OSU 2012 Class: Frank Epitropoulos
By Adam
I went into the preview on Jacoby Boren knowing full well that his brothers had/are attending OSU, but, I’ll be honest, the Epitropoulos family history was a surprise to me. Frank Epitropoulos, an incoming recruit, is a part of a Buckeye legacy as well, following in the footsteps of his uncle, Ernie and father, John. Despite being recruited by many schools, Frank has grown up a stone’s throw from the Shoe in Upper Arlington, and has the family background to boot, so I’d like to think this young man was a Buckeye since birth.
As I’ve mentioned a hundred times before, the wide receiver position was a weak spot in this past season’s lineup. The players certainly have the talent, but the consistency was not there, as fans witnessed more than our fair share of dropped balls. Well, the battle for playing time next fall should be interesting, as the Buckeyes return Corey “Philly” Brown, Devin Smith, Verlon Reed, Evan Spencer, Chris Fields, and TY Williams, who all caught passes in 2011. On top of that, Epitropoulos is one of four highly touted recruits at the position that will be joining the team in the fall, not counting any more signees that Urban Meyer might be able to get in the next couple of months. Competition for playing time aside, let’s find out a bit more about this Golden Bear and soon to be Buckeye.
Height: 6’3”
Weight: 195 lbs
Hometown/School: Upper Arlington, OH/Upper Arlington High School
Position: Wide Receiver/Athlete
ESPN Scouting Report 06/07/2011:
Epitropoulos is a prospect that will excite you with his ability to accelerate given his size. He is a big, long limbed target with natural fluid athleticism and he has the makings of becoming an acrobatic redzone pass catcher. He is fluid much in the same way Justin Hunter was from the 2010 class. Long and limber with the ability to change gears off the line and lull DB’s to sleep. He has great feet off the line, as a route-runner and after the catch. Gets into routes quickly and has some flexible wiggle to his overall change-of-direction, which makes it difficult for defenders to gauge his overall speed. Is very smooth into and out of his cuts and shows burst to separate. The trait that sticks out about Epitropoulos is his ability to quickly pluck the football away from his frame, tuck it and get up field. He consistently extends away from his body to haul in passes and has quick hands. His height makes him dangerous downfield in contested matchups.
While Epitropoulos consistently makes plays and shows competitive speed, we are not sure he has elite top-end speed. He runs well for his size, but his initial quickness gives him the appearance that he is a bit faster than he actually is. His ability to track the deep ball and accelerate is very impressive. He has some natural wiry bulk at this stage, but with extended time in the weightroom he could be very dangerous at the next level. Has not grown into his frame yet, but still shows nice body control and coordination in all his movement skills. Is more of a big play threat after the catch than most players his size. Nice prospect that should see his offer list grow into the summer and fall.
Notes: Committed April 2011… Also punts… 2010: Caught 29 passes for 490 yards and five touchdowns. Division I All-Ohio Second Team selection as a junior… His father and uncle, John and Ernie, both played for Ohio State…
Coaches seem to love using the line about players earning playing time by being willing to jump in and help anywhere at any time. Obviously, if you’re looking for talent, you want an athlete that can step on the field and help you in a number of different ways. If Frank Epitropoulos doesn’t fit define the versatility category, then I don’t know who does. Frank received post-season honors in high school at THREE different positions for his UA Golden Bears. He was an All-Ohio punter, a star safety, and, of course, a playmaking wide receiver and returner. His versatility is a direct result of pure athleticism and hard work. He ran the 20 yard shuttle in 4.1 seconds (Perspective: AJ Green ran it in 4.21 seconds at the NFL combine), and has a 40.5″ vertical leap. Pair that jumping ability with his great hands and height (6’3″), and it’s easy to see why ESPN analysts said that he “has the makings of becoming an acrobatic redzone pass catcher.”
The sky is the limit for this recruit, but I am not yet confident in predicting where he will make his mark at Ohio State. He has the talent and size to be a solid wide receiver and/or free safety at the next level, not to mention step in as a punter, if need be. I think that the determining factor will come down to depth at each position, and where Coach Meyer feels that he will be the best fit. Urban will, no doubt, be watching film on all of his players, but one interesting thing about a new coach is that everyone essentially starts their first practice with a clean slate. Regardless of his immediate playing time, Frank has made it clear that he is proud to be a Buckeye and ready to work to get better and make an impact. When I asked him what he wanted this huge fan base to know, his response was simple and direct, “I want Buckeye Nation to know that I’m excited to have the opportunity to play for Coach Meyer and that I’m willing to outwork my opponents!”
Welcome to Ohio State, Mr. Epitropoulos.