OSU Buckeyes: Marcelys Jones
Glenville pipeline still flowing to OSU 
May, 21, 2013
May 21
9:30
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By
Brad Bournival | ESPN.com
Under Jim Tressel, it was hard not to trip over a Tarblooder.
Ohio State’s lineup was loaded with Glenville products under the former Buckeyes coach as he tried to keep a budding pipeline strong. During his stay, Tressel managed to get 16 Tarblooders to sign national letters of intent.
He had his hits with players such Troy Smith, Ted Ginn Jr. and Donte Whitner. He had his misses with Jonathan Newsome, Shawntell Rowell and Freddie Lenix.
Ohio State’s lineup was loaded with Glenville products under the former Buckeyes coach as he tried to keep a budding pipeline strong. During his stay, Tressel managed to get 16 Tarblooders to sign national letters of intent.
He had his hits with players such Troy Smith, Ted Ginn Jr. and Donte Whitner. He had his misses with Jonathan Newsome, Shawntell Rowell and Freddie Lenix.
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Demetrius Knox (Fort Worth, Texas/All Saints Episcopal) has started with one, and it’s the one Ohio State fans were hoping it would be.
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Sometimes an athlete just knows what he wants.
While it took Lonnie Johnson (Gary, Ind./West Side) a few more months than anticipated, the two-way threat picked Ohio State on Sunday.
When an offer came in December from the Buckeyes, the 6-foot-2, 180-pound wide receiver said he wanted to make his announcement just days later, but instead held off to let his teammates from the Class of 2013 take center stage.
Five months removed from the Ohio State offer, Johnson made it official with a commitment to the Buckeyes, becoming the eighth member of the Buckeyes’ 2014 class.
In choosing Ohio State, Johnson turned down offers from Bowling Green, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Missouri, Nebraska and Purdue and interest from Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame and Texas A&M.
While it took Lonnie Johnson (Gary, Ind./West Side) a few more months than anticipated, the two-way threat picked Ohio State on Sunday.
When an offer came in December from the Buckeyes, the 6-foot-2, 180-pound wide receiver said he wanted to make his announcement just days later, but instead held off to let his teammates from the Class of 2013 take center stage.
Five months removed from the Ohio State offer, Johnson made it official with a commitment to the Buckeyes, becoming the eighth member of the Buckeyes’ 2014 class.
In choosing Ohio State, Johnson turned down offers from Bowling Green, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Missouri, Nebraska and Purdue and interest from Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame and Texas A&M.
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Offensive line: Slow and steady wins race
May, 10, 2013
May 10
10:00
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By
Brad Bournival | ESPN.com
Mason Cole (Tarpon Springs, Fla./East Lake) will head off to Ann Arbor, Mich., next fall.
Quenton Nelson (Red Bank, N.J./Red Bank Catholic) and Sam Mustipher (Olney, Md./Our Lady Counsel) are going to play at Notre Dame.
Miami (Fla.) picked up its headlining offensive lineman in Kc McDermott (Wellington, Fla./Palm Beach), while Ole Miss has nabbed Andy Bauer (St. Louis, Mo./De Smet Jesuit).
Braden Smith (Olathe, Kan./Olathe) looks like he might stay in the Midwest and Orlando Brown Jr. (Duluth, Ga./Peachtree Ridge) is earmarked for Tennessee.
After admittedly missing on the offensive line in 2013, Urban Meyer is trying to make headway in this year’s recruiting class at a position of desperate need with four senior starters slated to leave in the fall.
Quenton Nelson (Red Bank, N.J./Red Bank Catholic) and Sam Mustipher (Olney, Md./Our Lady Counsel) are going to play at Notre Dame.
Miami (Fla.) picked up its headlining offensive lineman in Kc McDermott (Wellington, Fla./Palm Beach), while Ole Miss has nabbed Andy Bauer (St. Louis, Mo./De Smet Jesuit).
Braden Smith (Olathe, Kan./Olathe) looks like he might stay in the Midwest and Orlando Brown Jr. (Duluth, Ga./Peachtree Ridge) is earmarked for Tennessee.
After admittedly missing on the offensive line in 2013, Urban Meyer is trying to make headway in this year’s recruiting class at a position of desperate need with four senior starters slated to leave in the fall.
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We've been ranking top Ohio State targets by position for a few months now, but what some want to know is who is the best in Ohio.
Like the lists before them, the criteria is the same. In order to qualify, these standout juniors must have an offer from Ohio State and not be committed somewhere else.
That cut the list down considerably, as only 12 players from the Buckeye state have been offered so far. With five already in the fold and three committed elsewhere, just four names survived the cut.
Here they are in order:
Like the lists before them, the criteria is the same. In order to qualify, these standout juniors must have an offer from Ohio State and not be committed somewhere else.
That cut the list down considerably, as only 12 players from the Buckeye state have been offered so far. With five already in the fold and three committed elsewhere, just four names survived the cut.
Here they are in order:
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As May begins, the 2014 recruiting class appears to be taking shape. While it’s a small class -- right now Ohio State can sign only 14 prospects -- it could grow through attrition. Bradley Roby probably will move on to the NFL following the season. There could be another leaving early -- say someone such as Ryan Shazier -- and there most likely will be a few transfers.
That said we’ll put the number at 18 in the class for right now and take a look at who is in the fold and who looks to be the clubhouse leader at each position.
Again, it’s early May, so don’t set this in stone. It’s just a look at who might fall the Buckeyes’ way before things are finished.
That said we’ll put the number at 18 in the class for right now and take a look at who is in the fold and who looks to be the clubhouse leader at each position.
Again, it’s early May, so don’t set this in stone. It’s just a look at who might fall the Buckeyes’ way before things are finished.
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Recruiting mailbag: Grid and hoop dreams
April, 26, 2013
Apr 26
10:00
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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, by e-mail at brad.bournival.espn@gmail.com or by posting a question in the Horseshoe Pit forum.
@TShaw07: Which wide receivers do you feel Ohio State is most likely to land?
We’ll try to give everyone a chance to get their questions answered.
We encourage you to send your questions by Twitter at @bbournival, by e-mail at brad.bournival.espn@gmail.com or by posting a question in the Horseshoe Pit forum.
@TShaw07: Which wide receivers do you feel Ohio State is most likely to land?
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Recruiting mailbag: The next big thing
April, 19, 2013
Apr 19
10:00
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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, by 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, by e-mail at brad.bournival.espn@gmail.com or by posting a question in the Horseshoe Pit forum.
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Gray matters: It's all Ohio State for Jones
April, 17, 2013
Apr 17
9:10
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By
Brad Bournival | ESPN.com
Calm down.
That’s what Marcelys Jones (Cleveland/Glenville) is doing and that’s what he wants Ohio State fans to do as well.
Jones, who visited the Buckeyes on April 6, made a few comments on Twitter a few months ago that didn’t exactly jibe with Ohio State followers.
That’s what Marcelys Jones (Cleveland/Glenville) is doing and that’s what he wants Ohio State fans to do as well.
Jones, who visited the Buckeyes on April 6, made a few comments on Twitter a few months ago that didn’t exactly jibe with Ohio State followers.
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WRs focus of Ohio State visitors weekend
April, 12, 2013
Apr 12
10:05
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By
Brad Bournival | ESPN.com
Last weekend, the stars came out to see Ohio State.
One ESPN Watch List junior after another watched the Buckeyes practice and the scarlet and gray picked up linebacker commitments from Sam Hubbard (Cincinnati/Moeller) and Kyle Berger (Cleveland/St. Ignatius).
While the list isn’t as strong for the spring game in Cincinnati’s Paul Brown Stadium on Saturday, there are still some big names on their way.
One ESPN Watch List junior after another watched the Buckeyes practice and the scarlet and gray picked up linebacker commitments from Sam Hubbard (Cincinnati/Moeller) and Kyle Berger (Cleveland/St. Ignatius).
While the list isn’t as strong for the spring game in Cincinnati’s Paul Brown Stadium on Saturday, there are still some big names on their way.
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2014 recruiting coming into focus at OSU
April, 8, 2013
Apr 8
10:05
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By
Brad Bournival | ESPN.com
There is one thing very evident in terms of Ohio State following a huge week of visitors.
The Class of 2014 -- slated to be between 14 to 17 members -- is nearing the halfway mark and there are two positions the Buckeyes are zeroing in on.
The Class of 2014 -- slated to be between 14 to 17 members -- is nearing the halfway mark and there are two positions the Buckeyes are zeroing in on.
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Lattimore loves Ohio State's special day
April, 6, 2013
Apr 6
8:02
PM ET
By
Brad Bournival | ESPN.com
Anyone who has hung around Marshon Lattimore (Cleveland/Glenville) long enough knows the ESPN Watch List junior is a man of few words.
Long-winded answers won’t fly out of the mouth of the 6-foot, 178-pound Lattimore, but hang around long enough and he’ll tell you exactly what he thinks after taking a visit.
One of the most sought-after juniors in the country, Lattimore was back on Ohio State’s campus Saturday and loved what he saw.
Long-winded answers won’t fly out of the mouth of the 6-foot, 178-pound Lattimore, but hang around long enough and he’ll tell you exactly what he thinks after taking a visit.
One of the most sought-after juniors in the country, Lattimore was back on Ohio State’s campus Saturday and loved what he saw.
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Commitment No. 6 in the Class of 2014 is in the books and for Sam Hubbard (Cincinnati/Archbishop Moeller) it was just a natural fit.
Mere days after giving his decommitment to Notre Dame as a lacrosse player, the outside linebacker found a new home at Ohio State, and in a different sport, football.
Courtesy of Sam HubbardSam Hubbard became the sixth commit in Ohio State's 2014 class on Friday.“You’re representing something that’s a national symbol,” Hubbard said. “I’m really excited to be a part of Buckeye Nation, which stretches from sea to shining sea. It’s great to be part of such a big family and such a successful program.
“I visited a few weeks ago and was sold right away. I did a good job of keeping that to myself. I knew all along when I visited this time I was going to be ready to commit. I love everything about it. Coach [Urban] Meyer and his staff were just great in expressing an interest in me and telling me what they want from me.”
The Buckeyes rolled out the red carpet for the 6-foot-5, 225-pound Hubbard, who had one-on-one meetings with both Meyer and university president E. Gordon Gee on Friday.
Ohio State is already familiar to Hubbard and his family, however, as his sister Madison is currently a senior at the university. Sam brought along his mother on Friday as well.
In giving his commitment to the Buckeyes, Hubbard turned down offers from Boston College, Illinois, Louisville, Miami (Fla.), Miami (Ohio), Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio and Stanford and interest from Duke.
Hubbard becomes the first linebacker taken in the junior class in what the Buckeyes hope is a strong position for them in 2014. He joins running back Parris Campbell Jr. (Akron, Ohio/St. Vincent-St. Mary), defensive tackle Dylan Thompson (Lombard, Ill./Montini Catholic), cornerback Damon Webb (Detroit/Cass Tech) and offensive tackles Marcelys Jones (Cleveland/Glenville) and Kyle Trout (Lancaster, Ohio/Lancaster) as early pledges for the Buckeyes.
Playing free safety last season, Hubbard registered 75 tackles -- seven for loss -- forced two fumbles, intercepted two passes and also had a fumble recovery.
And just because Hubbard committed doesn’t mean he’s done with the Buckeyes until February.
“I’ve been talking to other recruits who are big targets for Ohio State,” Hubbard said. “I’m trying to tell them that we have a chance to win a national championship here. I’ve been talking to kids like Kyle Berger. I just committed today so I’m not sure what my role will be, but I’m going to help out recruiting real soon.”
Mere days after giving his decommitment to Notre Dame as a lacrosse player, the outside linebacker found a new home at Ohio State, and in a different sport, football.
Courtesy of Sam HubbardSam Hubbard became the sixth commit in Ohio State's 2014 class on Friday.“I visited a few weeks ago and was sold right away. I did a good job of keeping that to myself. I knew all along when I visited this time I was going to be ready to commit. I love everything about it. Coach [Urban] Meyer and his staff were just great in expressing an interest in me and telling me what they want from me.”
The Buckeyes rolled out the red carpet for the 6-foot-5, 225-pound Hubbard, who had one-on-one meetings with both Meyer and university president E. Gordon Gee on Friday.
Ohio State is already familiar to Hubbard and his family, however, as his sister Madison is currently a senior at the university. Sam brought along his mother on Friday as well.
In giving his commitment to the Buckeyes, Hubbard turned down offers from Boston College, Illinois, Louisville, Miami (Fla.), Miami (Ohio), Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio and Stanford and interest from Duke.
Hubbard becomes the first linebacker taken in the junior class in what the Buckeyes hope is a strong position for them in 2014. He joins running back Parris Campbell Jr. (Akron, Ohio/St. Vincent-St. Mary), defensive tackle Dylan Thompson (Lombard, Ill./Montini Catholic), cornerback Damon Webb (Detroit/Cass Tech) and offensive tackles Marcelys Jones (Cleveland/Glenville) and Kyle Trout (Lancaster, Ohio/Lancaster) as early pledges for the Buckeyes.
Playing free safety last season, Hubbard registered 75 tackles -- seven for loss -- forced two fumbles, intercepted two passes and also had a fumble recovery.
And just because Hubbard committed doesn’t mean he’s done with the Buckeyes until February.
“I’ve been talking to other recruits who are big targets for Ohio State,” Hubbard said. “I’m trying to tell them that we have a chance to win a national championship here. I’ve been talking to kids like Kyle Berger. I just committed today so I’m not sure what my role will be, but I’m going to help out recruiting real soon.”
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.
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
Lattimore to visit Ohio State on Saturday
April, 2, 2013
Apr 2
2:10
PM ET
By
Brad Bournival | ESPN.com
Athlete Marshon Lattimore (Cleveland/Glenville) indicated in a text message that he will be on the Ohio State campus Saturday and is bringing his mother, father and uncle along with him.
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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.