Recruiting Roundup: The Ball State Offense

With around two weeks to go until National Signing Day, OTP begins it's coverage of recruiting. We'll be addressing both Ball State and Kentucky's commitments as a build up to national signing day on both sides of the football. RV will be along with his recruiting recap next week of his top classes and players to watch in the Class of 09. Today's edition is the Ball State offense.

Recruiting Roundup
Ball State Offense

As a disclaimer of sorts, recruiting, in general, is like throwing darts. Student athletes verbal and continue to be wooed, leaving room for plenty of surprises thrown in on National Signing Day. This is especially a difficult aspect of recruiting for mid-major programs, and doubly so for a mid-major program that had significant staff turnover. Most commits with the exception of Otis Brown have voiced their desire to still be a Cardinal despite Brady Hoke's departure, and that speaks volumes to the hand that Stan Parrish has had in recruiting as well as the assistants that have stuck around in Muncie. Having said that, a defection or two wouldn't shock me.

The offense is where most of the focus will be for the 2008 Cardinals team. Gone are Nate Davis, Donte Love, Darius Hill, and perhaps most importantly, three starters from a talented and productive offensive line. The Cardinals will look to replace Davis with either Tanner Justice or Kelly Page, and MiQuale Lewis looks to be the focus of the offensive attack to allow whomever is taking snaps at QB to get comfortable. The 2009 BSU offense will take a game or two to click. Thankfully, the first two games on the 09 schedule are home games, against North Texas and New Hampshire.

The depth of the offense will be put to the test, especially on the offensive line. The talent is there, and many of the new faces around the Cardinals' lockerroom will have the opportunity to play immediately if they earn it. Here's who has verbally committed to the Cardinals on the offensive side of the football... as of now:

Name: Aaron Mershman
Position: QB
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 200
Scout Position Rank: 108
ESPN Position Rank: 95
Scout Rating: **
Rivals Rating: ***

Name: Eric Williams
Position: RB
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 199
Scout Position Rank: 160
ESPN Position Rank:113
Scout Rating: **
Rivals Rating: ***

Name: Jelani Alford
Position: RB
Height: 5'10"
Weight: 175
Scout Position Rank: Not Ranked
ESPN Position Rank: 119
Scout Rating: **
Rivals Rating: **

Name: David Brown
Position: RB
Height: 5'10"
Weight: 190
Scout Position Rank: Not Ranked
ESPN Position Rank: Not Ranked
Scout Rating: **
Rivals Rating: **

Name: Brandon Kish
Position: RB
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 200
Scout Position Rank: Not Ranked
ESPN Position Rank:Not Ranked
Scout Rating: **
Rivals Rating: **

Name: Otis Brown
Position: WR/Ath
Height: 5'9"
Weight: 165
Scout Position Rank: Not Ranked
ESPN Position Rank: 131 (Ath)
Scout Rating: **
Rivals Rating: Not Rated

Name: Keith Langtry
Position: WR
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 181
Scout Position Rank: Not Ranked
ESPN Position Rank:189
Scout Rating: **
Rivals Rating: **

Name: Connor Ryan
Position: WR
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 185
Scout Position Rank: Not Ranked
ESPN Position Rank:157
Scout Rating: **
Rivals Rating: **

Name: Seth White
Position: WR
Height: 5'9"
Weight: 174
Scout Position Rank: Not Ranked
ESPN Position Rank: Not Ranked
Scout Rating: **
Rivals Rating: **

Name: Jacob Green
Position: TE
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 235
Scout Position Rank: 102
ESPN Position Rank: 27
Scout Rating: **
Rivals Rating: ***

Name: Kitt O'Brien
Position: OL
Height: 6'6"
Weight: 295
Scout Position Rank: Not Ranked
ESPN Position Rank: Not Ranked
Scout Rating: **
Rivals Rating: **

Name: Evan Neff
Position: OL
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 245
Scout Position Rank: Not Ranked
ESPN Position Rank: Not Ranked
Scout Rating: **
Rivals Rating: **

Name: Matthew Page
Position: OL
Height: 6'6"
Weight: 300
Scout Position Rank: Not Ranked
ESPN Position Rank: Not Ranked
Scout Rating: *
Rivals Rating: **

Overall, the class itself is fairly complete, but it wouldn't be a surprise to see a couple of additions to this list come signing day. The new coaches may be bringing in a couple of recruits that have verballed elsewhere, and as the bigger programs' classes begin to take shape, there may be some table scraps left for the right program at the right time. Look for a pickup of an offensive line commitment or two before the class is truly complete on the offensive side of the football.

Pens meet paper for Letter of Intent Signing Day on February 4th.

Who, in your mind, is the gem of this class?