OSU 2012 Class: Noah Spence
By Adam
Good news, Buckeye Nation. As soon as the metaphorical ink was dry on my blog about Najee Murray being the last piece of the 2012 recruiting class (at this current time), Noah Spence has had his official campus visit…and has committed to Ohio State!
Spence, a 5 star recruit, is currently listed as ESPN’s #4 overall prospect in the country, and has the size, strength, and skill set to be an immediate force at the Big Ten level. So who is this Buckeye recruit from Harrisburg, PA, in the heart of Penn State country?
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 245 lbs
Hometown/School: Harrisburg, PA/Bishop McDevitt High School
Position: Defensive End
ESPN Scouting Report 06/08/2011:
There is a lot to like about Spence as you watch this kid play. He is a very good football player and can be a real disruptive presence. He is a prospect with good size. He has good height and bulk for a high school prospect and looks to carry his weight well. He also displays physical upside and the ability to add more good bulk in time as he continues to physically mature. He can certainly strive for a little more consistency, but overall this kid can get off the ball. He displays very good first-step quickness and is often the first defender moving. He is a pretty good overall football player, but his strength at this point in his ability to get to the quarterback. He couples a good initial burst with some pass rush savvy. He does a good job of quickly getting up-field and attacking the outside shoulder. He is very active with his weapons and does a nice job of using them to knock blockers hands down and keep them off of him. If a blocker is poor in his technique and opens up too quickly he can quickly run by. Even when challenged he displays the ability to defeat a blocker and get to the quarterback.
He is a kid who seems to have some idea on what he wants to do and displays a nice pass rush arsenal for a high school prospect. He is able to work moves and counter back inside and can be a dangerous pass rusher. He is able to get to the corner and dip his shoulder and work past, but can flash some tightness when trying to bend the edge. He can be a real handful as a pass rusher, but plays the run well also. He displays the ability to come out of his stance and maintain a solid “football position”. He brings his hands and is able to quickly and violently press blockers off of him. He displays the ability to play with some control and will come across the ball and squeeze down and moves well laterally. He displays a very good motor. He displays good speed in pursuit. He can be a little crisper in his backside pursuit, but overall takes good angles. He is a solid tackler, but needs to be careful to not overrun the ball carrier and can flash a little rigidness when trying to quickly re-direct. Spence is a very good defensive end prospect. He brings size, ability, and good feel for the game. There is room for improvement naturally, but this is a good football player who could play early if need be especially as a pass rusher.
Notes: 2010: Class AAA first-team all-state selection as a junior…
John Simon and Nathan Williams, along with several other talented defensive ends, will be returning to OSU for the 2012 football season. However, the fact that the Buckeyes have that much talent and will be bringing in another FOUR defensive linemen, each ranked in the nation’s top 150 players, shows that this team means business on its defensive front.
My prediction for Noah Spence is simple. He will be on the field next year, and he will be an impact player. Whether or not his play means a shift in position for him, Simon, or Williams remains to be seen, but at 6’4″ and 245 lbs, with the speed and athleticism that he has, he MUST be on the field. His ability to rush the passer is something that Williams has, which was lacking this year because of his injury, so having he and Spence healthy on the same line could be a deadly combination for Big Ten offensive lines and quarterbacks.
Within a matter of weeks, Spence went from a recruit that we could dream about landing to an actual Buckeye commitment. This D-line class of Pittman, Washington, Schutt, and Spence has so much potential for greatness, that I can’t wait until September to get them onto the field.
Welcome to Ohio State, Mr. Spence.
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