OSU Buckeyes: Lawrence Marshall
Recruiting week in review: Good and bad 
May, 13, 2013
May 13
9:45
AM ET
By
Brad Bournival | ESPN.com
You win some, you lose some.
One day after losing former Ohio State commit Lawrence Marshall (Southfield, Mich./Southfield) to Michigan, the Buckeyes landed their eighth commitment of the 2014 class.
It was a week of ups and downs, but one filled with Ohio State news, good and bad.
Here’s what happened in another busy week:
One day after losing former Ohio State commit Lawrence Marshall (Southfield, Mich./Southfield) to Michigan, the Buckeyes landed their eighth commitment of the 2014 class.
It was a week of ups and downs, but one filled with Ohio State news, good and bad.
Here’s what happened in another busy week:
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Buckeyes pick up proven recruiter/player
May, 12, 2013
May 12
5:56
PM ET
By
Brad Bournival | ESPN.com
Every school needs a leader in its recruiting class. Not one that stands out while on the field -- virtually every athlete does that at a BCS program -- but one that will take the lead when it comes to spreading the good word about the university.
Lonnie Johnson (Gary, Ind./West Side) could be that pledge for the Buckeyes in the class of 2014.
Lonnie Johnson (Gary, Ind./West Side) could be that pledge for the Buckeyes in the class of 2014.
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The RN Top 10 will appear throughout the camp and combine season and rank prospects based strictly on their on-field performance at that particular event. It does not reflect what their overall prospect ranking will be when the 2014 rankings are unveiled this spring.
ADDISON, Ill. -- The Chicago NFTC did not disappoint when it came to top talent. The Midwest showcased some very good looking talent across the board and all the way down to the 2016 class. The camp produced seven invitations to The Opening and one Elite 11 invitation.
10. Kyron Watson
East St. Louis (Ill.) East St. Louis | LB | 6-1, 210
Watson has started to see his stock rise recently, with offers coming in from Michigan, Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota, Purdue, Syracuse and TCU.
The No. 100 ranked player in the country isn't the biggest guy on the field, but his highlight tape shows that doesn't matter. He loves to hit and loves contact, which is a necessity at the linebacker spot.
He says his top two are currently Michigan and Kansas and he plans to visit Michigan on May 20.
NFTC linebacker coach Chris Gizzi on Watson: "Twitchy type guy. If anything he would be like a WILL. You talk about a football player and an inquisitive guy, a guy that asks the right questions and very football smart type player. He got better as the day went on."
ADDISON, Ill. -- The Chicago NFTC did not disappoint when it came to top talent. The Midwest showcased some very good looking talent across the board and all the way down to the 2016 class. The camp produced seven invitations to The Opening and one Elite 11 invitation.
10. Kyron Watson
East St. Louis (Ill.) East St. Louis | LB | 6-1, 210
Watson has started to see his stock rise recently, with offers coming in from Michigan, Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota, Purdue, Syracuse and TCU.
The No. 100 ranked player in the country isn't the biggest guy on the field, but his highlight tape shows that doesn't matter. He loves to hit and loves contact, which is a necessity at the linebacker spot.
He says his top two are currently Michigan and Kansas and he plans to visit Michigan on May 20.
NFTC linebacker coach Chris Gizzi on Watson: "Twitchy type guy. If anything he would be like a WILL. You talk about a football player and an inquisitive guy, a guy that asks the right questions and very football smart type player. He got better as the day went on."
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John Simon flourished at the LEO position in the Ohio State defense in 2012.
The standup defensive end recorded 44 tackles -- 14½ for loss -- nine sacks and forced a fumble in his nine games for Ohio State.
The next in line for the Buckeyes are players who likely are already familiar to fans as Noah Spence, Jamal Marcus, Steve Miller, Tracy Sprinkle and transfer Rashad Frazier have played this spring.
But who comes after that?
Current freshman Tyquan Lewis could fill in there as well, but all eyes have turned to 2014 and who might be in the mix.
The standup defensive end recorded 44 tackles -- 14½ for loss -- nine sacks and forced a fumble in his nine games for Ohio State.
The next in line for the Buckeyes are players who likely are already familiar to fans as Noah Spence, Jamal Marcus, Steve Miller, Tracy Sprinkle and transfer Rashad Frazier have played this spring.
But who comes after that?
Current freshman Tyquan Lewis could fill in there as well, but all eyes have turned to 2014 and who might be in the mix.
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The annual adidas Invitational is set to take place on Sunday, March 24, at Grand Valley State University, and as usual some of the top Midwest and national prospects will be on hand.
The camp, put on by Maximum Exposure, already has more than 40 prospects with offers on its roster and ready to compete. The event will put the athletes through individual events and one-on-one drills in the indoor facilities at Grand Valley.
As usual, Cass Tech High School will be represented well with 2014 prospects Damon Webb, Gary Hosey and William White. The underclassmen also will be on display for the Technicians, with 2015 quarterback Jayru Campbell, Joshua Alabi and running back Mike Weber on the roster.
The 2015 class might have a shot to steal the show at the event, with big names including wide receivers Brian Cole (Saginaw, Mich./Heritage) and Ray Buford (Southfield, Mich./Southfield), defensive end Jashon Cornell (St. Paul, Minn./Cretin-Derham) and defensive backs Tymeon Ollison (Akron, Ohio/Buchtel) and Tyriq Thompson (Detroit/King).
Thompson is the son of former Michigan standout Clarence Thompson and by all accounts could be a great player in his own right. Thompson will be joined by his teammates, 2014 linebacker Carl Fuller and defensive back Avonte Maddox, as well.
Defensive end Lawrence Marshall (Southfield, Mich./Southfield) has nothing really to prove with offers from Michigan, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Ole Miss and Tennessee, among others, but he will be in attendance nonetheless.
The camp, put on by Maximum Exposure, already has more than 40 prospects with offers on its roster and ready to compete. The event will put the athletes through individual events and one-on-one drills in the indoor facilities at Grand Valley.
As usual, Cass Tech High School will be represented well with 2014 prospects Damon Webb, Gary Hosey and William White. The underclassmen also will be on display for the Technicians, with 2015 quarterback Jayru Campbell, Joshua Alabi and running back Mike Weber on the roster.
The 2015 class might have a shot to steal the show at the event, with big names including wide receivers Brian Cole (Saginaw, Mich./Heritage) and Ray Buford (Southfield, Mich./Southfield), defensive end Jashon Cornell (St. Paul, Minn./Cretin-Derham) and defensive backs Tymeon Ollison (Akron, Ohio/Buchtel) and Tyriq Thompson (Detroit/King).
Thompson is the son of former Michigan standout Clarence Thompson and by all accounts could be a great player in his own right. Thompson will be joined by his teammates, 2014 linebacker Carl Fuller and defensive back Avonte Maddox, as well.
Defensive end Lawrence Marshall (Southfield, Mich./Southfield) has nothing really to prove with offers from Michigan, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Ole Miss and Tennessee, among others, but he will be in attendance nonetheless.
Meyer using hoops success in recruiting
March, 21, 2013
Mar 21
10:05
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By
Brad Bournival | ESPN.com
Winning is good business, especially when it comes to Ohio State and recruiting.
While many of the top athletes in the Class of 2014 have pointed to the Buckeyes being the only undefeated football team in Division I as a reason to look at the university, it goes beyond the gridiron.
In fact, it can rest on the hardwood as well, as the Ohio State men’s basketball team won the Big Ten Tournament for the third time in four years. In doing so, the Buckeyes locked up a No. 2 seed in the NCAA tournament.
While many of the top athletes in the Class of 2014 have pointed to the Buckeyes being the only undefeated football team in Division I as a reason to look at the university, it goes beyond the gridiron.
In fact, it can rest on the hardwood as well, as the Ohio State men’s basketball team won the Big Ten Tournament for the third time in four years. In doing so, the Buckeyes locked up a No. 2 seed in the NCAA tournament.
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OSU Mailbag: Of RBs, OGs, LBs and TEs
March, 14, 2013
Mar 14
10:00
AM ET
By
Brad Bournival | ESPN.com
It’s time to dip into the BuckeyeNation recruiting mailbag and answer some of your questions.
We’ll try to give everyone a chance to get their questions answered.
We encourage you to send your questions by Twitter at @bbournival, e-mail at brad.bournival.espn@gmail.com or by posting a question in the Horseshoe Pit forum.
We’ll try to give everyone a chance to get their questions answered.
We encourage you to send your questions by Twitter at @bbournival, e-mail at brad.bournival.espn@gmail.com or by posting a question in the Horseshoe Pit forum.
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Spring practice begins today at Ohio State, but the Buckeyes never stop recruiting.
On Feb. 6, Urban Meyer and Co. landed the third-ranked class in the nation after a 2012 recruiting campaign that put Ohio State sixth.
There are certain things we know about the Buckeyes as they fine-tune their lineup and other things that need addressed.
Here are five things we know about the future as they turn the recruiting calendar completely to 2014:
On Feb. 6, Urban Meyer and Co. landed the third-ranked class in the nation after a 2012 recruiting campaign that put Ohio State sixth.
There are certain things we know about the Buckeyes as they fine-tune their lineup and other things that need addressed.
Here are five things we know about the future as they turn the recruiting calendar completely to 2014:
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Ohio State recruiting: The week that was
February, 18, 2013
Feb 18
11:00
AM ET
By
Brad Bournival | ESPN.com
There was a commitment -- in basketball -- for Ohio State, of course there was a decommitment as well -- in football -- in what can only be deemed a crazy week for the Buckeyes.
Urban Meyer -- or Thad Matta for that matter -- never sleeps in the recruiting world as evidenced by yet another rough-and-tumble seven days.
Sunday brought news of running back Jonathan Hilliman planning a visit to Columbus, Ohio, while Cleveland John Hay wide receiver Deon Colvin said he loves the Buckeyes.
Urban Meyer -- or Thad Matta for that matter -- never sleeps in the recruiting world as evidenced by yet another rough-and-tumble seven days.
Sunday brought news of running back Jonathan Hilliman planning a visit to Columbus, Ohio, while Cleveland John Hay wide receiver Deon Colvin said he loves the Buckeyes.
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OSU-Michigan recruiting roundtable
February, 18, 2013
Feb 18
9:17
AM ET
By Tom VanHaaren, Chantel Jennings & Brad Bournival | ESPN.com
Every other week, Tom and Chantel invite in an outside writer to give some of their thoughts on the state of recruiting. Today, since they’ve started their Michigan-Ohio State position-by-position comparison, they decided to ask BuckeyeNation writer Brad Bournival to weigh in on the rivalry and its recruiting.
1) Defensive end Lawrence Marshall (Southfield, Mich./Southfield) recently committed to Ohio State, then decommitted after visiting Michigan State and Michigan. Where does he eventually end up?
1) Defensive end Lawrence Marshall (Southfield, Mich./Southfield) recently committed to Ohio State, then decommitted after visiting Michigan State and Michigan. Where does he eventually end up?
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It’s a good bet Ohio State coaches will be burning up cyberspace this weekend as they read all about some of the big combines that take place during President’s Day weekend.
From the Core 6 Showcase on Sunday to the Best of the Midwest Combine on Monday, there will be some big names hitting camps in an effort to get noticed.
It all starts Saturday in Massillon, Ohio, however, where football is considered a 365-day sport.
In the shadows of a place where Paul Brown and Earle Bruce once coached the Massillon Tigers, some of the more well known athletes will file into the Paul L. David Athletic Training Center to do work at the SPARQ Combine.
It’s an 80,000-square foot facility -- 20,000 square feet larger than the Cleveland Browns' facility, incidentally -- that cost $3 million to build.
While the facility is impressive in and of itself, so are the players headed out to Massillon this weekend.
From the Core 6 Showcase on Sunday to the Best of the Midwest Combine on Monday, there will be some big names hitting camps in an effort to get noticed.
It all starts Saturday in Massillon, Ohio, however, where football is considered a 365-day sport.
In the shadows of a place where Paul Brown and Earle Bruce once coached the Massillon Tigers, some of the more well known athletes will file into the Paul L. David Athletic Training Center to do work at the SPARQ Combine.
It’s an 80,000-square foot facility -- 20,000 square feet larger than the Cleveland Browns' facility, incidentally -- that cost $3 million to build.
While the facility is impressive in and of itself, so are the players headed out to Massillon this weekend.
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It’s time to camp.
With the signing period over, the need for the Class of 2014 to get noticed becomes paramount. This weekend, three big combines take place.
With the signing period over, the need for the Class of 2014 to get noticed becomes paramount. This weekend, three big combines take place.
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Michigan DE decommits from Ohio State
February, 13, 2013
Feb 13
10:59
PM ET
By
Brad Bournival | ESPN.com
After giving his commitment to the Buckeyes on Sunday, the recruitment of a 2014 defensive end out Michigan is on again three days later.
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Ohio State having success 'Up North'
February, 11, 2013
Feb 11
10:05
AM ET
By
Brad Bournival | ESPN.com
Former Ohio State coach John Cooper was famous for saying, “Put a fence around your border and recruit nationally.”
If the early 2014 recruiting class is any indication, Urban Meyer has made sure to add the phrase “and invade the surrounding areas of that school up north as well.”
So far, the Buckeyes have five junior commitments. Forty percent of those pledges come from just outside the shadows of Ann Arbor, Mich.
If the early 2014 recruiting class is any indication, Urban Meyer has made sure to add the phrase “and invade the surrounding areas of that school up north as well.”
So far, the Buckeyes have five junior commitments. Forty percent of those pledges come from just outside the shadows of Ann Arbor, Mich.
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Several big 2014 names enjoy OSU visit
February, 10, 2013
Feb 10
5:41
PM ET
By
Brad Bournival | ESPN.com
Nnational signing day went incredibly well for Ohio State.
Sunday wasn’t the same, but it was in the same neighborhood.
Sunday wasn’t the same, but it was in the same neighborhood.
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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.