the war

Previously: Last year’s profiles, K Adam Samaha, K James Turner (Tr), S Brandyn Hillman, CB DJ Waller, CB Cameron Calhoun, CB Jyaire Hill, HSP/LB Jason Hewlett, LB Hayden Moore, LB Semaj Bridgeman, LB Ernest Hausmann (Tr).

Cincinnati (Princeton HS), OH – 6'4"/220
		247: 6'4/220                     3.50*	3*, 86 #96 ATH, #39 OH
		On3: 6'4/216                     3.12*	3*, 83 #116 ATH, #81 OH
		Rivals: 6'5/204                     3.66*	3*, 5.6 NR ATH, #25 OH
		ESPN: 6'5/200                     3.56*	3*, 76, #93 MW #72 OLB, #30 OH
		Composite       3.60* / 3.47*	3*, #1107/#1203 Ovr #91/58 ATH, #33/37 OH
		MGoAverage                     3.46*	3*, #713/787 Ovr #80/85 Edges since '90
		YMRMFSPA	Jaylen Harrell
Other Suitors	Kentucky, also Cincy, Tenn, WVU, Purdue
Previously On MGoBlog	Hello by Alex Drain.
Notes	Sr season transfer from Hamilton (same div.)
Film:
Midseason 2022: Hudl.

It was Michigan that declared war on the Holy Roman Buckeye Empire, not the other way around, which the longtime masters of the Midwest thought kind of funny. But even after years of fighting, many observers still considered the Blues' confidence little more than Girondin bluster. So when a young Steve Clinkscale marched into Cincinnati and defeated a small army from the Kingdom of Kentucky, nobody—this site included—could have imagined the petit général was on his way to redrawing the map of Midwest recruiting.

Obviously, Clinkscale's conquests could not have happened if not prefaced by a decisive victory in Columbus, the second comprehensive defeat of overconfident Buckeye forces in as many years. But the commitment of Breeon Ishmail before the Kentuckians' allies could intervene was the first sign the empire's own territories might be in jeopardy. Worse, the locals didn't even seem to mind the occupiers from Michigan, admiring their progressive ideas about NFL-style hybridity, economic Herbertization, and meritocratic promotion up the depth chart even for low 3-stars.

Général Clinkscale quickly followed his triumph at Princeton High with a string of commitments in Ohio territory. Jason Hewlett, of Clinkscale's hometown of Youngstown, went to the Blues hours later. Cameron Calhoun overthrew a Cincinnati commitment to join him. Within days, Avon Park's massive citadel of Luke Hamilton declared for Michigan, and Hewlett's teammate DJ Waller, Auroan transfer AJ Barner, and St. Xavier's Ted Hammond were soon in Wolverine hands. Desperate Buckeye defenders cried out for reinforcements, but they were too late to stop Clinkscale from linking up with Mike Hart, and taking the key fortress of Jordan Marshall, opening a path to 2024 #1 Ohio prospect Aaron Scott, and perhaps Columbus itself.

When historians look back on the dissolution of the Holy Buckeye Empire, they note the characteristic corruption and brittleness of ultraconservative governments, contrast the rule of Ryan von Thirdbase with his more august predecessor Emperor Urban I, and cite external factors like harsh winter conditions and illness within the Buckeyestrian ranks. But as much as it pains this historian to adopt a talking point from the largely discredited Great Man Theory, some part of the explanation must also be reserved for the brilliance and audacity of Clinkscale's Cincinnati campaign, which began with the taking of Breeon Ishmail.

Or perhaps they'll just say we got a bon pass rusher.

[After THE JUMP: Potential ramifications for future Ohio Statean passers.]

I really had hopes of getting UFR out this week, but the fallout from last weekend's visitpalooza will continue until morale improves. Ben Roebuck, one of Michigan's top offensive line prospects, and one of the top prospects in Ohio, announced on Instagram yesterday that he's committed to Michigan. He did this moments after I posted the Hello from Tuesday's commitment, Cincinnati 4.5* RB Jordan Marshall. Marshall announced right after I posted on Monday's commitment, 2023 4* VA safety prospect Brandyn Hillman, another Michigan-Ohio State battle.

Was Roebuck actually a Michigan-Ohio State battle? OSU was his expected destination for the first half of the cycle, but never officially offered. They also traditionally withhold offers for born Buckeyes in-state because the act of giving one often leads to a commitment shortly thereafter. Clearly they viewed Roebuck differently than Marshall, but their reporters were really surprised an offer didn't come after Roebuck camped at Columbus last summer, and by all accounts faired as well as one of the top national tackle prospects was expected to. As was the case with Rod Moore a few cycles ago, Michigan began making up ground shortly thereafter, and the Buckeye reporters who are tightest with the local coaches were starting to openly wonder what's the deal. OSU skipped him again when they offered two other Saint Ed's offensive linemen in January, however by that point Roebuck was so obviously enamored with Michigan that he was making surprise pop-ins to Ann Arbor. We'll explore this too, but first there's about 6'7"/350 pounds of John Lennon's head on Ryan Hayes's body to assess.

GURU RATINGS

His rankings have come down across the board. ESPN actually had a 79 on him earlier in the cycle, which got him ranked in their early top-300. Rivals had him ten spots higher among OTs. On3 moved him 28 spots down the OT rankings and all the way to #43 in Ohio. This is more than what you'd get from the normal recruiting gravity. He was 146th overall, the #5 OT, and #3 in Ohio just ten months ago, and the #2 prospect in Ohio (one ahead of Marshall) when the cycle began.

This could be the sites reading the continued lack of an official Ohio State offer, versus a reevaluation. Roebuck has been a Michigan lean for so long an OSU offer might have just been rebuffed as too late. On the other hand, they made the decision to be too late, which is not a decision they would have risked for Marshall. They also offered Roebuck's linemates, the Armstrong twins, in January. Sherrone Moore had been working hard on them, too, and that didn't stop the crystal balls from flying to OSU.

Anyway I viewed Roebuck as the bigger target than Hamilton initially, and since then the sites have flipped that.

[AFTER THE JUMP: At large.]

News from the front! Another major citadel in Ohio territory has fallen to the Wolverines. The Lakewood St. Ed's tower of Ben Roebuck, long predicted to fall into Wolverine hands, has surrendered its gold pants peacefully.

The 6'7" Roebuck was one of Michigan's top tackle prospects in this class, and one they've been focused on since the start of the cycle. The private powerhouse has been good to Michigan relative to other area schools. Two of Roebuck's fellow St. Ed's linemen, the twins Deontae and Devontae Armstrong, have also been longtime Michigan targets, though not on the same level as Roebuck. OSU finally offered the pair in January. Including longtime commit Luke Hamilton it was possible for Sherrone Moore to build an entire line class from a small circle of Western Cleveland. However there are a lot more linemen on Michigan's board right now, so the Armstrongs may not be as high of a priority. If they become so, having a teammate pushing Blue should help bring them around.

Roebuck was. Like Hamilton, he profiles as a mauler. He played RT last year but is expected to shift to the blindside. I think Michigan sees him as a right tackle, but we'll know more after a thorough hello.

Right now I just want to talk about The War, as Michigan continues to build its 2024 class at the expense of its main rival. Coming on the heels of their major early commitment from 4.5* RB Jordan Marshall out of Cincinnati, Harbaugh's program now has pledges from three out of Ohio State's top ten prospects for 2024 as of June, versus one (Cade Stover's cousin) for Ohio State. Youngstown Edge Brian Robinson is expected in Ann Arbor eventually, though he wants to get his visits in before making a decision. The front now shifts to 5-star Aaron Scott, the Springfield cornerback long expected to go to Ohio State because that's what the #1 prospect in Ohio does. It's usually what the top tackle prospect in Ohio does too.

In a map:

We'll get a full hello up probably tomorrow. There is no content after the jump.