Ohio State Football 2008 Signees – Ohio State Buckeyes
2/6/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Nineteen of the nation’s top high school football players have signed to play at Ohio State, Coach Jim Tressel announced this afternoon.
“A fine blend of size, speed, talents and needs highlight this group of 19 young men with great character,” Tressel said. The class includes nine players from Ohio, four from Florida and one each from Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, Pennsylvania and Texas. There are eight offensive (3 OL, 3 WR, 1 RB, 1 TE) and 10 defensive players (5 DL, 3 DB, 2 LB), plus one specialist.
| Name | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Hometown/High School |
| Mike Adams | OL | 6-8 | 310 | Dublin, Ohio/Dublin Coffman |
| Michael Brewster | OL | 6-5 | 300 | Orlando, Fla./Edgewater |
| Ben Buchanan | P/K | 6-0 | 200 | Westerville, Ohio/Westerville Central |
| Nic DiLillo | TE | 6-5 | 237 | Madison, Ohio/Madison |
| Zach Domicone | DB | 6-3 | 215 | Xenia, Ohio/Beavercreek |
| Garrett Goebel | DL | 6-5 | 280 | Villa Park, Ill./Montini |
| Travis Howard | DB | 6-1 | 180 | Miami, Fla./Dr. Krop |
| Orhian Johnson | DB | 6-2 | 178 | Gulfport, Fla./Boca Ciega |
| Jermil Martin | RB | 6-0 | 227 | Cleveland, Ohio/Glenville |
| Willie Mobley | DL | 6-3 | 265 | Eden Prairie, Minn./Eden Prairie |
| DeVier Posey | WR | 6-3 | 205 | Cincinnati, Ohio/LaSalle |
| Shawntel Rowell | DL | 6-4 | 304 | Cleveland, Ohio/Glenville |
| Etienne Sabino | LB | 6-3 | 230 | Sunny Isles, Fla./Dr. Krop |
| J.B. Shugarts | OL | 6-8 | 300 | Klein, Texas/Klein |
| Jake Stoneburner | WR | 6-5 | 225 | Dublin, Ohio/Dublin Coffman |
| Andrew Sweat | LB | 6-2 | 225 | Washington, Pa./Trinity |
| Lamaar Thomas | WR/RB | 5-11 | 186 | Ft. Washington, Md./Friendly |
| Keith Wells | DL | 6-5 | 210 | Gainesville, Ga./Gainesville |
| Nathan Williams | DL | 6-4 | 245 | Washington C.H., Ohio/Miami Trace |
Mike Adams (OL, Dublin Coffman HS, Dublin, Ohio): Blue-chip offensive line prospect … helped Coffman to a 13-1 record and the state semifinals … all-Ohio as a junior and senior … all-metro, all-district and all-OCC … U.S. Army All-American Bowl … Parade and EA Sports All-America … Detroit Free Press “Best of the Midwest” No. 1 … USA Today all-USA … Top 100 national ranking from ESPN, Scout, Rivals, PrepStar, Superprep … Buckeye BlueChip … son of Heidi Taylor
Michael Brewster (OL, Edgewater HS, Orlando, Fla.): Outstanding offensive lineman from Florida … U.S. Army All-American Bowl and Maxwell Award … Parade and EA Sports All-America … USA Today all-USA … Orlando Sentinel Top 5 … Tampa Tribune “Best of the South” … Atlanta Journal-Constitution “Super Southern 100” … Top 100 ranking from ESPN, Scout, Rivals, PrepStar, Superprep … enrolled at Ohio State in January … son of Bill and Kathy Brewster
Ben Buchanan (P/K, Westerville Central HS, Westerville, Ohio): Rated among the nation’s top specialists … team captain who was a three-time first team all-Ohio pick … OHSAA records for FG (5) and kick scoring (16) in a game, longest FG by a junior (54) and five central Ohio records … central Ohio punting leader with 41-yd average … no punts returned for TD in 30 games … 14-16 on FG as a senior with only misses from 50 yards or beyond … USA Today all-USA, EA Sports All-America and Maxwell Award … U.S. Army All-America and Big 33 all-star games … four years all-district … Columbus Dispatch all-metro and Buckeye BlueChip … all-OCC in baseball … National Honor Society … active with Fellowship of Christian Athletes, “Stand and Deliver” and mission work through his church … son of Dr. Tim and Steli Buchanan
Nic DiLillo (TE, Madison HS, Madison, Ohio): Two-time all-Ohio tight end for the PAC champions … 86 catches, 980 yards, 6 TD over past two seasons … all-Northeast, all-Lake County and all-Premier conference … News-Herald “Best of Best” … Big 33 game … four-year all-conference basketball performer … on pace to score 1,000 career points … son of Tony and Christine DiLillo
Zach Domicone (DB, Beavercreek HS, Xenia, Ohio): Rushed for 1,111 yards and nine scores as a senior … also passed for 572 yards and five TD … first team all-area and all-GWOC … two-time team MVP and received the Paul Martin Award … second team all-SW district … finished fourth in the state in the 4×400 and sixth in the state in the 4×200 relays … also a basketball letterman … son of Fred and Stacey Domicone
Garrett Goebel (DL, Montini HS, Villa Park, Ill.): Talented two-sport standout … all-state, all-Suburban Catholic conference and all-Chicagoland … one of three finalists for Illinois Mr. Football … led the Broncos to a 9-2 record and the state playoffs … 63 tackles, 16 TFL, four sacks as the conference lineman of the year … Top 100 national ranking from Scout, Rivals, PrepStar, Superprep … 2007 heavyweight state wrestling champion … son of Greg and Judi Goebel
Travis Howard (DB, Dr. Krop HS, Miami, Fla.): Accomplished defensive back from south Florida … selected as first team all-Florida and all-Dade … can play safety and corner … 88 tackles, six interceptions, with two scores and three fumble recoveries … 36-inch vertical jump … also a letterman in basketball and track … honor roll student … son of Trenise Dozier and Ellis Howard
Orhian Johnson (DB, Boca Ciega HS, Gulfport, Fla.): Versatile athlete who passed for 1,100 yards and 15 scores as a senior quarterbacking the Pirates to the district championship … Class 4A Florida all-state and all-Pinellas … U.S. Army All-American Bowl … defensive MVP as a sophomore safety … also a basketball standout … honor roll student … son of Oscar and Gay Johnson
Jermil Martin (RB, Glenville HS, Cleveland, Ohio): All-conference and all-Ohio at defensive end … 81 tackles, 10 sacks, 22 TFL, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery as a senior for the Senate League champions … 127 career tackles with 27 career sacks … four-year letterman … an honor roll student who is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Play It Smart program … son of Cathleen Martin
Willie Mobley (DL, Eden Prairie HS, Eden Prairie, Minn.): Tremendous defensive prospect from Minnesota … led the Eagle Empire to Class 5A state titles as a junior and senior …all-state and finalist for Mr. Football Minnesota … 66 tackles, 21 TFL, 12 sacks … all-Lake Conference … PrepNation Midlands player of year … EA Sports, PrepStar All-America … Scout, Rivals, Superprep Top 250 … member of Homecoming court … son of Roxanne and Willie Mobley
DeVier Posey (WR, LaSalle HS, Cincinnati, Ohio): All-Ohio, all-Cincinnati, all-league and all-district receiver … 47 receptions for 770 yards, 7 TD as a senior; 33 catches for 750 yards, 9 TD as a junior … U.S. Army All-American Bowl and Maxwell Award … Greater Catholic League receiver of the year … Top 100 nationally from Scout, Rivals, PrepStar, Superprep … holds school record at 200 (21.5) and 400 (47.78) meters … also a three-year basketball letterman … 33-inch vertical jump … honor student and academic all-star … Lancer Ambassador … son of Julie and the late Baxter Posey
Shawntel Rowell (DL, Glenville HS, Cleveland, Ohio): All-state, all-region and all-district defensive tackle … recorded 27 tackles, four sacks, seven TFL and a forced fumble as a senior for the Senate League champions … Big 33 game … also a track letterman … a member of the Play It Smart program … son of Raymonda Rowell
Etienne Sabino (LB, Dr. Krop HS, Sunny Isles, Fla.): Highly ranked inside linebacker prospect … first team all-Florida and all-Dade County … 146 tackles, seven sacks, five forced fumbles, one interception … U.S. Army All-American Bowl … Top 100 national ranking from ESPN, Rivals, Scout, PrepStar, Superprep … Atlanta Journal-Constitution “Super Southern 100” … EA Sports All-America …district discus champion … also a basketball letterman … honor roll student … son of Agatha Rijo
J.B. Shugarts (OL, Klein HS, Klein, Texas): Talented Texan who is another nationally known offensive lineman … Parade All-America … U.S. Army All-American Bowl … all-greater Houston (two years), all-Texas and district lineman of year … all-district as a sophomore, junior and senior … 121 pancake blocks as a senior while allowing no sacks … Express-News Texas Top 10 … Houston Touchdown Club and Houston player of year finalist … Dave Campbell Super Texas team and player of year runner-up … Top 100 national ranking from ESPN, Scout, Rivals, Superprep … enrolled at Ohio State in January … son of Bret and Donna Shugarts … father played for Indiana (Pa.) and Pittsburgh Steelers
Jake Stoneburner (WR, Dublin Coffman HS, Dublin, Ohio): Record-setting receiver who totaled 1,267 yards on 74 catches with 15 scores as a senior … all-state, all-metro, all-district and all-OCC as a junior and senior … 168 career receptions for 2,751 yards with 28 TD … U.S. Army All-America and Big 33 games … runner-up for Gatorade state player of the year … ESPN, Scout, PrepStar Top 150 … Rivals, Superprep 250 … Buckeye BlueChip … also a basketball and track standout … son of Mark and Cathy Stoneburner
Andrew Sweat (LB, Trinity HS, Washington, Pa.): Dominant defender from western Pennsylvania … 113 tackles, 21 TFL, five forced fumbles, two interceptions as a senior … 160 tackles as a junior … Washington County athlete of year … ESPN All-America … Pittsburgh Post-Gazette “Fab 22” as a junior and senior … Under Armour All-America game … Top 100 ranking from ESPN, Scout, PrepStar, Superprep… also a baseball and basketball starter … National Honor Society, SADD, Team Trinity, Peer Jury, Spanish club … son of Gary and Cheryl Sweat … father played football at Syracuse
Lamaar Thomas (WR/RB, Friendly HS, Fort Washington, Md.): All-state speedster who totaled 1,690 all-purpose yards as a senior … rushed for 2,623 career yards and 20 TD … 1,209 career receiving yards with nine scores … U.S. Army All-America Bowl … team went 42-6 during his career, winning the 2006 state title … Rivals, PrepStar, Superprep Top 40 … Scout Top 150 … Maryland state champion at 55 and 100 meters … state runner-up in 200 … Prince George’s County and Star/Gazette track athlete of the year … son of Sean and Elwanda Thomas
Keith Wells (DL, Gainesville HS, Gainesville, Ga.): Athletic defensive end with plenty of potential … 75 tackles and seven sacks as a senior … all-conference and all-county … Gainesville Times “Elite 11” … Atlanta Journal-Constitution “Super Southern 100” … Superprep Top 200 … PrepStar all-Southeast … played only two years of high school football for the Red Elephants … 33-inch vertical jump … basketball and track letterman … Scout Top 200 … son of Cynthia and Kevin Wells
Nathan Williams (DL, Miami Trace HS, Washington Court House, Ohio): All-Ohio defender who was district defensive player of year as a junior and senior … 139 tackles, 15 TFL, five sacks for the South Central League champions … also rushed for 524 yards and 10 scores … three times an all-league, all-district and all-Ohio honoree … Big 33 game … ONN all-Ohio … Scout, Rivals, Superprep Top 250 … PrepStar All-America … Buckeye BlueChip … also a basketball and track letterman … teacher’s assistant and DARE role model … son of Trina White and Phillip Williams
