4* OH LB McCray Sets Decision Date for 3/8
Josh Helmholdt @JoshHelmholdt
BREAKING: Rivals100 LB Mike McCray of Ohio has scheduled an announcement for his college selection bit.ly/wzVLwa
Just as a side note, McCray has a visit to Michigan scheduled for 3/6. That's usually a good sign when a recruit visits right before his decision.
For whatever reason, OSU has yet to offer.
February 27th, 2012 at 12:10 PM ^
Who is going to commit with him after he commits?
February 27th, 2012 at 1:23 PM ^
McCray & Levenberry. Talk about epic.
February 27th, 2012 at 12:11 PM ^
I saw "Steve Lorenz" in my twitter feed and thought "Who the hell is Steve Lorenz and why am I following him?"
Now things are making much more sense...Tremendous has a name.
February 27th, 2012 at 12:11 PM ^
Sounds like a good LB class to me.
February 27th, 2012 at 12:24 PM ^
Sounds great, but might be one too many
February 27th, 2012 at 1:03 PM ^
McCray is 6'4/240 I believe. Like Taco Charlton he's an enourmous high school linebacker who could naturally develop into a DE.
I don't think he takes a spot away from the likes of O'Daniel and Levenberry.
February 27th, 2012 at 1:12 PM ^
Which two top 50 linebackers would we prefer?
#bradyhokeproblems
February 27th, 2012 at 3:05 PM ^
Old El Paso "Stand and Stuff" commercial? That's a deep reach, well played...
February 27th, 2012 at 1:04 PM ^
Our LB recruting has been a bit light the last 4-5 years and we'll only have 9 scholarship players (at best) and possibly less when the 2012 class arrives. Generally you want to be 4 deep or close to it at every position. If we can get 3 linebackers that are top notch I don't see why the coaches wouldn't take them.
February 27th, 2012 at 1:23 PM ^
Concern is that given the current scholarship numbers, 3 LBs will restict our ability to recruit other positions. I think we are at 18 now which means we have 5 scholies to give. However, word on the street is that coaches are recruiting for 22-23 class. Given some of the kids who will be 5 year seniors, there are a few who coaches might not ask back and there is always some attrition, so 3 LB probably is not too many especially given 2 play SAM (didn't get SAMS last year unless RJS moves there) and O'Daniel most likely would play WILL (or maybe MIKE) according to some (Magnus among others).
February 27th, 2012 at 1:49 PM ^
The big secret that will soon be revealed is that the 2014 class is loaded with LBs just at Cass Tech. The coaches are probably aware of this and probably goes into their big picture strategy.
Tremendous had a post about Gary Hosey who has the chance be the top LB in Michigan.
William White. His dad played at OSU and for the Lions. I think this is the first ever major prospect from Cass that is an OSU legacy. Sopgmore starter.
Should watch this just for the background track. Hilarious.
Deon Drake. Another sophmore starter for Cass.
Detroit (Mich.) Cass Tech linebackers William White (6-1, 220) and Deon Drake (6-1, 205) will be two of the top prospects in the state in the class of 2014. Both are good athletes with good size that move well.
February 27th, 2012 at 1:52 PM ^
William White is built like his dad.
February 27th, 2012 at 2:01 PM ^
Now that Gary Hosey has transferred to Cass, is that the best LB trio that has come out of a Michigan HS?
Of those 3 who do you think is the "best" right now?
Cass Tech will be scary next year if the rumors of Malik McDowell transferring there are true.
February 27th, 2012 at 3:57 PM ^
I haven't seen Hosey yet, but I think Drake is better than Will White. White looks like a future fullback or even a defensive lineman. I'm not sure he can stick at linebacker for a big school.
February 27th, 2012 at 2:52 PM ^
Sam Webb just tweeted about another LB from Ohio-Tinashe Bere. Don't know anything about him but I guess the kid can play.
February 27th, 2012 at 4:01 PM ^
Yeah...I've seen his film and haven't been impressed, but he's only a sophomore. There's some potential there, but I don't think he's anything to get particularly excited about right now.
February 27th, 2012 at 12:58 PM ^
How about some love for Gedeon? His film is some of the best I have seen.
February 27th, 2012 at 1:11 PM ^
Gedeon would be a very nice commit. Kid can play.
February 27th, 2012 at 1:12 PM ^
Totally agree - Gedeon may be the best athlete of all the LB prospects - also like Levenberry.
February 27th, 2012 at 12:11 PM ^
oui s'il vous plait!
February 27th, 2012 at 12:13 PM ^
Si, mi piace.
February 27th, 2012 at 1:26 PM ^
un croissant avec un peu de toussaint.
February 27th, 2012 at 12:12 PM ^
February 27th, 2012 at 12:15 PM ^
Looks like the LB dominoes could be the next to fall.
February 27th, 2012 at 12:15 PM ^
From ESPN (info in header)
The top of McCray's leader board is fluid depending on which new teams offer, but he has a top group of Arizona, Illinois, Michigan, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Tennessee. Kentucky and Penn State were among McCray's top group earlier this month but have since dropped.
February 27th, 2012 at 12:15 PM ^
From what Sam has talked about and what I remember the major player here would be Ohio if they offered b/c of his highschool. The fact that he set a date w/o an offer from them has to bode well. Right?
February 27th, 2012 at 12:26 PM ^
Ohio would be a player because his dad played there.
Ohio is pushing other LB's harder at the moment obviously though. An announcement date will force their hand one way or the other though on McCray.
February 27th, 2012 at 12:57 PM ^
My guess: Meyer will let him commit elsewhere and then, if his Plan A-list guys don't pan out, try to flip him at a later date. Long way till signing day...
February 27th, 2012 at 1:06 PM ^
Yes, it would seem that OSU legacies that potentially commit to the heated rival, would be recruits that you would need a contingency plan for.
February 27th, 2012 at 12:18 PM ^
I'm also curious on Ohio . . . why didn't they offer? There could be several reasons:
- They did offer, but it wasn't public knowledge.
- They don't like his skill level (or his fit for what they're looking for.)
- They don't need anyone at OLB.
- They have someone else coming in at OLB.
- They know McCray hates Ohio.
- As a corollary, they know McCray loves Michigan, so why bother with an offer?
I'd be curious to know what was the reason.
February 27th, 2012 at 12:19 PM ^
Urban has adopted a policy of not offering Michigan recruits in order to save face and maintain his status as "best recruiter in the country."
February 27th, 2012 at 12:53 PM ^
Urban Meyer, Legendary Recruiter™ is doing just that. It will be interesting to see if there is enough out there to really make that case.
February 27th, 2012 at 12:27 PM ^
As an OSU fan, I'm also puzzled why Meyer has yet to offer. He may be slow-playing him, which seems like a risky gamble. McCray setting an announcment date could be his way of forcing OSU's hand - 'either offer me now or you are out' deal.
I can, however, confidently rule out the last two options you set forth: McCray's dad played for OSU.
February 27th, 2012 at 12:28 PM ^
Who are the other lb's you guys are looking at?
February 27th, 2012 at 12:35 PM ^
In Ohio, I believe OSU has offered Courtney Love and Ben Gedeon.
February 27th, 2012 at 1:15 PM ^
Courtney Love would be a 2 star recruit if she wasn't associated with Kurt Cobain.
February 27th, 2012 at 12:39 PM ^
Out of state top targets are Jaylon Smith (#1 overall target), Anzalone, Kimbrough -- in that order. A couple more on our radar, but those seem to be the most likely targets.
We have 2 offers to in-state LBers - Courtney Love and Ben Gedeon - these are likely committable offers. This is why McCray's lack of offer is so puzzling; McCray is ranked highed than both by every recruiting service.
February 27th, 2012 at 12:41 PM ^
It's interesting that McCray is ranked higer, but Love is the one with the offers from OSU, Oklahoma and USC.
February 27th, 2012 at 1:22 PM ^
He has an offer from Oklahoma, according to Rivals.
February 27th, 2012 at 12:44 PM ^
Thanks guys, i heard Kimbrough is still waiting on an offer. I have to believe that Mccray is forcing OSU to do something.
February 27th, 2012 at 12:33 PM ^
I don't know about totally ruling out the last two... My dad and sister were varsity athletes at Ohio, but I still hated them as a kid. Not saying he hates Ohio, just that it's possible.
February 27th, 2012 at 12:46 PM ^
I think he likes Ohio, but the lack of an offer is starting to cheese off his family, since his dad is a legacy.
February 27th, 2012 at 1:52 PM ^
I hated my sister growing up, but I didn't hate my dad. I think it's pretty normal to hate your sister when you're a kid, right?
February 27th, 2012 at 1:06 PM ^
Well they did'nt offer Bolden last year and he seems like a great kid who can definately play football. So as a Michigan fan I would'nt worry about if Ohio did'nt offer or not. Did Ohio offer Jake Ryan? I'm not sure but he sure seems to be doing ok at Michigan.
February 27th, 2012 at 1:27 PM ^
and please don't ask where because I don't recall, that Urban and his staff are evaluating out-of-state kids before in-staters, and getting offers out nationally first. The author suggested that the OSU staff felt they could wait and still get the Ohio kids, so there was no hurry to fully evaluate and offer. I remember thinking it seemed a little odd, and took it with a grain of salt. However, the lack of OSU offers to Ohio kids seems to support that claim. Have you heard anything along the same lines? Again, I apologize for not remembering where I read it, but I am 40 now and struggle remeber what I had for dinner last night, much less where I read this rumor.
February 27th, 2012 at 3:03 PM ^
I turn 40 tomorrow... does your memory go instantaneously or just fade gradually... or do you not remember how and when it happened :)
February 27th, 2012 at 3:23 PM ^
If this is true I have to think it's a very bad long term plan. Some recruits will buy this because they're life long Ohio fans, but HS coaches will not be happy about it. Meyer planning for short term success.. Start the retirement countdown clock.
February 27th, 2012 at 3:51 PM ^
Obviously not, since they've offered 2 other in-state linebackers. It could just be that they like 2 other in-state linebackers more than McCray.
February 27th, 2012 at 12:47 PM ^
Maybe Urban promised Jaylon Smith that they wouldn't go after any other top-100 LBs.