There are some interesting dynamics in the recruiting the state, this coming year(2016 class). Dont know if I would say its the best year in Ohio as far as talented seniors but, like usual, there are enough kids that are good to keep some of the 'big boys' in recruiting around to take a look. Ohio State will always get their 'pick of the litter' but there is one team that is making a significant splash in the state.
University of Kentucky has been working the state hard ever since Mark Stoops came aboard. I am sure you all know that he is from Ohio(Youngstown) and the family is well known throughout the state. One of their co-recruiting coordinators is Dan Berezowitz, who had the same position with the Minnesota Gophers a few years back. Berezowitz has a history with the Stoops family, as most of you know. The guy that does most of the legwork, though, is their TE coach/co-recruiting coordinator, Vince Marrow. I am familiar with him as he coached HS football in the Toledo area for a year and was on the University of Toledo's staff. Marrow is a childhood friend of the Stoops family so he is also from Youngstown. University of Kentucky has so far gotten 8 OF THE TOP 40 seniors in the state of Ohio and 11 from the state altogether for the 2016 class and they aren't finished.
The thing Kentucky realizes everyone is saying is that the 'proof is in the pudding' when going against the big guns of the SEC.. I will guarantee their response to anyone who brings that up is "Who would have thought a 'bridesmaid' team in the Big 12 like Missouri could come into the SEC and win a division title in any year?? It can happen" Kentucky is recruiting the state of Ohio well and other schools are paying attention. Urban Meyer is certainly not worried as he will always get his guys from the state but what I find interesting is that University of Michigan has ZERO commits from the state of Ohio in 2016...yet.. Of course the staff is new and getting their feet wet in recruiting Ohio so I am sure they are not really worried about it now as they are in on some big names nationally.. Michigan State has recently done very well in getting Ohio kids also(6 of the top 40 in Ohio for 2016) as well as Gavin Cupp, who was discussed on this board recently.. Notre Dame has gotten a couple of top kids including the highest ranked kid in the state.
I say this because a team like Minnesota is someone that could sneak up on a lot of programs that have basically scoffed at us in the past.. The Nebraska wins were considered anomallies because the Cornhuskers were down, in their minds.. The Urban Meyer comment of how hard it is to beat the Minnesota team up in the Twin Cities was just being respectful, to many. The respect for the Gophers will be there when we have consistency and beat the top tier conference teams, no doubt about it... Basically I see similar circumstances with Kentucky in regards to recruiting as Kill has accumulated some real good talent and is building the program "under the radar". I know that Minnesota will get the attention of people if they get their share of wins. against Wisconsin and maybe get a few upsets of Michigan State or even Ohio State, to get noticed. I posted this because I believe that programs can get it turned around and not just 'live in mediocrity'.. Never good to be comfortable in mediocrity. I think Kentucky will surprise teams in the next 2 years with their talent and I think Minnesota will do the same.
University of Kentucky has been working the state hard ever since Mark Stoops came aboard. I am sure you all know that he is from Ohio(Youngstown) and the family is well known throughout the state. One of their co-recruiting coordinators is Dan Berezowitz, who had the same position with the Minnesota Gophers a few years back. Berezowitz has a history with the Stoops family, as most of you know. The guy that does most of the legwork, though, is their TE coach/co-recruiting coordinator, Vince Marrow. I am familiar with him as he coached HS football in the Toledo area for a year and was on the University of Toledo's staff. Marrow is a childhood friend of the Stoops family so he is also from Youngstown. University of Kentucky has so far gotten 8 OF THE TOP 40 seniors in the state of Ohio and 11 from the state altogether for the 2016 class and they aren't finished.
The thing Kentucky realizes everyone is saying is that the 'proof is in the pudding' when going against the big guns of the SEC.. I will guarantee their response to anyone who brings that up is "Who would have thought a 'bridesmaid' team in the Big 12 like Missouri could come into the SEC and win a division title in any year?? It can happen" Kentucky is recruiting the state of Ohio well and other schools are paying attention. Urban Meyer is certainly not worried as he will always get his guys from the state but what I find interesting is that University of Michigan has ZERO commits from the state of Ohio in 2016...yet.. Of course the staff is new and getting their feet wet in recruiting Ohio so I am sure they are not really worried about it now as they are in on some big names nationally.. Michigan State has recently done very well in getting Ohio kids also(6 of the top 40 in Ohio for 2016) as well as Gavin Cupp, who was discussed on this board recently.. Notre Dame has gotten a couple of top kids including the highest ranked kid in the state.
I say this because a team like Minnesota is someone that could sneak up on a lot of programs that have basically scoffed at us in the past.. The Nebraska wins were considered anomallies because the Cornhuskers were down, in their minds.. The Urban Meyer comment of how hard it is to beat the Minnesota team up in the Twin Cities was just being respectful, to many. The respect for the Gophers will be there when we have consistency and beat the top tier conference teams, no doubt about it... Basically I see similar circumstances with Kentucky in regards to recruiting as Kill has accumulated some real good talent and is building the program "under the radar". I know that Minnesota will get the attention of people if they get their share of wins. against Wisconsin and maybe get a few upsets of Michigan State or even Ohio State, to get noticed. I posted this because I believe that programs can get it turned around and not just 'live in mediocrity'.. Never good to be comfortable in mediocrity. I think Kentucky will surprise teams in the next 2 years with their talent and I think Minnesota will do the same.
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