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Passing On Neal A Mistake?

  • We missed on Stefon Diggs tonight! We told Davonte Neal no after he wanted to commit!
    Was it a mistake to tell Neal no, so we could land Diggs, when we wernt sure where Diggs was going? I think Urban actually made a big mistake on this one. I love what Meyer has done so far recruiting for OSU. but I think we should of just took Neal and found room for Diggs IF he even picked OSU which many people thought was a long shot anyway.
    I dont think it was a suprise that Diggs picked someone other than OSU. He wasnt bound for Columbus, but I sure had faith in my Buckeyes.
    Im not saying Meyer is a crappy recruiter or anything in that nature, but I think he should of just took the playmaker he could of and then find room if both wanted in. Now we are out a playmaker after all.

    If we would of accepted Neal, our future playmakers found be Devin Smith, Davonte Neal, Braxton, Jalin Marshall & any other 2013 recruits (Gibson, Foster, Isaac).

    Im pretty much just saying we got no playmaker in this class. After we should have had Neal. I think having Neal in this class would have been better than not having a playmaker at all. I really wanted Neal in this class and it just pisses me off that we told him no so we could have a spot for Diggs IF we landed him, which our chances were slim anyway. Never out of it, but small chances. Meyer always said that first come first serve. Well apparently Diggs didnt want in the class or he would of committed after his visit. But because he didnt commit, we waited and told Neal off.

    I honestly think Neal will have the better career. I think Diggs will be a average college player & Neal will be big time.
    I wish both luck in college, Im glad we have Meyer and hope he keeps bringing in more talent and love the Buckeyes.
    Go Buckeyes!

    jvohio44106

  • Couldnt have said it better myself. Passing on Neal just to watch Diggs turn us down was a HUGE mistake. Neal being in this class would have given us a great playmaker, but instead we miss out on a playmaker total. I wish we could of have took both but Id also rather have Neal instead. Diggs wont have a great career at Maryland like he would of at Florida or OSU.

    Bucknut8

  • I'd turn him down too if his jack ass dad was trying to receive improper benefits.
    If we were to keep perssuing him it would be like asking the NCAA to investigate you.

    signature image signature image signature image

    We've always had the BEST DAMN BAND IN THE LAND now we got the BEST DAMN TEAM IN THE LAND- Jim Tressel

    We Got Urb

  • We Got Urb said...

    I'd turn him down too if his jack ass dad was trying to receive improper benefits. If we were to keep perssuing him it would be like asking the NCAA to investigate you.

    Yeah, i think there was more to it than simply choosing diggs over neal. Urban is too smart to do somthing like that.

    Didn't he talk to a similiar type of player who is committed to ucla?

    signature image

    Buckeye in the Greater Los Angeles Area (USC's Coliseum ain't got nothin' on the shoe)

    voltageme

  • we got Urb & brunstar- thanks! I wasnt so sure about the Neal story.
    Would you guys mind providing a link or the story for me to follow?
    I was un aware of Neal's father doing this. now I feel like an idiot now.
    Maybe turning Neal down was a good idea. but why would Neal's father want to do this when he wanted Davonte at OSU in the first place, so why would he need improper benefits?

    jvohio44106

  • If Neal had anything shady and thats why Urban turned him down then I'm glad. Last thing we need is any funny business going on. Bank the schollie for next years class, with the likes of Burrows and Marshall already in and guys like Eli Woodard, Derrick Green, Malik Zaire, Billy Price, Shelton Gibson, and maybe even Jaylon Smith and Robert Foster looking like they are major possiblities for 2013 class, an extra schollie is always nice to have. Plus I think Marshall will fit the "Harvin Role" better than DIggs would, dont get me wrong though Diggs would have been a very nice pickup.

    Bj Mullens

  • He was turned down for a reason......he wanted Diamond like benefits..........and the word was hes a doper.....one bad apple can spoil the entire bunch...save the schollie for next year.....

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    buckeyewaz

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    BucksEagles142274

  • You are aware that we are on probation aren't you?

    If we end up in trouble with the NCAA again we are absolutely screwed. We will probably never get the entire story, but if any of the stories I've heard about his visit are true (drugs/fights with teammates/ requests for benefits from dad) we cant afford the risk, I don't care how talented he is. I have confidence that Coach Meyer abruptly cut off his recruitment for a good reason.

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    UFM- His words carry weight that would break a less interesting mans jaw

    bfbuckeye

  • jvohio44106 said...

    We missed on Stefon Diggs tonight! We told Davonte Neal no after he wanted to commit! Was it a mistake to tell Neal no, so we could land Diggs, when we wernt sure where Diggs was going? I think Urban actually made a big mistake on this one. I love what Meyer has done so far recruiting for OSU. but I think we should of just took Neal and found room for Diggs IF he even picked OSU which many people thought was a long shot anyway. I dont think it was a suprise that Diggs picked someone other than OSU. He wasnt bound for Columbus, but I sure had faith in my Buckeyes. Im not saying Meyer is a crappy recruiter or anything in that nature, but I think he should of just took the playmaker he could of and then find room if both wanted in. Now we are out a playmaker after all.

    If we would of accepted Neal, our future playmakers found be Devin Smith, Davonte Neal, Braxton, Jalin Marshall & any other 2013 recruits (Gibson, Foster, Isaac).

    Im pretty much just saying we got no playmaker in this class. After we should have had Neal. I think having Neal in this class would have been better than not having a playmaker at all. I really wanted Neal in this class and it just pisses me off that we told him no so we could have a spot for Diggs IF we landed him, which our chances were slim anyway. Never out of it, but small chances. Meyer always said that first come first serve. Well apparently Diggs didnt want in the class or he would of committed after his visit. But because he didnt commit, we waited and told Neal off.

    I honestly think Neal will have the better career. I think Diggs will be a average college player & Neal will be big time. I wish both luck in college, Im glad we have Meyer and hope he keeps bringing in more talent and love the Buckeyes. Go Buckeyes!

    On signing day I felt the exact same way as you about Neal, take the sure thing everytime right? and Neal is no slouch when compared to Diggs anyway. But Urban is no fool either, he knows what he is doing and was'nt just hedging his bets, going all-in on diggs. Something obviously happened on signing day we dont know about in regards to neal. we go from hot on him/him hot on us to just nothing. the rumor is (and I can't verify the accuracy) that neal/nealdaddy wanted extra 'incentives' for davonte's services, ala SEC. Urban doesn't play that shit, the coaching staff doesnt play that shit and the university/conferences/ avg. buckeye fans like you and me dont play that shit! Urban didnt believe in that at florida and wont sell us short here at OSU. to play here is an honor and a privilage not just a paycheck. So davonte: keep your signature and go play at looserville for a looser coach( richrod).

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    wigbug55

  • In Urbs we trust

    arny769

  • In the back of ur mind u have to realize there was a reason we didn't take Neal or Diamond. $ and auburn keep popping up every time either one are mentioned. Besides after seeing how recruiting went this year and the fact that Meyer has to be very picky next year I KNOW one player will not make or break us.

    Js1nv3 ●

  • Urban will find a playmaker on the team we have now. Next year at this time we'll all be saying Davonte who!!!

    gillby

  • arny769 said...

    In Urbs we trust

    +1. Gotta believe there was something there which did not sit right with Urban & Co., especially in light of our current probationary status

    tommyb1

  • i don't think passing on neal was because of diggs, meyer made a comment to the Ohio high school coach's about a "kid from out of state" and who made a bad decision forcing OSU to cut ties

    SheridanBuckeye

  • Neal is not a great player. Diggs film is on another planet than Neal. Neal is good, but he is 5'7 170. First, he would get beat up in the big ten. Second, Arizona is not exactly a hot bed for HS football, and his competition was marginal. Urban wants guys that can compete, and he obviously does not do that by stepping out of bounds instead of lowering his pads and being physical. Urban has done this a little longer than we have and at a very high level, the guys knows what he is doing, and we did not need Neal. Next.

    coachgal

  • Bucknut8 said...

    Couldnt have said it better myself. Passing on Neal just to watch Diggs turn us down was a HUGE mistake. Neal being in this class would have given us a great playmaker, but instead we miss out on a playmaker total. I wish we could of have took both but Id also rather have Neal instead. Diggs wont have a great career at Maryland like he would of at Florida or OSU.

    How do we really know that we turned Neal down has any of the coaches come out and said this did I miss that. If we did turn him down don't you think Coach Meyer found out something about Neal to not take him. Give our coaches some credit. I think they know better than us on their charcter of the recruits.

    coachb13

  • Brunstar said...

    http://content.usatoday.com/communities/campusrivalry/post/2012/02/davonte-neal-commitment-ohio-state-oklahoma/1 http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=222&f=1138&t=8656436&p=2

    It was talked about on here in older posts but it was easier to find these articles.

    in all due fairness...its all speculation. I have never read anywhere that there was a request for extra's from the father....the only thing even close to the subject was Urban Meyer's reference to a kid whose last step was out of bounds which could be construed as an improper request or it could be that it meant it exactly what he said...but he wasnt even specific about who he was talking about .

    trigg03

  • We dont know we passed on neal. come on. Rumors! Rumors!

    guyano

  • buckeyewaz said...

    He was turned down for a reason......he wanted Diamond like benefits..........and the word was hes a doper.....one bad apple can spoil the entire bunch...save the schollie for next year.....

    okay thanks. wasnt sure what the deal w/ Neal was. thanks. why did he need benefits?

    jvohio44106

  • Brunstar said...

    http://content.usatoday.com/communities/campusrivalry/post/2012/02/davonte-neal-commitment-ohio-state-oklahoma/1 http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=222&f=1138&t=8656436&p=2

    It was talked about on here in older posts but it was easier to find these articles.

    thanks! will read asap. I wish I would of known about the Neal situation before posting this. lol. Now i feel like a dumbass

    jvohio44106

  • wigbug55 said...

    On signing day I felt the exact same way as you about Neal, take the sure thing everytime right? and Neal is no slouch when compared to Diggs anyway. But Urban is no fool either, he knows what he is doing and was'nt just hedging his bets, going all-in on diggs. Something obviously happened on signing day we dont know about in regards to neal. we go from hot on him/him hot on us to just nothing. the rumor is (and I can't verify the accuracy) that neal/nealdaddy wanted extra 'incentives' for davonte's services, ala SEC. Urban doesn't play that shit, the coaching staff doesnt play that shit and the university/conferences/ avg. buckeye fans like you and me dont play that shit! Urban didnt believe in that at florida and wont sell us short here at OSU. to play here is an honor and a privilage not just a paycheck. So davonte: keep your signature and go play at looserville for a looser coach( richrod).

    haha wow thats great. thanks for the info.
    I cant believe Neal was getting into fights & drunks n all. But arnt most teens into drugs these days? its the cool thing now? & your the odd ball if you dont do drugs? I mean I dont, never did or never would but Im glad students dont do drugs. All i can say about Neal is WOW!

    jvohio44106

  • bfbuckeye said...

    You are aware that we are on probation aren't you?

    If we end up in trouble with the NCAA again we are absolutely screwed. We will probably never get the entire story, but if any of the stories I've heard about his visit are true (drugs/fights with teammates/ requests for benefits from dad) we cant afford the risk, I don't care how talented he is. I have confidence that Coach Meyer abruptly cut off his recruitment for a good reason.

    yes im aware. wasnt sure about all the Neal info. cut me some slack lol. on NSD i had class and was unable to follow along most of the day. So i didnt get to hear or read about anything on Neal.

    jvohio44106

  • gillby said...

    Urban will find a playmaker on the team we have now. Next year at this time we'll all be saying Davonte who!!!

    Corey Brown! I think he will excel in Urbans offense. I would say Devin Smith, but hes to good of a WR to take him away as our deep threat

    This post was edited by jvohio44106 on 2/11/2012 at 8:53 AM

    jvohio44106

  • coachgal said...

    Neal is not a great player. Diggs film is on another planet than Neal. Neal is good, but he is 5'7 170. First, he would get beat up in the big ten. Second, Arizona is not exactly a hot bed for HS football, and his competition was marginal. Urban wants guys that can compete, and he obviously does not do that by stepping out of bounds instead of lowering his pads and being physical. Urban has done this a little longer than we have and at a very high level, the guys knows what he is doing, and we did not need Neal. Next.

    I understand what your saying.
    But I never once said Urban dosnt know what hes doing. I mentioned in my first post that "he knows what hes doing but I think he messed up here". well everyone here has given me info on Neal. & now I understand that it wasnt Meyer that messed up. It was Davonte & His father.
    Davonte is from Ohio, so he's got Buckeye blood in him So I think he still would of been an average player at worst at OSU.
    Whats wrong with being 5'7 170? And I believe he was more like 5'9 180. Neal fit perfectly as the playmaker bill. Exact same height and weight (give our take a few pounds & an inch), and he is the same as Rainey & Dempsey from Florida. Urban recruited both of them guys.

    jvohio44106

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