Ohio State football finding increasingly fertile recruiting ground in Florida
by Doug Lesmerises/Plain Dealer Reporter
Wednesday September 02, 2009, 8:48 PM
From left to right, Ohio State QB Joe Bauserman, wide receiver Duron Carter, defensive back Travis Howard and offensive lineman Mike Brewster are just four of a growing number of Buckeyes with Florida roots.St. Thomas Aquinas of Fort Lauderdale, the No. 1 high school football team in the country, opened its season in Ohio Stadium as part of the Kirk Herbstreit Varsity Football Series. Sitting in the stands watching potential OSU recruits like Lamarcus Joyner and Brandon Linder were current OSU players already plucked from Florida -- Brian Rolle, Duron Carter, Travis Howard and Orhian Johnson.
Basking in the Ohio sunshine, in the bleachers instead of on the beach, they were the proof that over the last three years, no one has gone into Florida like Ohio State.
Outside of the three major in-state college football programs -- Florida, Miami and Florida State -- the Buckeyes between 2007-09 landed more top 50 recruits from Florida than any team in the country.
Ohio State has earned eight commitments in the last three years, though running back Carlos Hyde hasn't enrolled yet after falling short academically. Still, it's a new focus, with the Buckeyes landing only two top 50 Florida players in the previous three years. Now it's paying off, with three starters and a total of eight members of the two-deep roster hailing from Florida.
Brian Rolle (36) grew up thinking he would play at Florida, but Ohio State "felt like home to me, and guys welcomed me with open arms," he said. "That's what I got here that I didn't get at Florida."FINDING THEIR WAY IN FLORIDA
As expected, Florida, Miami and Florida State dominate the recruiting of the best Florida high-school football players, combining to take 51 percent of the top 50 recruits in that state each of the last three years.
Outside of those in-state schools, Ohio State has snagged the most top-50 Florida players. The Buckeyes have already received an oral commitment from receiver James Louis, the No. 42 Florida prospect in the Class of 2010, and remain in the mix for linebacker Jeff Luc (No. 2), cornerback Lamarcus Joyner (No. 3), receiver Christian Green (No. 4), center Brandon Linder (No. 39) and several other Florida players.
According to Rivals, here are the teams that received commitments from at least four top-50 Florida players over the last three years. Only Ohio State is outside of Florida or the Southeastern Conference:
School Recruits
1. Florida 29; 2. Miami 28; 3. Florida State 20; 4. Ohio State 8; 5. Auburn 7; 6. LSU, Alabama, South Carolina 6.
The Florida Buckeyes
There are nine current Ohio State players from Florida and all should help in some way this season. Eight were among the top 100 Florida recruits in their class, as ranked by Rivals.com.
Starters
Chimdi Chekwa, CB, Jr. Class of 2006, No. 97 recruit in Florida
Mike Brewster, C, So. Class of 2008, No. 3
Brian Rolle, MLB, Jr. Class of 2007, No. 34
Contributors
Etienne Sabino, OLB, So. Class of 2008, No. 7 recruit in Florida
Duron Carter, WR, Fr. Class of 2009, No. 17
Jaamal Berry, RB, Fr. Class of 2009, No. 9
Orhian Johnson, FS, Fr. Class of 2008, No. 59
Travis Howard, CB, Fr. Class of 2008, No. 43
Joe Bauserman, QB, So. Class of 2004, enrolled at Ohio State in 2007 after minor-league baseball career
*Also recruited: DE Walter Dublin (No. 85 in 2006, transferred); CB James Scott (No. 18 in 2007, transferred); RB Carlos Hyde (No. 50 in 2009, didn't qualify academically).
-- Doug Lesmerises
Jim Tressel's Florida roots go back to 1983, when he started recruiting the state as an Ohio State assistant. He continued to troll for players there when he took over at Youngstown State in 1986.
"We couldn't beat the ACC or the SEC [for Florida players], but the Mid-American teams, we had no problem, We couldn't beat them on a soul in Ohio, but in Florida they didn't beat us very often," Tressel said.
"So we've been down there for a long time. I have a lot of people that say, 'Hey, I sent a guy to him that has gone on and graduated,' and at least when we go into a high school, they don't say, 'I don't know him, I never met the guy.'"
Coincidentally, the Florida recruiting success began soon after the Florida Gators blew out the Buckeyes in the national championship game following the 2006 season. To compete with the elite teams nationally, some Southern talent is a must.
"Ohio has good talent, too, but I think it's good to have diversity," said Mike Brewster, Ohio State's sophomore center from Orlando. "Every part of the country has different breeds of players."
The Buckeyes rarely make a Florida foray without a reason. Often it's a player with family in the Ohio area, and sometimes it's because someone else planted a Buckeye nut in the fertile Florida soil. The late Sonny Spielman, father of OSU legend Chris Spielman, was an assistant coach at Etienne Sabino and Travis Howard's school. The Carter connection at Aquinas -- he's an assistant coach there -- can't hurt.
"It's based on relationships and reasons," Tressel said. "We don't spin our wheels. We don't take the top 20 guys in Florida and say we'd love to have them. You're not going to get them."
Often, the players themselves aren't even sure how it happened. One minute they're Miami football fans, dreaming of playing for the Hurricanes and staying in the sun, and the next minute, they're dressed in scarlet and gray and seeing snow for the first time.
It's hard to find a current Florida Buckeye who wasn't angry after Ohio State beat Miami in the 2002 national title game.
"I was like, 'I hate that school, they beat my team,'" said junior starting linebacker Rolle of Immokalee, Fla. "I was young then, ignorant."
This was a generation that grew up rooting for Miami, the school known as "The U," which won 34 straight games from 2000-02.
"All anybody talked about was going to the Florida schools. If you weren't going to Miami, you were nothing," redshirt freshman cornerback Howard, a Miami native, said.
But once that streak was ended and the facade cracked by Ohio State that night in the Arizona desert, the Buckeyes at least had a foot in the door as they zeroed in on their targets.
"In middle school I thought I was going to play at Miami," Brewster said. "But I don't know, there's something about Ohio State. When I thought about Ohio State back in high school, it didn't seem like the state of Ohio. It just seems like it's own thing, like the program sticks out really big. Like USC, I don't think of Southern California.
"USC is USC. Ohio State is Ohio State."
After the initial interest, the weather is usually an issue.
"I never really left Florida before," safety Orhian Johnson of St. Petersburg, Fla., said, "but when I came to visit it wasn't that cold. They told me I'd never have to play in snow, so that was one of the biggest things."
If the Buckeyes can get past the cold and the distance and the pull of home, then the recruitment comes to what it does with every player -- those connections.
"I got to know Jim Bollman and Darrell Hazell and Jim Tressel," Brewster said, "and I was like, 'I can't tell these guys no. I love these guys.'"
"It felt like home to me, and guys welcomed me with open arms," Rolle said. "That's what I got here that I didn't get at Florida. At Florida, everybody had their noses high in the air thinking they're almighty. But here, people were on the same page."
The more Florida players arrive in Columbus, the more there is for the next crop of Florida recruits to consider. Joyner, the Aquinas senior ranked as the No. 2 cornerback prospect in the country by Rivals.com, has narrowed his choices to Florida State, Florida and Ohio State. He's already friends with several of the Florida Buckeyes.
"I never thought I'd be interested in Ohio State," Joyner said.
These days, Florida players like him are.
This could be the swing in talent OSU needs to, not only win, but dominate BCS games. It could be similar to the infusion of talent Nebraska had in the mid-90's (namely-speed) when they suddenly stopped getting blown out and started that incredible run in the latter half of the decade.
There is still a way's to go, of course.
With the tradition of winning and excellence, along with the high number of Buckeyes that turn into winning NFL players, it is obvious why The Ohio State University is attractive to future recruits from all walks of life.
As for Duron Carter, it is really good to see the next generation of Carters in Scarlett and Gray. Rock the house on the 12!
GO BUCKS!!! O-H...!
To be fair... Duron Carter has ties to Ohio State and Carlos Hyde is originally from Northeast Ohio.
gee really....Miamai, Florida State and the last few years it was Florida...Florida is the 5th largest state in the union with great weather, so playing "outdoor" sports is easy. Just look at Univ of South Florifda and Florida Atlantic, and now FIU. In just a few years they go from nothing to major programs. FAU doesnt even recruit outside of Broward County. FAU only recruited in 1 county and after a few years they were the "only team" in the state to win a Bowl game.(2 years back) that doesnt include long time programs at UCF,FAMU or Buthene Cookman. No Hockey teams tho.
The best thing about playing in Columbus is that you get to "go home" on the breaks.
At Florida, everybody had their noses high in the air thinking they're almighty....Sir you are correct...thats our Gators...Just wait until you try and get a job in Florida...employers are the same way....Gainesville is a great city if not the Gators....
TellYahWhat, as they say in southern Ahia,------ the Buckeyes will have a good year. Just one loss and that'll be USC.
Perfect fit, products of the Florida educational system. I think how to pose for your mugshot is a credit course senior year. The kid on the far left must have flunked. By the way, look at rosters of Gators,Longhorns, Trojans....very few out of state.
Nothing wrong with bringing some out of staters in to don the scarlet and grey! Personally, I'd like to see more of an effort into Texas. Shugarts and Guitton are from Texas... get a few more!
Naturally the life-line of the program is Ohio kids. It always will be. Mr. Brugundy above me needs to realize that our roster is still 90+% Ohio kids, just like Gators are Florida kids, Longhorns are Texas kids etc. Despite the infusion of Florida kids, the roster is still Ohio born and bred with "very few out of state."
jimmy2wilson is your typical SEC no brained redkneck. He is doing a good job of trying to rile people up and make others realize just how stupid people in the south can be. He doesn't understand that with a degree from tOSU Brian Rolle can go anywhere in the country and get a great job, he doesn't need to limit himself to Gainesville and it's backwards employers who would spite their own companies a quality employee due to his choice of college. I'm sure that is in the SEC Redkneck handbook somewhere: Article 5, Section 11 or something, "Hiring employees: don't be employin nun dem yankees from outside your own area as they may be culturted and educated way beyond your mental ability."
And please spare me the "how bout that title game, go gators" crap. It's old. Florida is an elite program and handed us our arses that night. How many more medals and trophy's do you people want for that? We've handed a lot of arses to people too over our time... the difference is we've been there, done that and been doing it since the 40's. Let's take a look at UF's illustrious history, and I mean lets's go back to the roots, not just since the late 1980's. That's what I thought. You'll just shut up now.
Anyways... this is good to see. Can't wait for Saturday!
scriptohio02,
As always, good points, but you forgot one that Florida fans never seem to like us mentioning:
We made ourselves lose when we injured our own Ted Ginn. Our plays were designed with him as one of the weapons. When we injured our very own Ginn, we ruined our own chances. We knew it, Florida knew it. The rest were just good PR. TTUN proved that in the year after at the Citrus Bowl.
But they don't like to talk about that, now do they? : )
Personally, I wouldn't mind seeing some scouting for Central Texas and Northwest Texas. When I were at AMEDD at Ft. Sam Houston, Texas, I had the chance to watch some high school football down there, and I can truly say that we can find some really tough and really fast talent there. At the very least, I'd consider looking for O-Line in that region.
As for USC, anyone who knows realizes that revenge is sweet, and we might have the edge on the Trojans, starting with one of the toughest places to play in anyone's career, and with the talent that the mainstream public had AND HADN'T seen yet.
It will be good, and I honestly predict that the Scarlett and Gray fans will be pleasantly pleased with the outcome, come the twelfth.
GO BUCKS!!! O-H...!
jhf77: C'mon--OSU lost to Florida b/c Ginn was injured? Okay, what about the loss to LSU the following year?
Maybe you guys were simply outmatched.
jhf77:
I-O!!!
You're right, we have weapons and schemes that nobody has seen or ssen us use in the past. I love what I'm reading in the PD, but The Dispatch and O-Zone are really covering it well this fall with inside scoop. The "pistol" I think can be deadly. The d-line rotations are finally using speed in place of brute force, as I read they have been working (along side Heyward) Rob Rose on the inside a lot.
I think USC comes down 1 simple tried and true formula: stop the run. I think we'll score points, typical USC defense takes 3-4 weeks to get in a groove. But up front is where the game is on the line: our d-line v their o-line. For all the flash and star players in this game, it all boils down to our front 4. Eerily similar to the Miami championship game.
Ginn getting hurt killed us. I still blame our early lack of commitment to running too, though. Early on, Beanie and Pittman were gashing them... we got out coached.
GO BUCKS!
Mining for Florida talent is not a new thing. Almost 20 years ago, when Ron Zook was recruiting for Ohio State, there were four players from one city (Sarasota) in Columbus.
BusterDoug
IMO we were outplayed, outcoached, out hustled, out manned... and it all started when TG went down. I guess what jhf77 and myself are saying is that any chance they had went out the window when Roy Hall smashed Ted Ginns foot after the opening kick. Listening to the Ohio State broadcast (I turn the tv sound off)it was apparent they had a lot if not all their eggs in TG's basket. When he went down, with 13:00+ minutes left in the first quarter, Marty Bannister was talking about a "deflated sideline". And, sure, that's a bad excuse, but factored with the above situations of being out coached and out manned etc it equalled eminent doom.
I blame LSU squarely on Tressel. We showed early we had the talent and speed to win... we were undisciplined (how many personal fouls did they get thrown on them?!) and our gameplan stunk. That game also had some big breaks for LSU: if Robiskie hangs on to that ball, it might have been different, same with the blocked field goal. Those were HUGE momentum swings in LSU's favor. Throw in LSU being an experienced team full of seniors, and the fact they were really good.
BusterDoug,
I second what ScriptOhio02 is saying, in that Teddy Ginn were a heavy proponent to the offensive structure, and the offensive scheme for that year revolved heavily around him. With Ginn's injury after the first play of the game, the "x factor" of the Ohio State game were crippled, and the improvisation efforts just couldn't match up.
As for LSU, I would have to give blame to the overly conservative play calling by Tressel, as well as some ineptitude shown by Jim Bollman, whose play calling seemed pretty one dimensional at times.
I won't discredit LSU's win... even though they were practically playing at home, LOL (C'mon, even you can't deny that, now can you?)
Regardless, Jim will have to win a BCS National Championship against the SEC if he wants to shut up the critics. I don't think anyone would disagree with that. But I do believe that Jim can and will accomplish this in the near future.
Of course, the end of the naysay starts with Southern Cal.
We will be ready.
GO BUCKS!!! O-H...!
scriptohio02,
I think that the coaching at THE Ohio State panicked after the "Teddy Ginn Touchdown Incident", as well as the breakdown of the second quarter the year after. I like Coach Tressel and will continue to sing his praise of reigniting Buckeye Football, but I also feel as if there needs to be more fire, almost in the same vein as Woody when they are down.
Now, Jim doesn't have to do that. It's not his style, but it'd be nice to see someone on the coaching in the role of "Asst. Head Coach" to be "Woody without the the punch to the neck" (Referencing Clemson linebacker Charlie Bauman in '78)
What they also need is to not be afraid to break the mold come championship gametime, and be adaptive, like the 2002 Fiesta Bowl, where Krenzel ended up making a few "kamakaze" plays and basically ran it down Miami's throat. That's not counting the phenomenal efforts by Cie Grant and Maurice Clarett.
One thing I notice about that BCS National Championship Game versus the other two were the adaptability and versatility that occured in the first game. There were moments in the Miami game that would've caused us to stutter in our step, but they overcame those hiccups and moved forward to a win.
We need to get back to that. Especially since we want to get back to the dance sometime either this year or next year.
GO BUCKS!!! O-H...!
JHF77 - honestly, I think you're the only other person I've seen make that comment about Ginn, and you couldn't be more right. After that game, all the analysts were saying Smith melted down, the defense was taken advantage of, and OSU was clearly the lesser candidate. Had Ginn not gotten injured after the first play of the game, UF would have had to protect against the deep threat, opening the middle for Gonzales and Wells. It all came down to that one key injury.
I am a CA resident born in Ohio, and am just starting to follow the Bucks in a more dedicated fashion. I could have sworn this was going to be a rebuilding/developing year, but the more I read, the more I realize that this team has a lot of potential.
jhf77
" along with the high number of Buckeyes that turn into winning NFL players"
Uh, exactly who?
Hasenpfeffer
"jhf77
" along with the high number of Buckeyes that turn into winning NFL players"
Uh, exactly who?"
You're kidding right? I'll throw out an obvious one for you: did you watch the Super Bowl by chance? Did you see the guy who made the game winning toe-tapping catch? He is just one of a TON of Buckeyes playing very well in the NFL.
Clearly, you watch and know very little about football. I'm typically not that blunt, but your comment is so moronic that it requires a quick hard slap to the cheek.
Wow!
jhf77
"I like Coach Tressel and will continue to sing his praise of reigniting Buckeye Football, but I also feel as if there needs to be more fire, almost in the same vein as Woody when they are down.
Now, Jim doesn't have to do that. It's not his style, but it'd be nice to see someone on the coaching in the role of "Asst. Head Coach" to be "Woody without the the punch to the neck" (Referencing Clemson linebacker Charlie Bauman in '78)"
Luke Fickel moving from the box to the sidelines sounds like an answer to your request!
Scriptohio
"He is just one of a TON of Buckeyes playing very well in the NFL."
Playing well, notable talent?
Again, who??
Santonio Holmes - Aside from his arrest record, Statistically, Holmes' production decreased when compared to his 2007 stats. He declined in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving average.
Troy Smith?
Shawn Springs??
Andy Katzenmoyer - uh yeahhhhh
Joe Montgomery??
Joe Germaine??
Na�il Diggs??
Steve Bellisari??
Michael Doss, again aside from his arrest record, now in the UFL
AJ Hawk - Just got his minutes slashed
Ted Ginn Jr. - make it or break it year?
Vernon Gholston - Alaready being called a bust
Big Daddy?
Alonzo?
(I won't mention Maurice)
jfh88 and scriptohio02:
Fair enough. I always root for the Bucks--as long as their not playing my alma mater! You Buck fans wouldn't respect me otherwise.
As for the USC contest, I think OSU has a shot at an upset as long as Tressel has the right plan, mainly DEFENSE (which is his specialty). I am even more encouraged with the latest development in Trojan land that a freshman will start the game. From what I've heard, he throws a lot of interceptions.
I HATE USC! Go Bucks!
Hasenpfeffer
I'm trying hard to ignore you, especially because we have had a good conversation going between some people with brains on this article.
Here you go...
Santonio Holmes
Mike Vrabel
Anthony Gonzalez
Kenny Peterson
Orlando Pace
Michael Jenkins
Antoine Winfield
Chris Gamble
Nate Clemens
Joey Galloway
Shawn Springs
Nick Mangold
AJ Hawk
Ted Ginn
Matt Wilhelm
I can go on... and don't go throwing numbers on the screen. Numbers mean crap to people who know football. I'm talking about contributing to their team, their overal worth.
So, let me repeat myself: Clearly, you watch and know very little about football. I'm typically not that blunt, but your comment is so moronic that it requires a quick hard slap to the cheek.
Wow!
Now, go away troll. We don't need your thoughtless banter.
Ok, fair enough. No more talk about bit players and practice squad stars in the NFL.
Lets discuss this article about mining the State of Florida for 3 start recruits (Howard & Bauserman - not to be confused w/Sha Nah Nah - and legacy recruits (Carter)
See I do know my foos-ball...
Antoine Winfield - Pro Bowl 2008
Santonio Holmes - Super Bowl MVP
Bit players? Practice squad stars?
No, my man, you don't know your football.
Mike Brewster - 5 star recruit
Etienne Sabino - 5 star recruit
Jamaal Berry - 5 star recruit
Legacy's? 3 star recruits?
No, my man, you don't know your football.
You're making me repeat myself, yet again: Now, go away troll. We don't need your thoughtless banter.
Ok, you've listed your 2008 Honorable Mentions and 3 5 stars. Carter is a legacy (Cris
Chekwa - No. 97 in the State - out of 100.
And don't get me started on Brewster, his brother goes here, in fact they're probably spooning in bed right now.
As for Bauserman and Howard, they are 3 twinkling stars - look it up, Nancy.
I'm going to another blog that actually has knowledgeable bloggers
"I'm going to another blog that actually has knowledgeable bloggers"
Appreciate it! Thanks for playing, we have some great parting gifts!
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