An Interview with Alex Gleitman from Eleven Warriors about Ohio State Football

We caught up with Alex from Eleven Warriors, and got him to talk about the Buckeye recruiting situation, Tressel, and the future. Check it out...

What is your overall impression of Ohio State's 2009 class?

"Well when you look at this class one thing comes to mind: We filled needs. Clearly the Buckeyes have had trouble in the trenches the last couple of years, especially against elite teams such as Florida, LSU, USC, and even Penn State this season.

Needs on a thin offensive line were filled with the four incoming OL we have in this class and we did a pretty decent job on defense with Fellows, Simon, Newsome, and Bellamy.

Also, with Donald Washington departing for the NFL, a red flag was put up for the CB position opposite Chekwa and the staff brought in a bunch of talent that can compete to play there right away. Other than that I think the class is well rounded at all positions and we got the best talent in the state and got some great athletes from out of state."

What players stand out for the Buckeyes in this class?

"There are obviously some great players that stand out in this class, but a few that I am really excited about are Corey Brown, Jamie Wood, Dorian Bell, and Jaamal Berry. Brown can be the next coming of Chris Gamble and will see the field immediately-either at WR , CB, or both. If you watched the USAAB, he really stood out.

Wood is a kid I think will be the next great OSU safety. He will most likely play FS and slide in to the starting line-up next year after Anderson Russell graduates. He's a ball hawk and a tremendous athlete.

Bell is a kid who everyone loves and I think he will be very good in time, but needs to get stronger this year. His athleticism and motor are unquestioned and he will probably make a phenomenal WLB in the future.

Finally, Berry is someone people are scared will be a lot like Mo Wells, but I see it differently. Jaamal, if you watch his film, likes to run between tackles and then break it to the outside or wherever the seams are.

I think with TP at the helm, we will run a lot of zone read plays out of the shotgun, which will help Berry get the ball and go a lot quicker than we have seen OSU backs in the past."

Who from this class should we look out for in the upcoming season as having an immediate impact?

"This season look for Dorian Bell, Jamie Wood, Corey Brown, CJ Barnett, Jack Mewhort, Marcus Hall, Storm Klein, Dorian Bell, Jaamal Berry, Carlos Hyde, Duron Carter, and James Jackson to have impacts as true freshman. Berry and Hyde will obviously get a chance to compete at RB with Boom Herron and Brandon Saine and Carter and Jackson can help compliment the receiving corps just like Posey and Thomas did last year.

Jackson even has a chance to return kicks. As for Hall and Mewhort, they will both be in the rotation as back-ups, but if poor play or injuries occur, both are capable of stepping in right away, especially Mewhort who has been enrolled since January.

Bell, Klein, and Wood will most likely see all of their time on special teams and in garbage minutes, but Wood and Bell have a chance to get some meaningful playing time if they can learn quickly.

Klein is not as game ready as the other two, but like Andrew Sweat last year, should be a good special teams guy. Brown and Barnett will compete right away at CB and don't be surprised if one of them is the nickel back by season's end."

What are your thoughts on Carlos Hyde, Jamaal Berry, and Jordan Hall?

"Looking at Berry, Hyde, and Hall, I think they all bring something different to the table. Berry is a speed back, who can run between the tackles, but will be utilized in zone reads, option plays, pitches, and any other plays where the ball is put in his hands quickly.

Hyde is a bruising back who needs a little bit more control, but should be an excellent compliment for whoever is carrying the load this year. Hall is a guy who is greatly underrated in this group, but I think will do big things.

His biggest asset might be as a receiver out of the backfield or in the slot, and while he is not as talented, he does a lot of the things well that Reggie Bush did well at USC (pass catching, second burst, ability to shake things up).

He will likely red-shirt this season, but expect big things from him in the future and don't forget he played with TP for 3 years at Jeannette!"

How would you grade Tressel and the staff for their recruiting efforts in his tenure?

"I think Tress's recruiting started off well, obviously with his first class being a big part of the NC team, but he kind of drifted off between then and the last two years. I think his problem was he was concentrating on getting a lot of the best kids in Ohio, rather than the best kids overall.

While we had some good out of state talent come in between 2004-2007 (Laurinaitis, Gholston, Jenkins, Russell) I think he realized the college game has evolved since that 2002 season and more teams are spreading the ball out and putting the best athletes (not always the best football players) on the field to run around and make plays.

I think the last two years JT and the staff have done a good job of going out and getting great athletes from out of state, while also keeping the best talent of Ohio in the state, and at the same time successfully filling needs.

Looking at his whole body of work, I'd have to give Tress an A-. Can't argue with all those BCS Bowls and National Championship appearances-now we just have to win one!"

What is your overall impression of the 2010 class, and how it has started for the Buckeyes?

"The 2010 class will not be as big as the 2009 class, but that could be a good thing as the staff will have to be more selective in who they hand scholarships to.

I really like Turner and Norwell a lot, but have not gotten around to seeing much of JT Moore or David Durham, but I trust the staff in those decisions.

I think the Bucks need to land some big players in this class, especially OL Matt James from St. Xavier, CB LaMarcus Joyner from St. Thomas Aquinas (FL), LB Jordan Hicks from Westchester (OH) Lakota West, and a couple of other big time prospects we are pursuing.

One guy I really like, and I guess everyone in the country does too if you look at who is going after him, is Seantrel Henderson from Minnesota.

Listed at 6'8" and above 300-pounds, he is a player who can be a monster at OT or DT and the Bucks haven't really had anyone with that size come in to Columbus of late."