http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/football/ncaa/12/15/buckeyes-nfl.ap/index.html#ixzz0ZrixogOS

Something to keep in mind is that their is a STRONG possibility of a rookie salary cap after this year. The buckeye's could get gutted by this because of kid's getting out to get the maximum amount of cash.

It wouldn't be just Ohio State juniors but "all" juniors. With anticipated flood of them this would require a prospective entrant to do his due diligence on where he were to be taken and make appropriate decision based on that, and not a knee jerk reaction.

A couple of kid's like Cameron Hayward and Thaddius Gibson could loose alot of cash should they stay at Ohio State.

Thaddeus Gibson- should probably go, and probably will
Cameron Heyward- a possibility... not sure
Ross Homan- he'll probably return, he had a good season but he'd probably fall somewhere late 1st-early 2nd
Brian Rolle- probably could use another year. His height might scare teams away (such a silly thing to care about for a LB)
Chimdi Chekwa- wow? really? I thought he had potential to be one of the better CBs in recent memory, but he looked bad this year
Devon Torrence- got exposed several times
Brandon Saine- interesting, he'll be back though IMO. Stats won't help him. The best RB on the team this season IMO
Dane Sanzenbacher- this made me laugh
Bryant Browning- close to Dane in the "what the heck is he thinking"
Justin Boren- major possibility here

You do understand that they filed paperwork to see what the NFL thinks about them right? Every junior in the country should take advantage of this. Worst case scenario is they tell you that you suck and you need to improve on the following..... In that case, you spend the offseason working on what the NFL considers your weaknesses.

Now I'm not saying that some of these guys are not considering the NFL, but keep it in perspective and understand the process before you call them morons.

And you really think Homan is a late 1st to 2nd rounder?

Not news. Tressel pretty much makes them do this to see where they are and this is the case EVERY year. If you were a junior, why wouldn't you?

jordo212000 wrote: Thaddeus Gibson- should probably go, and probably will
Cameron Heyward- a possibility... not sure
Ross Homan- he'll probably return, he had a good season but he'd probably fall somewhere late 1st-early 2nd
Brian Rolle- probably could use another year. His height might scare teams away (such a silly thing to care about for a LB)
Chimdi Chekwa- wow? really? I thought he had potential to be one of the better CBs in recent memory, but he looked bad this year
Devon Torrence- got exposed several times
Brandon Saine- interesting, he'll be back though IMO. Stats won't help him. The best RB on the team this season IMO
Dane Sanzenbacher- this made me laugh
Bryant Browning- close to Dane in the "what the heck is he thinking"
Justin Boren- major possibility here

Ok, if ANYONE should go it would be Cam, not Gibson. Gibson shouldn't go--he wouldn't even be a 2nd round pick. There are a lot of players that fit his mold in this draft. Homan MIGHT get picked in the 3rd round, you're dreaming if you believe otherwise. About the only thing I agree with you on is the last 3. But either way, I don't see any of them but Heyward having any chance at a 1st round selection. Most not even 2nd round with the exception of MAYBE Gibson.

I thought Homan was a beast this year.

And yes I realize there is no harm in doing this, as it happens every year. I just laugh when players like Dane Sanzenbacher file the paperwork. How hard do you think the NFL advisers laughed when they read he was applying? For him and Bryant Browning it was a waste of paper.

I disagree about Gibson/Heyward. You could be right though...

jordo212000 wrote: I thought Homan was a beast this year.

And yes I realize there is no harm in doing this, as it happens every year. I just laugh when players like Dane Sanzenbacher file the paperwork. How hard do you think the NFL advisers laughed when they read he was applying? For him and Bryant Browning it was a waste of paper.

I disagree about Gibson/Heyward. You could be right though...

A lot of people thought it was humorous when Brian Hartline declared last year. . . like he had no shot of getting drafted.

Every junior starter should take advantage of this. It gets names out there, and exposes your abilities to NFL scouts. Nothing bad can come of it. . .

Quint wrote:

A lot of people thought it was humorous when Brian Hartline declared last year. . . like he had no shot of getting drafted.

Every junior starter should take advantage of this. It gets names out there, and exposes your abilities to NFL scouts. Nothing bad can come of it. . .

Keep in mind, I didn't think much of Hartline while he was at Ohio State... but he was twice the WR that Sanzenbacher is. Hartline is faster and a lot taller...

They have the right to do it and they should all do it--it's not a waste of paperwork--if nothing else it gives them a barometer of how much better they need to get.

Homan was a beast this year. At Ohio State. I doubt his draft stock is very high.

What exactly do you disagree with about Gibson and Heyward?

my disagreement is that I think Gibson is a better pro prospect than Heyward.

Guys like Sanzenbacher are becoming very important in NFL spread offenses though. Good at running those short, under routes. Don't think that Dane doesn't have a place in the NFL--he may end up being a very good NFL player.

What makes you think Gibson is a better pro prospect than Heyward? I disagree, I think they're both good pro prospects but if I had to give the lean to one I'd definitely say Heyward.

Every year any junior who was a starter or who played a significant amount of time at OSU petitions the NFL for a draft grade (I think every junior across the country in a similar situation should do the same, just so they know). Even if the draft grade doesn't come back great, it lets you know where you stand so you know what you'll need to do the next year to improve your stock. I also agree with Tressel that anyone projected as a first round pick or who thinks that their stock can only drop by coming back (i.e. Antonio Pittman) then they should leave.Clearly most of these guys will be back and are only doing this because all juniors who saw significant time were told to do so. I do think that most guys this year should add 1/2-1 full round onto their draft grade because of the likelihood of more underclassmen coming out early with the likelihood uncapped year next year and a rookie cap after that.

Heyward is projected to go higher than Gibson. That's pretty common knowledge.

I laughed about Hartline leaving early before I knew his situation, but he has done really well in the NFL this year. So, I won't necessarily laugh at Sanzenbacher because I think he might be able to play in the NFL.

Can't fault kids for filing paperwork...especially if they are 4th year Juniors.

You like Gibson better because you are probably a punk kid who likes Flashy more than Substance.

Heyward looks like a 15 year player with about 4 or 5 pro bowls awaiting

Gibson COULD be good but COULD be a Vernon Gholston.. lot more risk IMO

Heyward is pretty damn close to a sure thing at the next level, IMO.

Gibson could be very good at the next level but would have to fall into the right system and be able to pick up on very complex schemes. Our last 2 stud tweeners (Carpenter and Gholston) haven't done much, but hopefully Gibson can end that trend when he goes.

Tressel tells them to far 2 reasons. One so he can tell people who are first rounds pick to consider going and to motivate the others.

IMO,Gibson will go,but Heyward will stay--he's got something to prove to his momma'

In fairness to Gibson--he's a better pro prospect than Gholston and even Carpenter. He's much more athletic. But yeah, nothing is certain. Heyward is pretty close as sure a thing as there is--he's going to be a stud in the NFL. He's the best player on OSU's roster.

Those slot-receiver types, while effective in the right scheme (basically you have to be in New England (Wes Welker) or Indy (Austin Collie or Brandon Stokley) to gain any kind of recognition), are not going to be drafted very highly because they aren't too hard to find. Austin Collie, who is a more prototypical slot receiver than Dane, wasn't drafted til the 4th round last year by the Colts, a team who probably values the slot receiver more than any other in the NFL. I don't see Dane going any higher than the 5th or 6th round, if he gets drafted at all.

I will second that JT does this every year and this is nothing to be alarmed about. Devon Torrence went to my high school and is a great kid but he has a real shot at a high draft pick if he stays around for his senior year so I am sure he will be back. He graduated a year after me and is a really nice kid. I hope he does make it to the NFL but I think it is in his best interest to stay. Along with most of the guys on that list. There will be one or two shockers that do leave early because of the new cap rule but it wont kill any team in the NCAA IMO.

^I don't think anyone is saying he'd be a high pick. Doesn't mean he doesn't have a pretty good shot in the league though--especially with more teams starting to move towards a pass happy, spread offense.

SQ_Crazies wrote: ^I don't think anyone is saying he'd be a high pick. Doesn't mean he doesn't have a pretty good shot in the league though--especially with more teams starting to move towards a pass happy, spread offense.

O I know but I do think he has a shot at a high draft pick if he sticks around. Starting CB for OSU is a huge, HUGE plus. If he has a good year he will be 1 or 2 round guy IMO.

We could get gutted, or we could get lucky and have college experiences and one last shot at a championship win out over $$$$$.....