Big Ten recruiting roundup
January 26, 2009 by feed
Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg
Ohio State will learn Tuesday whether it will earn the services of standout prep quarterback Tajh Boyd. Defensive end Craig Drummond has, in fact, picked Mississippi after originally committing to Illinois. Iowa had a big weekend recruiting haul, while other Big Ten schools are racking up commits.
Here's the latest from ESPN Scouts Inc.'s national recruiting director Tom Luginbill.
ESPNU 150 Craig Drummond picks Rebels over Illini
Craig Drummond, DE
Chicago, IL
Morgan Park H.S.
Scouts Grade: 81
ESPN150 Rank: 99
Position Rank: 7
Defensive end Craig Drummond of Morgan Park (Chicago, Ill.), rated No. 7 nationally among defensive ends and No. 99 prospect overall in the Class of 2009, has chosen Mississippi.
The 6-foot-5, 260-pound Drummond had originally picked Illinois over Wisconsin, but was wavering on his choice.
Among others, Drummond was also offered by Miami-Florida, Tennessee, Ohio State, Southern California, Florida, Michigan State and Minnesota.
Drummond, who was an all-state and all-area selection as a junior after recording 22 sacks, did not play his senior season because of a foot injury.
ESPNU 150 Tajh Boyd to choose on Tuesday
Tajh Boyd, QB
Hampton, VA
Phoebus H.S.
Scouts Grade: 82
ESPN150 Rank: 59
Position Rank: 5
Tajh Boyd of Phoebus (Hampton, Va.), rated No. 5 among quarterbacks and No. 59 prospect overall in Class 2009, plans to make a final decision among Clemson, Oregon and Ohio State on Tuesday afternoon (Jan. 27).
Among many others, Boyd was also being recruited by Florida State, Boston College, Virginia and Penn State.
Boyd had first committed to West Virginia, but had second thoughts following the Mountaineers' offensive struggles early in the season. He then chose Tennessee, but decommitted following a conversation with newly hired coach Lane Kiffin who warned him that he might not be happy with the Vols' pro-style system.
As a junior, Boyd passed for 2,059 yards and 25 touchdowns, and also rushed for 500 yards and seven scores. He tore his ACL in the third game of his senior season and is set to have surgery next month.
Oklahoma State lands LB Jordan Barnes
Jordan Barnes, ILB
Fort Wayne, IN
Homestead H.S.
Scouts Grade: 78
Position Rank: 19
Jordan Barnes of Homestead (Fort Wayne, Ind.), rated No. 19 among inside linebackers in the Class of 2009, has pledged to the Big-12 Cowboys over Purdue.
Barnes had decommitted from Michigan and also considered Indiana and Wisconsin. Among other offers were Oregon, Northwestern and Louisville.
His father played for the Boilermakers.
DT drops Badgers for Boston College
Conor O'Neal, DT
Lithia, FL
Newsome H.S.
Scouts Grade: 40
Conor O'Neal, a 6-foot-3, 300-pound defensive tackle from Newsome (Lithia, Fla.), has switched his commitment from Wisconsin to the Eagles.
His other offers include North Carolina State, Michigan State and Buffalo.
Glenville product Mike Edwards set for Tennessee
Mike Edwards, CB
Cleveland, OH
Glenville H.S.
Scouts Grade: 77
Position Rank: 36
The Tennessee Vols have landed Mike Edwards of Glenville (Cleveland, Ohio), rated No. 36 among cornerbacks in the Class of 2009.
Among his other offers were Michigan, Minnesota, Cincinnati, Illinois and Indiana.
Edwards spoke with ESPN's Bill Kurelic about his pledge, "I chose Tennessee because of the academic support and the coaching staff. I feel like they can challenge me and make me better."
Another St. Thomas Aquinas talent headed to Badgers
Dezman Southward, S
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Saint Thomas Aquinas School
Scouts Grade: 40
Head coach Bret Bielema of Wisconsin has gained a pledge from Dezmen Southward, a 6-foot-1, 200-pound safety from St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.).
Southward chose the Badgers over Syracuse and UConn, plus late interest from Tennessee. He joins prep teammate linebacker Conor O'Neill in Wisconsin's recruiting class.
Hawkeyes nab productive receiver
Stephane Ngoumou, WR
Rockville, MD
T. S. Wootton H.S.
Scouts Grade: 40
Stephane Ngoumou, a 6-foot-4, 195-pound receiver from Wootton (Rockville, Md.), has given a Class of 2009 commitment to the Iowa Hawkeyes.
As a senior, he caught 71 passes for 1,100 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Hawkeyes gain TE from Cyclones
Conor Boffeli, TE
West Des Moines, IA
Valley H.S.
Scouts Grade: 67
Position Rank: 113
Conor Boffeli, a 6-foot-5, 250-pound tight end from Valley (West Des Moines, Iowa), has changed his commitment from Iowa State to rival Iowa.
The prospect had reconsidered his pledge after the departure of ISU head coach Gene Chizik to Auburn.
Hawkeyes find in-state offensive lineman
Matt Murphy, OT
Clinton, IA
Clinton H.S.
Scouts Grade: 40
Head coach Kirk Ferentz of Iowa has added a commitment from 6-foot-6, 255-pound offensive lineman Matt Murphy of Clinton, Iowa. Murphy chose the Hawkeyes over Iowa State and Northern Iowa.
Murphy was previously only holding a greyshirt offer from the Hawkeyes. He told The Gazette, "I visited with coach (Kirk) Ferentz during breakfast at his house and it was the same old talk. Then, about midway through the conversation, he offered a scholarship. It was shocking. I didn't see it coming."
Illinois sleeper athlete set for Hawkeyes
Dakota Getz, TE
Macon, IL
Meridian H.S.
Scouts Grade: 40
Iowa has its 16th commitment in 6-foot-4, 210-pound Dakota Getz of Meridian (Macon, Ill.).
Getz, who is projected as a tight end by the Hawkeyes, played quarterback for Meridian. He passed for 2,214 yards and 22 touchdowns, and rushed for 1,667 and 25 scores as a senior.
He said of joining other central Illinois prospects to Iowa, "It's nice that those guys are here, too. But I know that how much work I put in will determine my success. I have to work to get to see playing time, I know that."
Florida defensive tackle headed to Illinois
Akeem Spence, DT
Fort Walton Beach , FL
Fort Walton Beach H.S.
Scouts Grade: 78
Position Rank: 34
Rated No. 34 among defensive tackles nationally, Akeem Spence of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., has committed to Illinois of the Big Ten.
The 280-pound Spence chose the Illini over North Carolina State, Syracuse and South Florida. He also holds offers from Iowa State, East Carolina, Florida Atlantic, Florida International and Troy.
Shayon Green switches from Purdue to Canes
Shayon Green, DE
Tifton, GA
Tift County H.S.
Scouts Grade: 73
Position Rank: 139
Shayon Green of Tift County (Tifton, Ga.), who registered 120 tackles and two sacks as a linebacker this fall, has decided to sign with Miami-Florida after decommitting from the Boilermakers.
Green, who played defensive end as a junior, also has offers from Auburn, Mississippi, South Florida, Central Florida and Kent State.
Green told ESPN affiliate Web site InsideTheU.com, "I started looking around the campus and I decided that was the place I wanted to go to school for the next four years. Everything was beautiful and I just felt real comfortable in that environment."
Ohio athlete picks Hawkeyes
Micah Hyde, QB
Fostoria, OH
Fostoria H.S.
Scouts Grade: 72
Position Rank: 110
Iowa has its 13th commitment for the Class of 2009 in Micah Hyde of Fostoria, Ohio.
The 175-pound Hyde was recruited as a cornerback. He also has offers from six MAC programs, including Ball State, Central Michigan, Miami-Ohio, Toledo, Bowling Green, Eastern Michigan and Ohio.
Hyde's older brother, Marcus, is a safety at Michigan State.
Illini add Jacksonville defender
Eric Watts, OLB
Jacksonville, FL
Wolfson H.S.
Scouts Grade: 75
Position Rank: 85
Eric Watts, a linebacker from Wolfson (Jacksonville, Fla.), has given a Class of 2009 commitment to Illinois.
The 205-pound prospect had other offers from Mississippi, Mississippi State, Iowa State, South Carolina, South Florida and Middle Tennessee State.
Watt's who registered 91 tackles including 16 for loss as a senior, said, "When I called coach Zook to tell him, he said he was about to do a back flip. I feel like I've made the right decision. The coaches will care for me and I fit in well with their defense. Also, they have a great business school and that's what I want to major in," the Florida Times-Union reports.
Boilermakers nab Florida athlete
Antavian Edison, RB/WR
Fort Meyers, FL
Dunbar H.S.
Scouts Grade: 72
Position Rank: 169
Antavian Edison, a running back / receiver from Dunbar (Fort Meyers, Fla.) has decided to play for Purdue.
He told the Journal and Courier, "I just felt like their whole staff — the coaches, the teachers, everyone — they're all behind student-athletes. They were all very helpful. It's the same type of love here at Dunbar."
Edison, who rushed for 488 yards (9.2 average) and five scores and had 35 receptions for 563 yards and five more touchdowns as a senior, also considered Alabama-Birmingham and Florida Atlantic.
The Boilermakers now have 20 commitments, including 13 prospects from Florida.
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