OSU Buckeyes: Oklahoma State Cowboys
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. -- Myles Autry is still on the sidelines. A vicious injury to his knee last fall, with tears to his ACL, MCL and meniscus, has kept the Norcross (Ga.) High School athlete from participating in basketball, track, spring practice and now the summer camp series. And it is killing him.
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Quarterback Kyle Allen (Scottsdale, Ariz./Desert Mountain) knew he wanted to work quickly through the recruiting process. ESPN's No. 128 overall player and No. 5 pocket-passer began doing his homework on various schools throughout the country very early, and when it came time to narrow things to a final destination, he didn't take long at all.
Last Tuesday, Allen announced his final five schools: Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma State, Texas A&M and UCLA. Less than a week later, the 6-foot-3, 197-pound quarterback took to Twitter to announce he was ready to put an end to the process.
"I will be playing my college football for Coach Sumlin at TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY!! GIG EM!!," Allen posted.
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Early attention nothing new for WR Kirk 
May, 30, 2013
May 30
10:07
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By
Erik McKinney | ESPN.com
Christian Kirk has always been ahead of schedule.
This spring, the Scottsdale (Ariz.) Saguaro sophomore went toe-to-toe with the West region's top juniors on the field and on the recruiting trail. But that's nothing new for the 5-foot-10, 190-pound wide receiver.
Kirk began playing football at 5 years old, but don't tell that to the administrators of the league he played for.
This spring, the Scottsdale (Ariz.) Saguaro sophomore went toe-to-toe with the West region's top juniors on the field and on the recruiting trail. But that's nothing new for the 5-foot-10, 190-pound wide receiver.
Kirk began playing football at 5 years old, but don't tell that to the administrators of the league he played for.
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And then there were five for ESPN 150 quarterback Kyle Allen (Scottsdale, Ariz./Desert Mountain).
On Tuesday, the 6-foot-3, 197-pound quarterback trimmed his lengthy list of offers to a more manageable number. The nation's No. 128 overall player and No. 5 pocket passer announced on Twitter that his final five schools are Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma State, Texas A&M and UCLA.
When reached via text message, Allen broke down each of his finalists:
On Notre Dame: “Notre Dame is unique because it’s a national power, with a top ten world school -- great mix of the two. Also, very great people there.
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Recruiting is a tricky deal to figure out sometimes.
There’s Duke, which knew it had to replace seniors Mason Plumlee and Ryan Kelly with a stud frontcourt player in this recruiting class. But conversely, did the thought of potentially having to replace sophomore Shane Larkin even enter Jim Larranaga’s mind at the beginning of the season? I know Larkin is not likely going anywhere, but still, the point is that it can be hard to know exactly what you’re going to need to replace in recruiting.
To that point, Tom Crean knew Victor Oladipo was good, but no one saw this type of year coming from the now projected lottery pick.
Once the afterglow of this season wears off, many Wooden Award finalists will need replacing -- and that’s not an easy task. So while not every player on this list will turn pro, the point of this top 10 is to rate how well each team prepared for the contingency going forward in recruiting.
There’s Duke, which knew it had to replace seniors Mason Plumlee and Ryan Kelly with a stud frontcourt player in this recruiting class. But conversely, did the thought of potentially having to replace sophomore Shane Larkin even enter Jim Larranaga’s mind at the beginning of the season? I know Larkin is not likely going anywhere, but still, the point is that it can be hard to know exactly what you’re going to need to replace in recruiting.
To that point, Tom Crean knew Victor Oladipo was good, but no one saw this type of year coming from the now projected lottery pick.
Once the afterglow of this season wears off, many Wooden Award finalists will need replacing -- and that’s not an easy task. So while not every player on this list will turn pro, the point of this top 10 is to rate how well each team prepared for the contingency going forward in recruiting.
Top 10 Recruiting Replacements for Wooden Award Finalists
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ATHENS, Ga. -- ESPN Watch List wide receiver Demarre Kitt (Tyrone, Ga./Sandy Creek) recently cut his mammoth offer list down to a top-15 group of schools that he will consider.
“It got crazy at one point with almost everybody that offered me trying to talk to me,” Kitt said. “So I had to cut my list down to 15 schools. After spring practice I will cut it down to eight or 10. At the end of summer I will do five and then go from there.”
“It got crazy at one point with almost everybody that offered me trying to talk to me,” Kitt said. “So I had to cut my list down to 15 schools. After spring practice I will cut it down to eight or 10. At the end of summer I will do five and then go from there.”
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Ducks visit Wilson, but he still plans visits
January, 24, 2013
Jan 24
1:27
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By
Damon Sayles | ESPN.com
In an effort to keep ESPN 150 athlete Dontre Wilson (DeSoto, Texas/DeSoto) committed, Oregon decided to make its trip to the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex count.
To quote Wilson’s father Don, “They sent in the army.”
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Dontre Wilson monitoring Ducks' staff
January, 20, 2013
Jan 20
5:45
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By
Damon Sayles | ESPN.com
Sunday’s news of offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich being named Oregon’s new head coach was good news to ESPN 150 athlete and Ducks commit Dontre Wilson (DeSoto, Texas/DeSoto). However, according to his father, more needs to happen for Wilson to be totally sold -- or resold, in the eyes of some -- on the Ducks.
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Big visit, maybe two for Oregon commit
January, 17, 2013
Jan 17
2:55
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By
Damon Sayles | ESPN.com
ESPN 150 athlete and Oregon commit Dontre Wilson (DeSoto, Texas/DeSoto) is apparently ready to hit the road.
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Buckeyes fourth in Way-Too-Early Top 25
January, 8, 2013
Jan 8
1:27
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By RecruitingNation staff | ESPN.com
There are still seven months before the start of the 2013 season, and the teams and their order figure to change frequently, but it's never too early to take a look at the Way-Too-Early Top 25 for 2013.
And with three national championships in the past four years, there's no reason to change the team that's on top. Ohio State, with a schedule that's conducive for another unbeaten run, is ranked No. 4.
Also see:
Kevin Mouhon picks up Ohio State offer
January, 5, 2013
Jan 5
1:30
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By
Brad Bournival | ESPN.com
Make that 14.
It’s no secret Ohio State coach Urban Meyer has an affinity for athletes from the state of Georgia. The two-time national champion proved it once again by offering 2014 outside linebacker Kevin Mouhon (Norcross, Ga./Norcross).
The 6-foot-1, 210-pound Mouhon becomes the 14th junior from the Peach State to be offered by the Buckeyes and the third from Norcross. Incidentally, the other two are running back Myles Autry and defensive end Lorenzo Carter.
It’s no secret Ohio State coach Urban Meyer has an affinity for athletes from the state of Georgia. The two-time national champion proved it once again by offering 2014 outside linebacker Kevin Mouhon (Norcross, Ga./Norcross).
The 6-foot-1, 210-pound Mouhon becomes the 14th junior from the Peach State to be offered by the Buckeyes and the third from Norcross. Incidentally, the other two are running back Myles Autry and defensive end Lorenzo Carter.
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#BlueChipBattles: Dec. 21
December, 21, 2012
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By RecruitingNation staff | ESPN.com
ESPN.comReuben Foster (center) is torn between good friends Dee Liner (left) and Tray Matthews (right).No. 1 ILB Reuben Foster has voiced his desire to play with at least one of his SEC-bound friends next season. But will he follow Tray Matthews to Georgia or hook up with Dee Liner wherever the ESPN 150 DL settles? It remains to be seen, but the mystery surrounding his recruitment keeps Foster at the top of our #BlueChipBattles.
Each week, RecruitingNation summons its writers from around the country to compile a list of the top 10 battles for elite football recruits leading up to February's signing day.
Here are this week's top battles
, and you can take a shot at ranking the top 10 recruiting battles on SportsNation.#BlueChipBattles: Nov. 30
November, 30, 2012
11/30/12
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By RecruitingNation staff | ESPN.com
ESPN.comCarl Lawson, Dee Linerand Reuben Foster are still committed to Auburn, but the Tigers' coaching situation could change things for the three ESPN 150 recruits.Auburn bid farewell to head coach Gene Chizik on Sunday. Could the Tigers also be saying goodbye to a trio of ESPN 150 recruits who could take their talents elsewhere?
Each week, RecruitingNation summons its writers from around the country to compile a list of the top 10 battles for elite football recruits leading up to February's signing day.
Here are this week's top battles
, and you can take a shot at ranking the top 10 recruiting battles on SportsNation.
The weather at Ohio State was a bit startling for defensive end Da'Shawn Hand, who is expected to be one of the prospects in the nation for the 2014 class.
"It was very cold!!!" the junior defensive end from Woodbridge (Va.) stated to ESPN via text message on Sunday after watching the Buckeyes beat Michigan 26-21 on Saturday. "... but the stadium was nice."
The temperature at game time for Hand's visit was in the mid-30s. When asked what else stood out about the visit, Hand stated, "A lot of die-hard fans [and] great tradition."
"It was very cold!!!" the junior defensive end from Woodbridge (Va.) stated to ESPN via text message on Sunday after watching the Buckeyes beat Michigan 26-21 on Saturday. "... but the stadium was nice."
The temperature at game time for Hand's visit was in the mid-30s. When asked what else stood out about the visit, Hand stated, "A lot of die-hard fans [and] great tradition."
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#BlueChipBattles: Nov. 16
November, 16, 2012
11/16/12
12:13
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By RecruitingNation staff | ESPN.com
ESPN.comUncommitted 2013 running backs Alvin Kamara and Derrick Green.ESPN 100 running backs Alvin Kamara and Derrick Green can score from anywhere on the field thanks to their breakaway speed, an attribute that makes them very attractive recruits to the Oregon Ducks. Oregon's pursuit of the duo headlines this week’s #BlueChipBattles.
Click through for our list to rank the top 10 recruiting battles
.ABOUT BUCKEYE NATION
Austin Ward
Austin Ward joined ESPN.com in 2012 after five years as a college football writer at the Casper (Wyo.) Star-Tribune and the Knoxville (Tenn.) News Sentinel. The award-winning journalist lives with his wife in Columbus, Ohio. Email him at ajward.espn@gmail.com.
Brad Bournival
Brad Bournival, a lifetime Northeast Ohio resident, joined ESPN in 2012 and is the recruiting writer for BuckeyeNation. He has covered sports at the professional, college and high school level for 16 years. Recently, Bournival was a freelance writer for The Plain Dealer, The Medina Gazette and SportsInk.com. Email him at bradbournival.espn@gmail.com.