Ohio 2012 Recruiting

Ohio Bobcats 2012 ... Head Coach: Frank Solich

Ohio Bobcats

2011 Record: 9-4

Sep. 3 at New Mexico St W 44-24
Sep. 10 Gardner-Webb W 30-3
Sep. 17 Marshall W 44-7
Sep. 24 at Rutgers L 38-26
Oct. 1 Kent State W 17-10
Oct. 8 at Buffalo L 38-37
Oct. 15 Ball State L 23-20
Oct. 22 at Akron W 37-20
Oct. 29 OPEN DATE
Nov. 2 Temple W 35-31
Nov. 10 at Central Mich W 43-28
Nov. 16 at Bowling Green W 29-28
Nov. 22 Miami Univ. W 21-14
MAC Championship
Dec. 2 Northern Illinois L 23-20
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Dec. 17 Utah State 24-23
 
2010 CFN Prediction: 8-4
2010 Record: 8-5

Sept. 4 Wofford W 33-10
Sept. 11 Toledo L 20-13
Sept. 18 at Ohio St L 43-7
Sept. 25 at Marshall L 24-23
Oct. 2 at Eastern Mich W 30-17
Oct. 9 Bowling Green W 49-25
Oct. 16 Akron W 38-10
Oct. 23 at Miami Univ. W 34-13
Oct. 30 Louisiana W 38-31
Nov. 4 Buffalo W 34-17
Nov. 11 OPEN DATE
Nov. 16 at Temple W 31-23
Nov. 26 at Kent State L 28-6
NEW ORLEANS BOWL
Dec. 18 Troy L 48-21
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The Entire 2012 Recruiting Class

 Top 5 Ohio Recruits To Care About
Player writeups by Scout.com

1. DT Trae Clark
6-4, 300, Scout.com 21st ranked defensive tackle. A nose guard whose best attribute is his ability to occupy blockers, Clark fits into a 3-4 type of scheme where his biggest job is to hold his ground. Size can be considered a strength and a weakness, as he carries too much bad weight as a high school player, but is a naturally large kid. Will be much more effective at 320 as opposed to 340. Could end up as an offensive guard should his quickness not improve

2. MLB Kurt Laseak
6-4, 220, Scout.com 63td ranked middle linebacker

3. TE Michael Roberts
6-5, 235, Scout.com 85th ranked tight end

4. OG Troy Watson
6-4, 275, Scout.com 166th ranked guard.

5. DE Wade Wells
6-4, 245 JUCO transfer from Mississippi Gulf Coast

The 2012 Class Was Heavy On... Not a lot. Last year’s class was huge after a few light ones, and this year there isn’t much room for new bodies. The defensive line will get a little bit of instant help from the JUCO ranks with Wade Wells and Ty Branz for the ends, and JUCO transfer Matt Waters will help out the receiving corps, but last year was about the future. The Bobcats aren’t bringing in a ton of talents, but JUCO transfer Wade Wells should be an instant boost on the end and Trae Clark is a ready-made interior prospect who was a nice get. He’ll be an anchor in the near future. The receiving corps got help with JUCO transfer Matt Waters, while Chris Murray will be a quick target to be used in a few years.

Team Concerns For 2012: The MAC East champion gets almost everyone back on defense, but it loses heart-and-soul linebacker Noah Keller in the middle. The offense has to find a new starting running back for Donte Harden, and LaVon Brazill and a few key targets are gone. Overall the Bobcats are experienced and should be in the hunt for the MAC title, but the backups need to start playing a bigger role in the rotation.

Looking Ahead To The 2012 Season: After a terrific season with an appearance in the MAC title game, Ohio has a lot to be excited about with QB Tyler Tettleton back as one of the league’s top playmakers. Receivers LaVon Brazill and Riley Dunlop are gone, as are the starting tackles, but the interior of the line is back. The defense won’t have linebacker Noah Keller to work around, but the entre secondary and three starters on the line are back.

The 2011 Class Was Heavy On … Bodies. The last two recruiting classes have been relatively light after a huge 2008 class, and now Frank Solich is bringing in more players to beef up both sides of the ball. While quarterbacks Ronnie Bell and Derrius Vick are going to get most of the attention, diminutive RB Kyle Hammonds could be the star of the show. The best position brought in is defensive end, with Andrew Bennett and Justin Haser two good-sized prospects, but the best defensive lineman should be 6-2, 280-pound tackle Antwan Crutcher.

2010 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 120. That Class Was Heavy On ... Hope for next year. This wasn't a huge class and Frank Solich wasn't able to do much to capitalize on the big East winning campaign. There are some decent linebackers and Chase Cochran is a receiver who'll end up being the No. 1 target, but there isn't a lot to be excited about with few spots to fill after last year. Watch out for Kenny Ashley, a JUCO transfer who could be the teams' No. 1 RB from Day One.

2009 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 120. That Class Was Heavy On ... Hope for last year’s class. Last year’s class was about boosting up the passing game, and this year’s group is really, really light in all areas. There weren’t a lot of openings, so the staff went heavy on a few stars. Jon Lechner could be a special offensive tackle, while LB Dylan Reda should be a good one.

2011 Season

2011 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Ohio 24 … Utah State 23
- CFN Thoughts on the Game

Ohio: QB Tyler Tettleton completed 19-of-26 passes for 220 yards and two scores, and ran 16 times for 27 yards and the game-winning score … LB Noah Keller led the team with 11 tackles and a tackle for loss … WR LaVon Brazill caught eight passes for 108 yards and a score … P Paul Hershey averaged 50 yards on six kicks with three put inside the 20. … Ohio was outgained 441 yards to 345. 

(AP) BOISE, Idaho -- Tyler Tettleton's late heroics helped Ohio erase decades of misery in the postseason. The sophomore calmly led a 61-yard drive in the final 2:02 and scored on a 1-yard keeper with 13 seconds left to give Ohio its first bowl victory, 24-23 over Utah State on Saturday in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.

Ohio had been winless in five bowl appearances, including setbacks the last two seasons.

But Tettleton changed all that, going 3 of 4 passing in the final drive, including a 14-yard completion to LaVon Brazill on fourth down to give Ohio a first down inside the 1 with 37 seconds left.

After getting stuffed on his first attempt to punch the ball in, Tettleton rolled right on the next play and outran two defenders to cap the comeback and set a new course for Ohio's postseason future.

"There's been a lot of great wins here, and I appreciate every one," Ohio coach Frank Solich said. "This one obviously is kind of an answer to what these guys wanted to get done at the beginning of the year, and what we all wanted in terms of winning a bowl game. To accomplish that and get the first win in the history of Ohio football was meaningful to me, these players and this staff."

The victory also gave Ohio its first 10-win season since 1968 and helped blunt the bitterness of letting Northern Illinois rally from a 20-point deficit in the Mid-American Conference title game two weeks ago.

Tettleton, the son of former major league catcher Mickey Tettleton, was effective throughout the game and kept the Bobcats close enough with his legs and arm.

Tettleton was 19 of 26 passing for 220 yards and two touchdowns and rushed 16 times for 31 yards. He was only sacked twice and spread his completions around to seven receivers and the Bobcats had 345 total yards on offense.

For Utah State, the loss was a heartbreaker.

The Aggies dominated the first half and extended their lead to 23-10 in the third quarter behind a bruising rushing attack that kept Tettleton off the field and rolled up 345 yards. The Aggies came into the game with the nation's sixth-best rushing attack, averaging 277 yards per game.

Michael Smith rushed for a career-best 157 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries, including a 63-yard scoring run early in the third quarter that put Utah State up 16-10. Smith scored later in the third on an 11-yard run up the middle, giving the Aggies (7-6) a 13-point lead.

Robert Turbin added for 101 yards on 20 carries, and Kerwynn Williams had 69 yards on nine carries.

But Utah State, which finished second in the Western Athletic Conference and was making its first bowl appearance since 1997, failed to close the deal and paid a price for missing two scoring chances early in the game.

On their first possession, the Aggies (7-6) drove to the 1, but Turbin was stopped short of the goal line on fourth down. The Aggies missed another chance late in the second quarter when a 39-yard field-goal attempt by Josh Thompson sailed wide right.

Still, head coach Gary Andersen, whose team closed the season with five straight wins to earn the school's first bowl invitation since 1997, believes there is plenty to feel good about and even more to build upon.

"It's been the most gratifying season of my career, hands down," Andersen said. "This is unbelievably gratifying to get to this point. This crew of kids will be in my mind for the rest of my life. We're excited to represent all three classes of seniors that have been there. Tonight was for them, and we'll look forward to the future."

The Aggies had a chance to ice the game when they took possession at their own 7 with 4:23 to go. But Ohio's defense stopped the Aggies on three straight running plays to force a punt.

On the winning drive, Tettleton scrambled for 14 yards and completed passes of 19, 7 and 14 yards to Brazill. The last reception was initially ruled a touchdown, but a review concluded he was down before the end zone, giving Ohio a first down inside the 1 and setting up Tettleton's big play.

"It was designed as a fake quarterback sneak and we were going to have two guys on the flat to the left," Tettleton said about his last-second score. "I got a rush up the middle and tried to make something happen after that and I was wide open to the end zone."

Brazill, who was voted MVP for the game, led the Bobcats with eight catches for 108 yards, including a 44-yard touchdown pass from Tettleton that pulled Ohio to 23-17 with 3:45 left in the third quarter.

The Aggies had just two possessions in the fourth quarter, but managed just two first downs, putting the onus on a defense that had let leads slip away in the last minute in games against Auburn and Brigham Young.

"This season has been a grind. Pretty much every single game we've played in has been a close game," Turbin said. "Unfortunately, you win some and you lose some and we lost tonight."

Dec. 2 Northern Illinois 23 … Ohio 20  

CFN Analysis: Now that NIU has its title, Ohio is the MAC program that deserves one the most. Frank Solich has gotten the team close time and again, but it needs a bit more firepower. … Noah Keller closed things out with his best game of the year, making 13 tackles with a forced fumble, an interception, and two quarterback hurries. … The offense couldn’t make anything happen in the second half after going on three nice drives in the first. The line lost the battle and Tyler Tettleton struggled. LaVon Brazill was held to 124 yards on eight catches, but he was bottled up on returns.   

Nov. 26 at Ohio 21 … Miami University 14  

Nov. 19 Ohio 29 … at Bowling Green 28

Nov. 5 at Ohio 35 … Temple 31

Nov. 12 Ohio 43 … at Central Michigan 28

Oct. 22 Ohio 37 … at Akron 20  

Oct. 15 Ball State 23 … at Ohio 20
CFN Analysis: It’s not just that Ohio lost its last two games when it had a shot – losing to UB and Ball State by five points – it’s that it lost to Buffalo and Ball State. The defense couldn’t get off the field as it kept allowing the Cardinals to move the chains, and while the offense did its part at times, the three turnovers turned out to be a killer. On the plus side, LaVon Brazill caught eight passes for 157 yards and two scores and the passing game had its moments, but the team didn’t come through in moments when it had a chance to pull off the win. Matt Weller might have hit two kicks, but he missed the makeable one in the clutch. He’s too good to not come through the next time he gets a shot. 

Oct. 8 at Buffalo 38 … Ohio 37
CFN Analysis: The Bobcats moved the ball, but the defense had way too many breakdowns and was stunningly bad against the run. It was a mystifying performance, but there were still chances to win the game and the offense didn’t get over the hump. Settling for field goals instead of touchdowns late was a problem when the defense wasn’t able to get the ball back, and now the MAC title hopes are in trouble after losing a winnable game like this. Ball State and Akron should ease the pain before dealing with Temple. 

Oct. 1 at Ohio 17 … Kent State 10
CFN Analysis: It was way too much of a push for a team with dreams of winning the MAC title, but Ohio and Tyler Tettleton got past Kent State with a good passing day and enough defense to hold off the charge. Noah Keller made ten stops and three tackles for loss, while Tettleton was able to keep things going on the ground while also while also coming up with just enough big plays to get by. The Bobcats might not be explosive, but they’re getting decent production out of all the parts available – using Phil Bates well as a runner – and with Buffalo up next, continuing to win the turnover battle is a must. The only was Ohio loses in Amherst is by screwing up.  

Sept. 24 at Rutgers 38 … Ohio 26
CFN Analysis: Ohio can’t just pin this loss on the injury to star corner Travis Carrie. He obviously would’ve made a big difference in trying to stop Mohamed Sanu, but this was a total team defensive meltdown after such a terrific start to the year. Ohio needs to control the clock with the running game and so far it’s been great at not screwing things up with a slew of turnovers, but against the Scarlet Knights there were only 65 rushing yards, four turnovers, and nine penalties. This was an aberration; watch out for a far sharper performance when MAC play starts against Kent State next week.  

Sept. 17 at Ohio 44 ... Marshall 7
CFN Analysis: Beating New Mexico State and Gardner Webb was no big deal, but beating Marshall, a decent-looking Conference USA team, but 34 is impressive. If the Bobcats can get by Rutgers on the road, then it’ll really be time to get excited with layups against Kent State, Buffalo, Ball State, and Akron to follow before the showdown against Temple. Tyler Tettleton has been a find, completing 20-of-29 passes for 285 yards and three touchdowns, while Ryan Boykin has emerged as a slippery-tough runner with 130 yards and a score. The defensive production has come from a variety of spots with the pressure in the backfield decent enough to be disruptive and the secondary doing a great job. Throw in the strong special teams, with Donte Harden leading the nation in kickoff returns, and Ohio is red hot.  

Sept. 10 at Ohio 30 … Gardner-Webb 3  

Sept. 3 Ohio 44 … at New Mexico State 24
CFN Analysis: The Ohio secondary might have gotten picked apart, but the offense was almost perfectly balanced with 211 yards through the air and 241 on the ground, and the offense took advantage of every opportunity. Tyler Tettleton got the call in place of Phil Bates, and he came through with two touchdown passes and 40 rushing yards with two scores. No, the air show wasn’t anything impressive, and LaVon Brazill only got the ball in his hands three times, but the offense came through while the defense stuffed the NMSU running game cold. The pass rush was strong, led by Nic Barber’s two sacks, and the linebackers were excellent, and now the D gets a week off against Gardner-Webb before facing Marshall. 

The 2011 Recruiting Class Is Heavy On … Bodies. The last two recruiting classes have been relatively light after a huge 2008 class, and now Frank Solich is bringing in more players to beef up both sides of the ball. While quarterbacks Ronnie Bell and Derrius Vick are going to get most of the attention, diminutive RB Kyle Hammonds could be the star of the show. The best position brought in is defensive end, with Andrew Bennett and Justin Haser two good-sized prospects, but the best defensive lineman should be 6-2, 280-pound tackle Antwan Crutcher.