Why Ohio State is Better Off Without Seantrel Henderson

Tim BielikJul 5, 2010

Seantrel Henderson has not reported to USC after committing to Lane Kiffin and the Trojans on National Signing Day.

Now it is being reported that he is considering transferring to Miami if USC decides to let him out of his letter of intent.

With this report surfacing, along with reports that Henderson felt that Ohio State's coaching staff was "boring" in their pitches to the top offensive line recruit in 2010, maybe it is good for the Buckeyes to not be a part of this circus.

Ohio State, in past weeks, has had problems of their own with the departures of WR Duron Carter, DE Keith Wells, and RB Jermil Martin from the program.

In addition, the recruiting class in 2010 was a shocking disappointment, as the coaching staff struck out both on top in-state targets and out-of-state prospects.

But with the possibility of playing for a national championship already looming and talks of Terrelle Pryor for Heisman slowly stirring, there is little room for distractions in Columbus.

While this circus may not have happened in Columbus as it has in Los Angeles, it would be best served for Ohio State to not have to worry about it, especially with a top-three class already in the works for 2011, including QB Braxton Miller.

Would OSU like to have Henderson on the line to go along with Mike Adams and Mike Brewster among others? Sure.

But the question of whether or not they need him is another story.

The talent is there, but the distraction and the circus is not something that would be welcome in Columbus, especially after so many Buckeye fans were certain Henderson would commit just a day before NSD.

But as has been common in the Jim Tressel era, targets that wait until National Signing Day or All-American games to commit have mostly gone the other way, and Henderson was no different.

Now, after the sanctions delivered to the Trojans, Henderson wants out even though he committed before knowing the fate of the program.

Most of the Henderson saga has been a circus even before he committed on national television to USC five months ago.

Henderson had a Youtube series called "Everybody's Number One," where he documented his journeys in the fall of 2009, including an interview with Tressel the weekend of the OSU-USC game in Columbus.

But when he committed, the circus became doubts about whether or not he would follow through on his USC commit when he delayed signing his letter of intent to USC.

Now, with the idea of a transfer possibly waiting in the wings, the saga has grown into a circus which has embroiled a USC program damaged heavily by the NCAA Infractions Committee.

And that is one media circus the Buckeyes are probably happy to not be a part of.

But there is no denying Henderson has top-flight potential, as was evidenced by his top billing on many recruiting websites throughout the recruiting season.

The problem is the negatives of this saga are starting to weigh more heavily than the positives.

And since that has happened, Henderson almost has to live up to that billing to overcome this long road.

He certainly is capable of that wherever he goes.

But whether it is good news or not for Ohio State fans, don't expect Seantrel in the scarlet and gray anytime soon.

And that could be very good news in the end for the Buckeyes.