Buckeye Commentary Mailbag: BMOC Edition

How many other players reported with Terrelle Pryor? -Mario E., Toledo

In addition to Terrelle Pryor, other incoming freshman arriving this past week included Lamaar Thomas, Willie Mobley, Devier Posey, Travis Howard, Keith Wells, and Ohrian Johnson.

By our unofficial total, that means that 11 of the members of the 2008 recruiting class are on campus. Adams, Brewster, and Sabino enrolled early and took part in spring drills.

The real question is the payoff for the players and ultimately the team. That evaluation can only done on a player-by-player basis.

Players like Maurice Clarrett enrolled early, learned the playbook, and became accustomed the physicality of the college game. The early involvement translated into a starting position for Clarrett and a National Title for the Buckeyes.

But for every Clarrett, there are many players that enroll early and never see the field. If memory serves, LB Mark Johnson from Los Angeles enrolled early in 2006.

He was as highly rated as anyone in the Buckeyes recruiting class, yet you rarely see his name mentioned in the two deep. That is not to say that he will not turn out to be a great player for the Buckeyes, but the early enrollment does not seem to have provided him with a big advantage.

Another potential effect of early enrollment is injury, i.e., Mike Adams.

He had experienced some shoulder problems before and there is no guarantee that he would not have injured himself this summer in workouts, drills, or all-star games, but playing right away certainly increased those odds.

I saw that the Big 33 All Star Game was played recently as well as the Ohio North South All Star Game. I know they changed the dates of these games to conflict with one another and not it seems that neither one of them is very good. Are they likely to last? -Jennings B., Akron

You are right. The timing of the Ohio North South All Star Game was moved in 2006. They used to be far enough apart to allow Ohio players to play in both. Honestly, these types of games have never been of great interest to us.

You may have read this article in the Dispatch, which gives details on a proposal to move the Ohio North South game to April and pair it with the Ohio State Spring Game.

It seems like a creative solution but the problems remain the same (and possibly increase) with this idea. High school student-athletes are still in class and playing other sports. Plus, moving the game up is still not going to get the players who have left early and enrolled in college.

As far as their futures are concerned, their best moves would be to transition to some type of skills competition. Fans seem to love that stuff, whether it is offseason NFL quarterback competitions or players getting knee injuries playing beach volleyball.

It would be more interesting if they pitted Ohio versus Pennsylvania footballs in competitions broken down by position.

Quarterbacks could have accuracy and agility contests, while skilled position players could race in the 40-yard dash, and the larger players compete in strength events.

For fun, they could set up a relay that has to include a defensive lineman, a linebacker, a quarterback and RB/WR. There are many different events they could come up with. Ideas?

I recently saw your article on the renovation of Michigan Stadium. Will the construction be completed in time for Pryor to dominate them in 2009? -Lucas C., Columbus

Unfortunately, no. According to Michigan’s website, the stadium should be full go by August 2010. Of course, if he sticks around for his senior season he will get his chance at the fully finished version.

Based on these photos courtesy of MGoBlog, the stadium should be louder and more intimidating. Michigan’s Stadium will never be confused with The Swamp for noise, but this new configuration will certainly add an intimidation factor currently not existing.

To see what the stadium will look like upon completion, check out this animated video courtesy of Michigan’s website.