BuckeyeGrove.com - Bios On OSU Football Signees

February 5, 2003

Steve Helwagen

Here are bios and photos on members of OSU's football recruiting class (Note: Todd Boeckman did not sign; he is slated to enroll in the winter of 2004 and will count on next year's class.)

Kirk Barton, OL
Barton, Kirk hed

High School: Massillon (Ohio) Perry

Height, Weight: 6-6, 280

40-Yard Dash: 4.81

Statistics: Two-way starter at tight end and defensive end at Perry.

Recruiting Rankings: Ranked as Ohio?s 29th-best prospect by The Ohio Football Recruiting News. Ranked as the nation?s 60th-best offensive tackle by Rivals100.com.

Academics: 3.5 GPA, 26 on ACT

Picked OSU Over: Northwestern, Purdue, Stanford and Pittsburgh.

Todd Boeckman, QB
Boeckman, Todd Action

High School: St. Henry, Ohio

Height, Weight: 6-5, 215

40-Yard Dash: 4.77

Statistics: Four-year starting QB. Led St. Henry to the Division V state title game as a freshman. Threw for 7,021 yards and 64 touchdowns in his high school career. That includes 2,520 yards and 23 TDs as a freshman. He suffered a sprained MCL as a senior, when he completed 95 of 177 passes for 1,415 yards and 15 TDs against seven interceptions in limited action.

Recruiting Rankings: Ranked as Ohio?s 13th-best prospect by The Ohio Football Recruiting News. Ranked as the nation?s 19th-best quarterback by Rivals100.com. Rated as the 33rd-best prospect in the Midwest by SuperPrep. Ranked as the 51st-best prospect in the Midwest by Tom Lemming?s Prep Football Report.

Academics: 3.0 GPA, 19 ACT

Picked OSU Over: Pittsburgh and Maryland.

Sian Cotton, DL
03 cruit cotton, sian

High School: Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary

Height, Weight: 6-4, 290

40-Yard Dash: 4.8

Statistics: Had 67 tackles and nine sacks as a junior. Tallied 84 tackles and 13 sacks as a senior. Plays basketball for the Irish?s nationally ranked team.

Honors: Named first-team All-Ohio in Division IV by the Associated Press. Played in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.

Recruiting Rankings: Ranked as Ohio?s 14th-best prospect by The Ohio Football Recruiting News. Ranked as the Midwest?s 35th-best prospect by SuperPrep. Ranked as the Midwest?s 26th-best prospect and as an All-American by Tom Lemming?s Prep Football Report.

Academics: 2.6 GPA, 19 ACT

Picked OSU Over: Florida and Pittsburgh.

Marcel Frost, TE-DE
03 cruit frost

High School: Lyndhurst (Ohio) Brush

Height, Weight: 6-5, 235

40-Yard Dash: 4.6

Statistics: As a junior, he had 36 catches for 538 yards and eight TDs on offense and 65 tackles and eight sacks on defense. As a senior, he had 32 catches for 550 yards and seven TDs.

Honors: First-team All-Northeast Lakes District and Special Mention All-Ohio by the Associated Press in Division I.

Recruiting Rankings: Ranked as Ohio?s 16th-best prospect by The Ohio Football Recruiting News. Ranked as the nation?s 31st-best tight end by Rivals100.com. Ranked as the Midwest?s 56th-best prospect by SuperPrep.

Academics: 2.7 GPA, 920 SAT

Picked OSU Over: Iowa, Pittsburgh and Boston College.

Tony Gonzalez, DB

High School: Cleveland St. Ignatius

Height, Weight: 6-0, 187

40-Yard Dash: 4.37

Statistics: As a junior, helped lead St. Ignatius to the Division I state title. He had 53 tackles and six interceptions on defense and 42 catches for 1,012 yards and 10 TDs on offense. As a senior, had 50 tackles, four interceptions and 13 pass break-ups on defense and caught 33 passes for over 900 yards and 11 TDs on offense. Won the regional 400-meter track championship as a junior.

Honors: First-team All-Ohio in Division I, according to the Associated Press. Also named co-defensive player of the year in Division I.

Recruiting Rankings: Ranked as Ohio?s eighth-best prospect by The Ohio Football Recruiting News. Ranked as the nation?s 16th-best cornerback by Rivals100.com. Ranked as the Midwest?s 22nd-best prospect and as the nation?s 29th-best defensive back (All-American) by SuperPrep. Ranked as the Midwest?s 23rd-best prospect and as an All-American by Tom Lemming?s Prep Football Report.

Academics: 3.4 GPA, 1240 SAT

Picked OSU Over: Notre Dame and others.

Ira Guilford, DB
Guilford, Ira

High School: Hoboken, N.J.

Height, Weight: 5-11, 183

40-Yard Dash: 4.45

Statistics: As a senior, had 2,261 yards rushing and scored 29 TDs on offense and had 87 tackles, four fumbles caused and three sacks on defense.

Recruiting Rankings: Ranked as New Jersey?s ninth-best prospect and as the nation?s eighth-best safety by Rivals100.com. Ranked as New Jersey?s ninth-best prospect and as the nation?s fourth-best skilled athlete (All-American) by SuperPrep. Ranked as the nation?s 48th-best defensive tackle by Rivals100.com. Ranked as the 28th-best prospect in the East by Tom Lemming?s Prep Football Report.

Academics: 2.3 GPA, 1100 SAT

Picked OSU Over: Notre Dame, Penn State, Syracuse and Rutgers.

Dareus Hiley, DB
Hiley, Dareus hed

High School: Cleveland Glenville

Height, Weight: 6-1, 195

40-Yard Dash: 4.41

Statistics: Four-year starter at Glenville with experience at QB, WR and DB. As a senior, he split time between quarterback and receiver. He had 1,900 yards and 22 TDs passing and also rushed for 600 yards and six TDs. He also intercepted five passes on defense.

Honors: First-team All-Northeast Lakes District and Special Mention All-Ohio by the Associated Press in Division I. Ranked as the 12th-best player in the Midwest by the Detroit Free Press.

Recruiting Rankings: Ranked as Ohio?s sixth-best prospect by The Ohio Football Recruiting News. Ranked as the nation?s 14th-best cornerback by Rivals100.com. Ranked as the 19th-best prospect in the Midwest and as the nation?s 16th-best defensive back (All-American) by SuperPrep. Ranked as the 35th-best prospect in the Midwest by Tom Lemming?s Prep Football Report.

Academics: 2.6 GPA, 16 ACT

Picked OSU Over: USC, Michigan, Wisconsin and Miami (Fla.).

Louis Irizarry, TE
Irizarry Big Mug

High School: Youngstown Ursuline

Height, Weight: 6-5, 235

40-Yard Dash: 4.6

Statistics: In 3-1/2 years as a varsity starter, caught 127 passes for 2,559 yards (20.1 average) and 25 TDs. As a sophomore, had 46 catches for 962 yards and eight TDs for the 14-1 Division IV state championship team. As a senior, he had 35 catches for 789 yards and nine TDs.

Honors: First-team All-Ohio in Division IV by the Associated Press. Ranked as the fifth-best player in the Midwest by the Detroit Free Press.

Recruiting Rankings: Ranked as Ohio?s fourth-best prospect by The Ohio Football Recruiting News. Ranked as the nation?s 38th-best prospect overall and as the nation?s third-best tight end by Rivals100.com. Ranked as the Midwest?s seventh-best prospect overall, the nation?s No. 3 tight end (All-American) and the nation?s 49th-best prospect overall by SuperPrep. Ranked as the Midwest?s 13th-best prospect and as an All-American by Tom Lemming?s Prep Football Report.

Academics: 3.9 GPA, 24 ACT

Picked OSU Over: Miami (Fla.) and Florida.

Devin Jordan, WR
03 cruit jordan

High School: Massillon (Ohio) Washington

Height, Weight: 6-3, 190

40-Yard Dash: 4.47

Statistics: As a junior, had 98 catches for 1,492 yards (15.2 average) and 18 TDs playing alongside quarterback Justin Zwick, now an OSU freshman. As a senior, had 43 catches for 867 yards (20.2) and 12 TDs.

Honors: First-team All-Ohio in Division I by the Associated Press.

Recruiting Rankings: Rated as Ohio?s 10th-best prospect by The Ohio Football Recruiting News. Ranked as the nation?s 29th-best wide receiver by Rivals100.com. Ranked as the Midwest?s 26th-best prospect and as the nation?s 32nd-best wide receiver (All-American) by SuperPrep. Ranked as the Midwest?s 19th-best receiver and as an All-American by Tom Lemming?s Prep Football Report.

Academics: 3.65 GPA, 19 ACT

Picked OSU Over: Pittsburgh, Michigan State and Kentucky.

Curt Lukens, DB
Lukens, Curt hed

High School: North Canton (Ohio) Hoover

Height, Weight: 6-3, 200

40-Yard Dash: 4.5

Statistics: As a senior, led Hoover to an 8-3 season by making over 100 tackles (80 solos) and intercepting two passes as a linebacker. Projects as either a safety or linebacker at OSU.

Honors: First-team All-Ohio in Division I, according to the Associated Press. Also named co-defensive player of the year in Division I.

Recruiting Rankings: Ranked as Ohio?s 15th-best prospect by The Ohio Football Recruiting News. Ranked as the nation?s 35th-best safety prospect by Rivals100.com. Rated as the Midwest?s 49th-best prospect by SuperPrep. Ranked as the Midwest?s 52nd-best prospect by Tom Lemming?s Prep Football Report.

Academics: 2.9 GPA, 19 ACT

Picked OSU Over: Penn State and Florida.

Brandon Maupin, DL
03 cruit mauph

High School: 6-6, 270

Height, Weight: West Chester (Ohio) Lakota West

40-Yard Dash: 5.0

Statistics: As a senior, he tallied 50 tackles and six sacks.

Honors: First-team All-Southwest District and Special Mention All-Ohio by the Associated Press in Division I.

Recruiting Rankings: Ranked as Ohio?s 11th-best prospect by The Ohio Football Recruiting News. Ranked as the nation?s 21st-best strongside defensive end prospect by Rivals100.com. Ranked as the Midwest?s 29th-best prospect and as the 39th-best defensive line prospect nationally (All-American) by SuperPrep. Ranked as the Midwest?s 22nd-best prospect and as an All-American by Tom Lemming?s Prep Football Report.

Academics: 2.7 GPA, 16 ACT, 880 SAT

Picked OSU Over: Boston College and Pittsburgh.

David Patterson, DL
Camp Patterson

High School: Warrensville Heights, Ohio

Height, Weight: 6-3, 280

40-Yard Dash: 4.8

Statistics: A three-year two-way starter. As a junior, had 120 tackles and 16 sacks. As a senior, had 98 tackles, 17 sacks, 25 tackles-for-loss and three blocked kicks.

Honors: First-team All-Ohio and also the Northeast Lakes District defensive player of the year in Division III by the Associated Press. Ranked as the 15th-best player in the Midwest by the Detroit Free Press.

Recruiting Rankings: Ranked as Ohio?s third-best prospect by The Ohio Football Recruiting News. Ranked as the nation?s seventh-best defensive tackle and the 78th-best prospect overall nationally by Rivals100.com. Rated as the Midwest?s sixth-best prospect overall, as the nation?s 12th-best defensive lineman and as the nation?s 45th-best prospect overall (All-American) by SuperPrep. Ranked as the Midwest?s 34th-best prospect by Tom Lemming?s Prep Football Report.

Academics: 2.7 GPA, 870 SAT

Picked OSU Over: Miami (Fla.) and Boston College.

Reggie Smith, LB
Smith, Reggie hed

High School: East Cleveland (Ohio) Shaw

Height, Weight: 6-2, 235

40-Yard Dash: 4.67

Statistics: As a senior, had 120 tackles, 17 sacks and five fumbles forced.

Honors: First-team All-Northeast Lakes District and second-team All-Ohio in Division II by the Associated Press.

Recruiting Rankings: Ranked as Ohio?s 17th-best prospect by The Ohio Football Recruiting News. Ranked as the nation?s 27th-best outside linebacker by Rivals100.com. Ranked as the Midwest?s 57th-best prospect by SuperPrep. Ranked 49th in the Midwest overall by Tom Lemming?s Prep Football Report.

Academics: 2.4 GPA, 16 ACT

Picked OSU Over: Iowa, Boston College, Virginia, Maryland and Michigan State.

Donte Whitner, DB
whitner

High School: Cleveland Glenville

Height, Weight: 5-11, 175

40-Yard Dash: 4.3

Statistics: As a junior, had 87 tackles and three interceptions on defense and 692 yards rushing and 14 TDs on offense. As a senior, had 60 tackles, 10 tackles-for-loss, three interceptions and four fumbles forced on defense and nine TD catches on offense for an 8-2 team. Already enrolled at Ohio State.

Honors: First-team All-Northeast Lakes District and Special Mention All-Ohio by the Associated Press in Division I. Ranked as the seventh-best player in the Midwest by the Detroit Free Press.

Recruiting Rankings: Ranked as Ohio?s No. 2 overall prospect by The Ohio Football Recruiting News. Ranked as the nation?s third-best cornerback and the 27th-best prospect overall by Rivals100.com. Ranked as the No. 1 overall prospect in the Midwest, as the nation?s third-best defensive back (All-American) and the nation?s seventh-best prospect overall by SuperPrep. Ranked as the sixth-best prospect in the Midwest and as an All-American by Tom Lemming?s Prep Football Report.

Academics: 3.7 GPA, 17 ACT

Picked OSU Over: USC, Michigan, Notre Dame and Miami (Fla.).

Ashton Youboty, DB
Youboty, Ashton

High School: Houston Klein

Height, Weight: 6-1, 180

40-Yard Dash: 4.45

Statistics: As a senior, had 60 tackles and three interceptions. Already enrolled at OSU. Native of Liberia in West Africa. Also lived in Philadelphia before settling in Texas.

Honors: Named to the Texas Football All-Texas second-team (all divisions).

Recruiting Rankings: Ranked as the 28th-best prospect in Texas and the 14th-best safety prospect nationally by Rivals100.com. Ranked as the 40th-best prospect in the Southwest by Tom Lemming?s Prep Football Report.

Academics: 3.67 GPA, 870 SAT

Picked OSU Over: Penn State.

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