Top QB Prospect Gives Verbal To Ohio State

Written In Ink
Top QB Prospect Gives Verbal To Ohio State
2
BSB Quickly
June 15, 2010
Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Texas A&M
that they would do the same. Reportedly,
Former Ohio State football player Bo the schools were enticed by Big 12 comPelini will be returning to the Ohio Stadium missioner Dan Beebe’s promise of a lucrasidelines soon – as the head coach of the tive new television deal for the now 10member league.
newest member of the Big Ten.
The stabilization of the Big 12 is not necPelini works at the University of Nebraska,
essarily
an indication the Big Ten is done
and the school announced its intention to
expanding, however.
become the 12th member of the
Delany said the initially
league June 11 when its board
announced
plan to explore
of regents approved a resolution
expansion
for
12-18 months
advocating that the school submit
remained
intact.
an application for membership
“If something makes sense
into the Big Ten and its academic
to
our presidents, our athletics
counterpart, the Committee on
directors
and our faculty that
Institutional Cooperation.
we
will
approve
of, we’ll make
Later in the day, the Big Ten
that
change,”
Delany
said. “If it
announced that its Council of
doesn’t
make
sense,
we’ll
probPresidents/Chancellors
had
ably
just
be
where
we
are.
We’re
Bo Pelini
approved the addition.
going to be alert and aware of
The Cornhuskers, formerly members of
what’s
going
on around us and we’ll make
the Big 12 and the fourth-winningest colthose
judgments.”
lege football program of all time, will
By the time 18 months have passed from
begin athletic competition in the Big Ten
the
initial date the idea of expansion was
in 2011.
Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany called broached, any worthwhile moves should
the vote “enthusiastic and unanimous.” have presented themselves, he added.
For now, Delany said he anticipates the
Speaking with reporters via teleconference,
he added, “It’s a historic day for the Big Ten league will institute a football conference
championship game, but no serious conConference.”
Nebraska will be the first school to join siderations had been made yet regarding
the Big Ten since Penn State did so in 1990. potential divisional alignments or adjustDirector of athletics Tom Osborne said the ments to the 2011-12 schedules.
school is honored to become part of the
Big Ten.
Columbus, OSU Make Case
“We’ve been very pleased by the pro- For High School Title Games
cess,” said the legendary former football
The red (or in this case scarlet) carpet
coach of the ’Huskers. “I’ve been impressed was laid out June 8 when Columbus made
by the fact Jim Delany is not just concerned its case for hosting the Ohio High School
about what your balance sheet looks like Athletic Association state football finals in
but he’s also concerned about issues of 2012-14, complete with help from Ohio
culture and how well things are going to fit State head coach Jim Tressel and other
and be integrated into a conference.”
university officials.
Though the Big Ten announced in
The Greater Columbus Sports
December that it would take 12-18 months Commission hosted the OHSAA’s site
to explore expansion, Delany admitted that selection committee through tours of Ohio
recently arising uncertainty with the mem- Stadium and the Woody Hayes Athletic
bership of the Big 12 inspired the Big Ten Center, the latter of the tours led by
to act more quickly than it initially intended Tressel. The OSU head coach has been
to. On June 10, Big 12 member Colorado vocal in his support of the Columbus bid,
announced it would leave for the Pac-10. At which includes playing the six title games
the time Nebraska applied for and accepted over three days in the Horseshoe.
entry into the Big Ten, most of the schools
“He’s so passionate about Ohio high
in the Big 12 South – including Texas school football, and he’s very much a histo– were rumored to be considering a move rian,” GCSC executive director Linda Logan
to follow the Buffaloes west. However, said. “So anytime you can have someone
leaders at Texas announced June 14 that like that on your team, it goes a long way.”
they would remain in the Big 12, and
The site selection committee was also
subsequently announcements came from surprised by a pep rally held at Ohio
Big Red Makes
Move To Big Ten
Buckeye Bits
Stadium upon its arrival. A gathering that
included OSU athletic director Gene Smith,
university president Dr. E. Gordon Gee,
Brutus Buckeye and several members of
the OSU marching band under the direction of Jon Woods greeted the visiting
contingent as the tour of the Horseshoe
began.
Ohio’s capital city is one of two finalists for the right to host the title games,
the other a bid from the Canton/Massillon
area, the site of the finals for the last 20
years. Games are currently split between
Fawcett Stadium in Canton and Paul Brown
Tiger Stadium in Massillon.
OHSAA commissioner Dan Ross said he
was impressed by the Columbus bid and
noted how much different it was from
the failed attempt the capital city made
in 2007. That proposal would have split
the six title games between Ohio Stadium,
Crew Stadium in Columbus and Coffman
High School’s stadium in Dublin.
“We weren’t as knowledgeable of the
event as we probably should have been,”
Logan said of the ’07 attempt. “Since then
we’ve spent a lot more time understanding
the needs of the teams and the administrators and what works best.”
Ross equated that attempt to a “warmup shoot before the game” and called the
current attempt a “full-court press.”
“They’ve done a very, very nice job of
trying to pick up everything they think
would make this a great environment and
experience for young people,” he said. “I
think last time it was more, ‘How can we
put this thing on?’ This time they’ve paid a
lot of attention to the details. They’ve done
a very nice job.
“Both groups have.”
Ross added that he wants a decision
made by the end of July.
“It will be intriguing, and I do honestly
believe we have two very good venues,”
he said.
APR Brings Good News
To Ohio State Teams
Ohio State received some welcome
news June 9 when the NCAA released its
annual Academic Progress Report numbers
for the 2008-09 academic year.
The football and men’s basketball programs posted their highest scores in the
six years the NCAA has been tracking the
academic figures. Thanks to a single-year
APR of 991 out of 1,000, the football team
posted a four-year score of 975 out of a
Buckeye Bits
possible 1,000, better than the 968 it had
in 2009. It was the fifth straight year of
improvement after the squad posted an
APR of 892 in the first year of 2005, and
only Northwestern’s 986 was better among
Big Ten schools.
The men’s basketball team posted a
score of 929, an 18-point improvement
from 2009. That score also topped 925, the
mark below which the NCAA can assess
penalties such as the two lost scholarships
the Buckeyes were assessed a year ago.
Still, the Buckeyes’ score was ninth best in
the conference, topping only Purdue (918)
and Indiana (878).
The women’s basketball team posted a
993, with softball (991), baseball (981) and
men’s ice hockey (980) also posting good
scores. The best scores, however, went to
the men’s and women’s tennis teams. Both
posted perfect 1,000 scores.
June 15, 2010
BSB Quickly
3
is scheduled to be sentenced in August
and could face up to five years in prison
and a $5,000 fine. He will also have to play
$11,000 in restitution for Moeller’s out-ofpocket medical expenses.
Miscellaneous Notes
• Ohio State trailed only Stanford in the
June 3 unveiling of the 2009-10 Directors’
Cup standings. Placing third in men’s volleyball, fifth in men’s tennis, 17th in women’s tennis and 34th in women’s golf
gave the Buckeyes a spring total of 187
points and a total figure of 1000.50 points.
Stanford leads comfortably with a score of
1,395 points, while Virginia is third with
949.50 points.
Four other Big Ten schools are in the top
25 – Penn State (eighth), Minnesota (10th),
Wisconsin (15th) and Michigan (21st).
Points are awarded based on each institution’s finish in up to 14 sports – seven
Boston College Forward
women’s and seven men’s.
Transfers To Ohio State
The next edition of the Division I standEvan Turner may be gone, but the Ohio ings will be released June 23 before baseState men’s basketball team will have a ball is added for the final release July 1.
new Evan in Columbus next season in for• Hours after Huber Heights (Ohio)
ward Evan Ravenel.
Wayne quarterback Braxton Miller gave his
Ravenel played two years at Boston verbal commitment to play at Ohio State,
College before deciding to transfer to Ohio his mother found herself in the news.
State and play for head coach Thad Matta.
A domestic disturbance resulted in 42He will retain two years of eligibility at year-old Kelly D. Miller being charged with
OSU after sitting out the 2010-11 season.
assault on a police officer, harassment
“We are thrilled with Evan’s decision with a bodily substance and domestic vioto further his academic and athletic career lence, according to Montgomery County
as a Buckeye,” Matta said in a release. “He Common Pleas Court records.
is a quality kid who will add depth to our
Braxton Miller’s father, Kevin, told the
team as a front-court player. Having already Dayton Daily News that his son was not
played two years of collegiate basketball, involved in the incident.
he will also come with the knowledge of
• Already placed on the watch lists for
what it takes to succeed at this level.”
the Lombardi and Lott awards, Ohio State
Ravenel averaged 2.8 points and 2.1 defensive lineman Cameron Heyward was
rebounds in two seasons and 39 career named a Playboy preseason All-American
games with the Eagles. Last year, the 6-8, in early June. Talking to reporters June 9,
250-pounder played in 25 games and aver- Heyward said he didn’t mind being singled
aged 3.3 points, 2.4 rebounds
out for individual honors before
and 0.4 blocks per game.
his senior season.
“The main thing is just getting
Moeller’s Attacker
a national championship and
Pleads Guilty
a Big Ten championship, but I
The man who injured Ohio
wouldn’t be mad if I picked up
State safety Tyler Moeller and
a couple of individual awards,”
forced him to miss the entire
he said before breaking into a
2009 season pleaded guilty June
laugh. “(The titles) are the two
3 to felony battery in Pinellas
main goals, (and) get my degree
County Court in Florida.
and education, but if those
Tyler Moeller
Ralph Gray Decker punched
awards come around, since the
Moeller at a Florida bar in July 2009, caus- bull’s-eye is on my back, you have to live
ing a head injury that required surgery. He up to the reputation.”
Quickly
June 15, 2010
Publisher...............Frank Moskowitz
Asst. Publisher .......... Becky Roberts
Managing Editor ............... Mark Rea
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Marcus Hartman
Jeff Svoboda
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On The Cover:
Huber Heights (Ohio) Wayne quarterback Braxton Miller shows off his
new Ohio State tattoo June 3 after
giving his verbal commitment to the
Buckeyes. (Photo by Adam Jardy)
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The next print edition of
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4
BSB Quickly
June 15, 2010
Cover Story
Miller Makes His Choice: He’s A Buckeye
By Adam Jardy and
Matthew Hager
Braxton Miller could not put pen to
paper June 3 when he verbally committed to Ohio State, so he did the next best
thing.
Though the five-star quarterback in the
class of 2011 from Huber Heights (Ohio)
Wayne cannot sign a national letter of
intent until February, Miller put his commitment in ink another way – by getting
a Block “O” tattoo on his left arm a day
before declaring his intention to become
a Buckeye and play for head coach Jim
Tressel.
Miller made his declaration months
before he begins his senior season at
Wayne, a stark difference from the last
time the Buckeyes nabbed Scout.com’s
top-rated quarterback prospect. Current
OSU starter Terrelle Pryor made Ohio State
wait until after National Signing Day in
2008 before finally making his collegiate
choice known in March.
Miller, Scout’s fourth-ranked player in
the nation in his class, did not want that
type of drama.
“I just wanted to get it out of the way
ADAM JARDY
‘O’ MARKS THE SPOT – Huber Heights (Ohio) Wayne quarterback Braxton Miller
dons a white Ohio State cap, signifying his choice to attend OSU and play for the
Buckeyes.
and get the pressure off my chest,” Miller
said. “The recruiting process was real nice,
but I just wanted to settle down and be
MATTHEW HAGER
MAN IN THE MIDDLE – Braxton Miller (5) has been the starting quarterback for
Huber Heights (Ohio) Wayne for the past three seasons.
committed to my school. Now the fans
can get hyped.”
There certainly is hype surrounding
Miller, who has been on Ohio State’s
radar since he was in eighth grade.
Through his first three years at Wayne,
Miller has completed 55.2 percent of his
passes (225 of 408) for 2,628 yards with
938 rushing yards. The 6-3½, 199-pound
Miller is shorter and lighter than Pryor,
but he comes with a reputation as a dualthreat quarterback who can throw better
than most.
“I’d say a passer who can run,” Miller
said when asked to describe himself. “I
can be a dual threat, too, if somebody
wants to blitz. There’s always an open
spot when somebody blitzes.”
A lifelong Ohio State fan and a presumed Buckeye lean, Miller still tried to
create some intrigue during the ceremony
by having hats representing Ohio State,
Florida, Alabama, Notre Dame and Georgia
placed on a table in front of him. He
started his version of the recruiting hat
dance by removing the Fighting Irish cap,
then passed on the Georgia and Alabama
hats to leave the Buckeyes and Gators as
Cover Story
June 15, 2010
BSB Quickly
5
his finalists.
He then grabbed a white OSU hat and
placed it on his head, causing cameras to
flash, applause to ring out and the playing
Ohio State’s 2011 recruiting class
Spencer, a two-way player who led
of the Ohio State fight song in the Wayne
grew by two more in the days following Vernon Hills in both receptions and
auditorium.
Braxton Miller’s commitment. Vernon interceptions last season as a junior, is
Miller’s father, Kevin, said his son’s final
Hills, Ill., wide receiver Evan Spencer rated a four-star recruit by Scout.com
decision was not a surprise.
gave the Buckeyes his verbal commit- and the No. 19 receiver in the 2011
“It would have been hard for anybody
ment June 5, and Greenwood (Ind.) class.
to beat out Ohio State,” he said.
Center Grove defensive tackle Joel Hale
Hale, a three-star prospect and the
The younger Miller said he reached
did the same two days later.
No. 26-ranked defensive tackle by Scout,
his decision two weeks before the cereSpencer, the son of former OSU run- picked Ohio State on June 7 over Florida,
mony. Ohio State’s focus on his recruitning back Tim Spencer, became the 13th Penn State and Georgia Tech.
ment made that choice easier. Tressel
member of the 2011 recruiting class. The
“I called (Ohio State head coach) Jim
and his staff did not offer a scholarship
6-1, 185-pounder had been speculated Tressel today and told him I had selectto any other player whom they wanted
to be a Buckeye lean, partly because of ed Ohio State,” Hale told Greene. “It was
to play at quarterback in the class of
his famous father. He held offers from a tough decision, but Ohio State was the
2011. That had a profound effect on
several schools, including Illinois, Notre best place for me.”
Miller, who was primarily recruited by
Dame, Nebraska and Wisconsin.
OSU also appeared to be closing in
Tressel and quarterbacks coach Nick
“My dad playing there played a part, on a commitment from three-star wideSiciliano.
but this was the best decision for me,” out Devin Smith of Massillon (Ohio)
“They weren’t going to offer another
Spencer told BuckeyeSports.com recruit- Washington. An OSU lean, Smith earned
quarterback unless they felt they were
ing analyst Bill Greene. “I felt like I fit in an offer June 14 from the Buckeyes one
going to lose me,” he said. “Florida
there best, and I think I can help them day after impressing the coaching staff
had already offered another quarterback
out with my strengths.”
at its first advanced camp of the year.
and he already committed. I feel that
Florida has another quarterback. Ohio
State wanted me and I’m from
job of competing.”
he will likely try to influence longtime
Ohio.”
Miller, cousin of former OSU friend Trey DePriest, a five-star linebackMiller will complete his
receiver Dee Miller, said fans can er from Miller’s former hometown of
fourth and final season as the
expect big things from him.
Springfield. DePriest boasts a list of suitors
Warriors’ starting quarterback
“Once I get there and start that includes Ohio State, Alabama and
in the fall. Soon after the season
to shine at Ohio State, we’re Florida.
ends, his attention will turn
going to win a national champiHe also happened to be in attendance
toward the Buckeyes. He said
onship,” he said. “I know Coach for Miller’s ceremony.
his plan is to graduate early
Tress and Coach Siciliano will
“That’s my best friend,” DePriest said.
and enroll in January courses at
get me prepared.”
“We’ve been best friends for a long time
Ohio State.
With Miller now in the fold, so I had to come support him.”
Trey DePriest
Jay Minton, Miller’s head
coach at Wayne, said his star player is
2011 OSU Verbal Commitments
ready for everything that comes with playName
Pos Ht/Wt
Stars
School
ing at Ohio State.
DL
6-3/275
****
Centerville, Ohio
“A lot of people are going to look at Michael Bennett
C 6-2½/278 ****
Palatine (Ill.) Fremd
him and say that he’s a Buckeye,” Minton Brian Bobek
OT
6-5/300
***
Akron Firestone
said. “What I told him about that was, Tommy Brown
OG
6-4/325
***
Cleveland John F. Kennedy
‘Now your mistakes are going to be disap- Chris Carter
pointments and your successes are going Jeremy Cash
S
6-2/190
***
Plantation, Fla.
to be expectations because people now Chase Farris
DT
6-5/250
****
Elyria, Ohio
are going to expect you to succeed. If you DerJuan Gambrell
CB
6-2/180
****
Toledo Rogers
don’t succeed, there’s going to be a lot of Joel Hale
DT
6-5/295
*** Greenwood (Ind.) Center Grove
disappointed people out there.’
Ken Hayes
DE
6-5/255
****
Toledo Whitmer
“With all that said, I don’t know that a Jeff Heuerman
TE
6-5/230
***
Naples (Fla.) Barron Collier
lot of young men can do what he’s doing Braxton Miller
QB 6-3½/199 ***** Huber Heights (Ohio) Wayne
early like this and still focus on their senior
Steve Miller
DE
6-4/230
*****
Canton (Ohio) McKinley
season, but I think you’ll see him do it.
Evan Spencer
WR
6-1/185
****
Vernon Hills, Ill.
He’s the exception with things like that.
Antonio Underwood OG
6-3/300
***
Shaker Heights, Ohio
Anytime he’s competing, he does a great
Spencer, Hale Join 2011 Class
6
BSB Quickly
June 15, 2010
Baseball
Wimmers Is Feeling Minnesota After MLB Draft
By Jeff Svoboda
more than $1.8 million.
Should Wimmers sign as expected,
many think he can take the fast track
When it came time for the Major League through the minors. Many draft analysts
Baseball amateur draft, those closest to pegged him as the most major leagueAlex Wimmers went to a place known for ready pitcher available thanks to a fastball
its drafts.
that sits in the lower 90s and a fantastic
Wimmers and his family, friends and changeup that has befuddled hitters for
teammates – around 60 people in all the better part of two years.
– crowded onto the patio at the venerable
“We’ll see how it works out, but I defiVarsity Club campus-area restaurant and nitely have the confidence to hopefully
bar June 7 to watch as the Ohio State All- make it in the major leagues as quickly
America pitcher was chosen in the first as possible,” he said. “I’ve worked really
round.
hard. We’ll see what happens.”
The junior’s face hardened
Despite missing three starts
into a grimace as he fell out
with a hamstring injury in 2010,
of the top 20 picks, but a roar
Wimmers ended the year with
went up from the crowd when
Ohio State at 9-0 with a 1.60
MLB commissioner Bud Selig
ERA. After the season, Wimmers
announced on live television
– who also struck out 86 batters
that the Minnesota Twins had
in 73 innings – repeated as the
taken Wimmers at No. 21.
Big Ten Pitcher of the Year and
“I have no idea what to think
a first-team All-American.
right now,” the righthander
Wimmers is the sixth firstsaid after he was chosen. “I’m Alex Wimmers
round draft pick in Ohio State
just glad it’s over with and I’m glad the history and the first since pitcher Cory
Minnesota Twins picked me. It was a Luebke went as a supplemental choice in
huge rush for me. It’s just such a relief 2007 to San Diego. He is the first to go in
to finally find out what team I’m going to the true first round since Oakland tabbed
and be able to sit down and finally relax Nick Swisher 16th overall in 2002.
this week.”
Wimmers’ battery-mate for more than
The Cincinnati Moeller product admit- a decade, catcher Dan Burkhart, was the
ted the anxiety had built up as the draft next Buckeye off the board when the San
neared and reached a crescendo through- Francisco Giants selected him in the 10th
out the opening day as he heard reports round with the No. 318 overall choice.
he could be drafted as high as 12th by his
“It was really exciting,” said Burkhart,
hometown Cincinnati Reds or fall into the who was leaving a round of golf with his
final third of the opening round.
father and some friends when his sister
Once the choice was made, Wimmers informed him the Giants had called. “It
was able to exhale. Even more excit- was a great relief. It was the happiest time
ing was the fact that he was chosen by ever. We all just started yelling.”
Minnesota, which has won five division
A three-year starter, Burkhart was the
championships in the last decade and has 2009 Big Ten Player of the Year after bata reputation for developing pitchers.
ting .354 with 10 homers and 62 RBI. In
“I feel as though the way I handle myself 2010, Burkhart finished with a .354 averand the type of pitcher I am, I fit great with age with a single homer and 29 RBI while
them,” he said. “They have a great reputa- walking 40 times, giving him a team-best
tion of grooming pitchers, and I’m just .464 on-base percentage.
extremely happy to get that chance.”
Despite retaining a year of eligibility
He said the Twins have sent him a at OSU like Wimmers, Burkhart hopes
contract to look over but he isn’t sure if to enter the realm of professional ball as
he will sign soon and report for minor well.
league duty or negotiate during the com“I’m thinking top 10 rounds, usually
ing weeks. Last year’s Minnesota first- you pretty much have to go,” Burkhart
round pick, pitcher Kyle Gibson, waited said.
until the last hours of the signing period
Signing bonuses given to players in last
in August before inking a contract worth year’s 10th round ranged from a low of
$10,000 to into six figures. Once negotiations are complete, Burkhart said he
expects to be assigned to the Salem-Keizer
Volcanoes of the short-season, Single-A
Northwest League.
The other Ohio State player taken in
the draft was outfielder Zach Hurley. The
senior completed his career with a standout season, leading the Buckeyes with a
.385 average and 19 doubles while posting
seven homers, 39 RBI and six steals.
A native of Springboro, Ohio, Hurley
was taken 875th overall in the 29th round
by the Oakland Athletics. A year ago, he
was chosen in the 45th round by Florida.
After leading Ohio State in home runs
for the second straight year, senior center
fielder Michael Stephens expected to hear
his name called. Instead, 1,525 players
came and went without the Victorville,
Calif., native being chosen.
“I’m not going to lie, I was pretty
shocked,” the normally jovial Stephens
said. “But it is what it is, and now I’ve
come to a point where it’s like certain
things work out in certain situations. If I
have to take the longest route ever, this
wouldn’t be a surprise to me. I’ve been
like that my whole life. I’m just going to
take everything positive and look forward
to the future.”
His plan is to return to his home state
and attempt to gain a tryout before trying
to catch an eye or two in the California
Collegiate League, a summer wooden-bat
league.
Stephens, who said he heard extensively from the Twins and Atlanta Braves
before the draft, finished 2010 with a .360
average, 10 homers and 43 RBI. Last year,
he batted .346 with 14 HR, 63 RBI, 10
doubles, five triples and 10 stolen bases.
Two recruits from Ohio high schools
who have signed letters of intent with
Ohio State were drafted as well.
Right-handed pitcher Josh Dezse went
in the 28th round (865th overall) to the
New York Yankees. The 6-4, 205-pounder
attended high school at Powell Olentangy
Liberty just northwest of Columbus.
Also, right-handed pitcher Greg Greve
was taken by San Francisco in the 45th
round (1,368th overall). The 6-3, 200pounder prepped at Walsh Jesuit in
Cuyahoga Falls, leading his team to the
state Division II final each of the past two
years.