09' Top 10 Ohio Kids (1-5)

You guys have asked me about 09' and I have been hard at work looking at and evaluating next years talent. As good as Ohio is this year, its looking that next year is going to be even better than this year! Another piece of good news for us Buckeye fans is that OSU is in great position with almost all of them! You wanted it, so here it is...my first Top 10 for 09'. P.S: This list will change as more prospects come to the forefront.

1) LB-Storm Klein (Licking Valley, Ohio)
At 6'3-230 already, it is safe to say that Klein is going to only get bigger, and will be a linebacker at the next level. Klein is big, fast, and has terrific feet. That is what jumped out at me most. He is so nimble and has good vision as well. For a kid his size to be juking smaller kids when he is carrying the football speaks volumes to his athletic ability. He will be a Top 100 nationally next year, and he is a huge Buckeye fan. He already has a verbal Buckeye offer and I fully expect him to be the Beanie Wells of this coming class and verbal very early in the process.

2) DT-Johnny Simon (Youngstown Cardinal Mooney, Ohio)
People worried about Simon's size...6'3-260, shouldn't. This is a very powerful individual at the point of attack and has the frame to get up to the 290-310 range and be a space eating monster in the middle. Simon has very quick hands, quick feet, and maybe most importantly plays with a nasty disposition. Simon will be very important to continuing to improve the depth along that defensive line for the future. What's not to like about him? A mean kid up front who has a winning pedigree, and has played the top competition in Ohio for 2 years and by the time he gets to college will be further along in his physical development. OSU has also verbally offered him, and it appears that Notre Dame will be a big-time player for his services. But his sister goes to OSU, and JT is already on this kid early in the process, so I like our chances in this battle for another kid that I feel is a Top 100 national recruit by the time 09' comes around.

3) WR-Chris Fields (Painesville Harvey, Ohio)
I have seen this kid play in person, and man is he a phenomenal prospect on the outside. He is an OSU caliber player right now, and with continued growth and development will only get better. Fields has good size at 6'3-185, has trail-blazer speed, and is a viable option hands wise to go over the middle and be effective in traffic. Painesville Harvey's re-emergance as a player in Ohio High School football is much due to him and some of the other solid athletes they have at that school. Another player who loves Ohio State openly, and with an offer, would probably commit on the spot or soon after. Also yet another Ohio kid that I think would be strongly considered for national Top 100 status.

4) LB-Julius Ferrell (Youngstown Liberty, Ohio)
Linebacker for the 09' class in Ohio is OUTSTANDING. And this kid is right there in being mentioned as the best in Ohio. When I first saw him on film, the first thing I thought was..."what a hitter!" This guy hits like a brick s***house, and will work your mom over afterwards for good measure. His highlight film is difficult to watch...if your the opposition! Ferrell adds a terrific blend of play recognition, pursuit to the football, and playmaking ability to the LB position. My vote for best hitter this year from what I've seen on film this year. Yet another player that should be mentioned for national Top 100 status, and certainly 150 consideration.

5) RB/S-Darrell Mason (Youngstown Ursuline, Ohio)
Very fluid athlete. Terrific size to play either RB or S at the next level. 6'1-210 with good top end speed that as a runner once he gets to the second level, can juke you or run you over. As a DB I came away impressed with his ability to meet a runner one on one at the boundary and make good solid form tackles. While I don't think he has gamebreaker speed, Mason's strength and foot balance make up for that, and would still allow him to be a very good runner at the next level. Another kid that Ohio State is well aware of and there is a very strong pool of kids coming from the Youngstown area, bodes very well for JT and the staff for reason that I do not need to state to you. Mason also seems to like the Bucks, and another kid that should be in the conversation for Top 100 and 150 honors. Very good football player.

I will work on getting up (6-10) to wrap up this post...please leave comments with your thoughts, disagreements, or any other questions, and I will do my best to get back to you....O-H-I-O!

Seems as though the city of Youngstown is stacked. I assume JT's connections in the city will help immensely with these kids?

What are our chances to get Simon? Seems like we've not had much luck at Cardinal Mooney.

No love for the Dayton area?

Originally Posted by SanDiegoBuckeye

No love for the Dayton area?

Dayton area has been down for the last few years now...Youngstown actually has been as well. But Youngstown is definately coming back strong in 09' with around 4-5 guys in the top 10 of Ohio. No one from Dayton of real significance has emerged from that area for 09' either but it is still early.

Originally Posted by jtothero

Seems as though the city of Youngstown is stacked. I assume JT's connections in the city will help immensely with these kids?

What are our chances to get Simon? Seems like we've not had much luck at Cardinal Mooney.

Youngstown has 4-7 prospects in that area that will/should receive interest from OSU. Yes that area is loaded in 09' and JT is a fixture in that area which is why so many of them are so high on the Buckeyes.

I have spoken on Cardinal Mooney on this board previously. The Bucks have lost out on legacies...(The McCarthy's & Zordich) and have far better options than Beachum and Hill, even though they are both terrific football players. Derrell Johnson last year would've been a Buckeye if his grades were in order. They didn't even offer Beachum and Hill, and if they had...they'd have been Buckeyes. So there are some circumstances into their failures to recruit Mooney.
Simon however, is a hot commodity right out of the gate. He has been offered early, his sister goes to Ohio State, and Tressel and the staff have been active down in that area. I think Simon will break the tough losing streak that Tressel is having down there.

I will say that a place it is nice to see some OSU caliber talent returning to is Northeastern Ohio. Current OSU verbal Nic DiLillo is from Madison near the PA border. And Chris Fields is from neighboring Painesville Harvey. This has been a dead area for big-time college football talent for years...but it looks like some players are even starting to emerge from that area as well. Very nice to see.

Where ever talent arises, tOSU recruits shall be all over it like white on rice.

Originally Posted by BuckeyeFan08

Where ever talent arises, tOSU recruits shall be all over it like white on rice.

That is truth sir. Youngstown has as much talent in it this year, as it has had over probably the last 3 years combined. Also remember that the Youngstown area is pretty big and have multiple HS to pull it general talent base from so it goes without saying that it is good to see that Youngstown is back and producing strong OSU type talent.

Ohio is loaded in 09.

Originally Posted by MagicBuc

Ohio is loaded in 09.

Ohio seems to be loaded almost every year. I have to agree with onezuke on the recruits. Youngstown does seem to have some great talent coming up.