 lbs he is a top twenty player, at least.

88. ** Mordecai Cargill (6-1, 210, RB; Cleveland University School)

It would not be the Ohio High top 100 without a player from University school. It has been an annual thing under University head coach Jim Stephens. I just saw this big back right before we went to press. I am sure Cargill is his listed 6-1. He actually looks taller than that, and he is the leanest 210 you will ever see. He is going to be a 225-230 lb kid by the time he hits a college football field. He runs like a big back should but also

shows agility in tight spaces, and makes himself difficult to get a square hit on. He has that one instinct that is most important to a big back; he gets north and south quickly. He is really fast for a big guy, so fast that he returns kicks. He is still raw. I think he has one of the better upsides in this class. Level of competition is always a question with University school athletes, as is publicity. They don’t always appear on the radar as early as some but after camps they usually come up with nice offer lists. I suspect it will be that way with Cargill. This is a player I will be checking on. I would not be surprised to see him be a rising star this summer.

89. ** Jack Dawson (6-2, 200, QB; North Lima South Range)

Jack Dawson is the most athletic of the top quarterbacks in Ohio. As a runner he is a weapon. The quarterback draw is part of the offense. Part of any defensive game plan against North Lima South Range would have to include some plan to keep him in the pocket. One play early in his highlight film says it all about Dawson. He pitches out to his running back, who turns the corner. Dawson chases the play catches up with the back and eventually passes him and throws the block that leads him into the end zone. I think Dawson can be a D-1 quarterback. He has a good arm and is in charge back there but I think he could play as a safety or even a receiver should he not pan out as a quarterback. He will need to camp to make a name for himself, as small school quarterbacks always seem to. He has a reported 4.55 forty

90. ** Nate Klatt (6-4, 270, C; Canal Fu