Our Honor Defend

The coaching staff is beginning to compensate for the 2010 class, which featured only one offensive lineman when 3-4 was optimal.  The Buckeyes added Chris Carter and Antonio Underwood (and DerJuan Gambrell, a cornerback) on the same day; both appear to be guard prospects.  Now, they have added their target at center.  Brian Bobek, of Palatine, IL, was a Buckeye lean as soon as he got his offer.  Even as late as today, he affirmed he was strongly interested in Ohio State while simultaneously being tugged by a Michigan State program that intrigued him.  However, it appears that verbal commitments are contagious.  Seeing the Buckeyes add two interior linemen into their class in a single day, Bobek decided to throw his name in as well. Verbal commitments: all the cool kids are doing it.

Brian Bobek is an intriguing case.  He’s very likely one of the region’s top offensive linemen, certainly at the center position.  His father played for Iowa back in the day and Brian Bobek has described himself as a lifelong Iowa fan.  Iowa, under Kirk Ferentz, is known for having an eye for offensive line talent and developing them into all-conference stars and NFL performers.  Match made in heaven (where there is no beer), right?  Wrong, evidently.  Bobek’s father sent Ferentz’ program footage of his son, essentially a signal that there would be mutual interest and Bobek would be a great, and probably fairly easy, pick-up.   However, the interest was not mutual.  Ohio State, on the other hand, jumped into the fray with an offer when the only other one Bobek had was Ball State (he has since added Michigan State and Purdue).  His parents loved Ohio State.  He ended up liking Ohio State, and now he’s committed to Ohio State.  I truly believe he was going to commit to Ohio State at or before Ohio State’s Spring Game.  The recent commitments from Carter and Underwood must have had that “Oh hell, why not?” impetus to drive the commitment, even as the coaching staff assured him that they were willing to wait.

This is one of the offensive linemen commitments I really wanted.  The Buckeyes now have three offensive linemen commitments, but are certainly looking for more.  They really need an offensive tackle in this class.  To that end, our eyes now turn to Glenville’s Aundrey Walker.

Very cool.