Buckeyes grab 18 players on signing day

COLUMBUS: Despite locking up 18 players on Wednesday's first day for football signings, much of the focus on Ohio State's recruiting class will be on the ones that got away.

Coach Jim Tressel and his staff picked up two quarterbacks, two running backs, three defensive linemen and several other quality prospects, but everyone will be talking about the loss of several major players from within Ohio's borders.

The Buckeyes, who usually fatten up on Ohio-bred blue-chippers, signed just nine in-state players. To put that into perspective, Michigan signed 10 players from Ohio.

The top names on the recruiting list were Roderick Smith, a running back out of Fort Wayne, Ind., and wide receiver James Louis out of Delray Beach, Fla.

Drew Basil (K/P, Chillicothe HS, Chillicothe, Ohio): Versatile specialist who will bolster the kicking game … career long field goal of 47 yards; 13-13 on PAT as a senior … second team all-Ohio for Coach Bill Davidson … SEOAL special teams player of year … team captain for the Cavaliers … four-year starter … also played soccer and bowling at Chillicothe … National Honor Society, Spanish honorary, peer mediation, ping-pong club … son of Elaine and Brad Basil

Corey Brown (WR, Cardinal O'Hara HS, Upper Darby, Pa.): Two-time all-state speedster from Philadelphia … MVP of the Philadelphia Catholic League … three years all-conference, two years all-Delco … career numbers of 3,000 yards rushing, 1,500 yards receiving and 50 touchdowns scored for Coach Dan Algeo … UnderArmour All-America Game … Maxwell Award … Philadelphia Daily News PCL all-decade team … All-America sprinter who holds the Delaware Co. 200m record (21.4) … all-state, all-Delco and all-Catholic League in track … son of Delene Williams

Christian Bryant (DB, Glenville HS, Cleveland, Ohio): All-Ohio defender from Cleveland Glenville … Senate conference offensive player of year for Coach Ted Ginn Sr. playing quarterback, tailback, reciever, kicker and punter … 82 tackles, five interceptions (two for TD) for the 13-2 Tarblooders … Archie Griffin and Blue Chip awards … U.S. Army All-American Bowl … Ohio All-Star Classic … Cleveland Plain Dealer all-star … also ran track … honor roll student … son of Tonya Ellis and Ronnie Bryant

David Durham (LB, Charlotte Christian HS, Charlotte, N.C.): Athletic linebacker who helped Charlotte Christian to the state finals … 86 tackles, 9.5 sacks as a senior for Coach Jason Estep’s Knights … all-district at Westlake (Texas) High as a junior with 64 tackles, five sacks … Aloha Prep Bowl … Charlotte Observer Top 25 … NC-SC Shrine Bowl captain … also an all-state wrestler in Texas … son of Ken and Dani Durham … dad played football for Ole Miss

Taylor Graham (QB, Wheaton North HS, Wheaton, Ill.): Second-generation Buckeye signalcaller … knee injury curtailed his senior campaign for Coach Joe Wardynski's Falcons … junior season was cut short by an ankle injury after 4 ½ games, passing for 460 yards and six scores … also a baseball and basketball letterman … National Honor Society … son of Kent and Courtney Graham … dad played quarterback for Ohio State (1990-91) and 11 seasons in pro football

Chad Hagan (DB, Canon-McMillan HS, Canonsburg, Pa.): Safety prospect from western Pennsylvania … second team all-state for Coach Guy Montecalvo's Big Macs … first team all-Great Southern conference … Washington Observer-Reporter Elite 11 … East-West all-star game … also an all-conference basketball player … track letterman … son of Crystal Hagan

Johnathan Hankins (DL, Southeastern HS, Dearborn Heights, Mich.): Outstanding defensive tackle prospect … two-time all-state selection for Coach Donshell English's 11-1 division champions … 85 tackles, 12 sacks as a senior … all-Detroit city, all-metro, Michigan Blue Chip playing on both sides of the football … four-year starter … Cityballers.com player of the year … also a shot putter … Drama Club … son of Louise and James Ward

Carlos Hyde (RB, Naples HS/Fork Union MA, Naples, Fla.): Power running back who shows lateral dexterity … spent autumn 2009 at Fork Union Military Academy playing for Coach John Shuman … rushed for 1,653 yards, 16 touchdowns as a senior for Coach Bill Kramer at Naples (Fla.) High … Naples Daily News Broxson Award as player of the year … Ft. Myers News-Press Southwest Florida player of the year … Golden Eagles were 2007 state champions and 2008 regional finalists … Super Prep Florida Top 75 … a basketball and track standout … mentor to elementary school students … son of Dermidra Hyde and Carlos Britton … enrolled at OSU in January

James Louis (WR, Atlantic HS, Delray Beach, Fla.): Speedy all-state receiver from Florida … accounted for 38 catches, 682 yards, 10 TD as a senior for Coach Andre Thaddies … two-time all-area … posted 56 receptions, 1,100 yards, 12 TD as a junior … three-year starter … UnderArmour All-America Game … Palm Beach Post Super 11 … also a track letterman … son of Vivianne Louis and Arnaut St. Fleur

Scott McVey (LB, St. Ignatius HS, Lyndhurst, Ohio): Hard-hitting linebacker from Cleveland St. Ignatius … all-state as a junior and senior for Coach Chuck Kyle … all-Northeast Lakes district … Cleveland Plain Dealer 2008 defensive player of year, recording 144 tackles, 18 sacks, 44 TFL, two interceptions … nominated for both Ohio all-star games … also runs the 110m high hurdles for the Wildcats … Latin and service clubs … son of Dave and Gina McVey

J.T. Moore (DE, Boardman HS, Boardman, Ohio): Defender who totaled 110 tackles, seven sacks, nine TFL as a senior … first team all-Ohio for Coach D.J. Ogilvie … all-Northeast Ohio and all-Federal League … Youngstown Big 22 team … three-year starter … Five Blocks of Granite award … nominated for Ohio All-Star Classic and Big 33 game … also a basketball letterman … honor roll student … son of Claudette and Darryl Moore

Andrew Norwell (OL, Anderson HS, Cincinnati, Ohio): All-Ohio lineman from Cincinnati Anderson … helped Coach Jeff Geisting's Redskins to two state title games … senior season cut short by a leg injury … first team all-state, all-Southwest, all-FAVC conference … his teams had a three-year record of 37-6 … U.S. Army All-American Bowl nominee … also a basketball letterman … son of Julia and Ivar Norwell … brother Chris played at Illinois

Verlon Reed (ATH, Marion-Franklin HS, Columbus, Ohio): Versatile athlete who played quarterback, defensive back and receiver in Columbus City League … three-year starter for Coach Brian Haffele's Red Devils … all-city, all-district, all-metro, all-state … passed for 1,714 yards, 18 touchdowns, rushed for 1,658 yards as a senior, helping team to state semifinal … 23-6 as a starter … four City League titles … basketball and track standout … son of Charlestina Roseboro and Verlon Reed Sr.

Bradley Roby (DB, Peachtree Ridge HS, Suwanee, Ga.): Cornerback prospect who earned all-state recognition as a DB, WR and athlete … all-region, all-Gwinnett County … 42 tackles, six interceptions, 29 catches for 526 yards as a senior … Gwinnett TD Club defensive player of year … scored 11 touchdowns for Coach Bill Ballard's state quarterfinal club: five on receptions, two on punt returns and one each on a kick return, a rush, an interception and a fumble recovery … team captain … Atlanta TD Club Iron Man award … also a track and basketball standout … four-time scholar-athlete … DECA club, Ideals leadership … son of Betty and James Roby

Rod Smith (RB, Paul Harding HS, Fort Wayne, Ind.): Powerful tailback who totaled 1,000 career carries … player of the year as a senior for Coach Sherwood Haydock, rushing for 1,855 yards, 19 scores … SAC conference career rushing leader with 6,625 yards, 66 career touchdowns (eighth-best in Indiana prep history) … all-conference basketball standout … ran first leg of state runner-up 4x100 relay … son of Sophia and Roger Smith

Jamel Turner (DE, Fork Union MA, Youngstown, Ohio): Determined defender who spent his senior season at Fork Union (Va.) Military Academy … 66 tackles, two interceptions as a senior at FUMA, playing for Coach Mickey Sullivan … Virginia all-prep league team … recorded 23 sacks as a sophomore and 18 as a junior at Youngstown Ursuline … 2008 Ohio Division V state champions … also a track and basketball standout at Ursuline … son of Rachella Pendlton

T.Y. Williams (WR, Shaw HS, East Cleveland, Ohio): Tall, athletic receiver from Cleveland … 39 catches for 685 yards and 14 scores as a senior … second team all-state for Coach Rodney Brown's Lake Erie League-champion Cardinals … all-Lake Erie League and all-district … junior season cut short by knee injury … also a basketball and track letterman … son of Vorise Williams and Tyrone Banks