Daequan Cook Says "Read Monday's News and Views"

Drew Thurman (2:54 p.m.)

Former Buckeye basketball star Daequan Cook cruised by the competition two nights ago in the NBA three point shooting contest, and didn't even look like he cared. What does he care about you ask? Well, for one, he wants you to read the headlines in this week's installment of News and Views...

1) ESPN's Todd McShay and Mel Kiper have been doing a draft special all day today. In McShay's latest mock draft Malcolm Jenkins has fallen to ninth with the Packers, but he has Beanie Wells up at No. 16 going ahead of Knowshon Moreno with the Chargers.

On the other hand, Laurinaitis' stock seems to be falling, at least according to Scouts Inc. They actually have all three USC linebackers ahead of him in the rankings, but they may change when workout time rolls around. 

2) The big news today is that Nick Montana is in Columbus for a visit with Tressel and the Buckeyes. I am a little shocked he is this interested in Ohio State, since teams like Texas, USC, and Tennesse all "supposedly" have better systems for pro-style quarterbacks, but that does not minimize how exciting the potential here is.

For even more information on Montana and some of the other quarterbacks the Buckeyes have in mind, Our Honor Defend has a great piece on it!

3) I spent almost the entire past week looking at film of the most sought after guys for the Buckeyes in the 2010 class, and while I hate to say it, Jordan Hicks blows me away. He recently was named the number one player in Ohio in the 2010 class by Steve Helwagen, and the film shows you why.

His instincts are incredible, and he comes up and makes plays with some serious speed and quickness. He may have only recorded 70 tackles last season, but he has potential that is through the roof. He has Texas listed as the early favorite, and even though the Buckeyes are loaded at linebacker, it will hurt to lose this young man.