Kamd50
06-24-2007, 12:01 AM
Tressel is a recruiting machine, lol!
LV's Klein gets verbal offer from OSU
HANOVER — Just before he left the Ohio State summer football camp on Thursday, Storm Klein was called into the office.
But he wasn’t in trouble — far from it, actually.
Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel made a verbal offer of a full scholarship to play for the Buckeyes to Klein, making him the first member of 2009 to be offered a verbal scholarship.
Per NCAA rules, official written scholarships can’t be offered until Sept. 1, but Tressel made it clear to Klein he wanted the Licking Valley standout to be a Buckeye.
“(Co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach) Luke Fickell told me coach Tressel wanted to talk to me, so I went to his office and (Tressel) told me he didn’t want me to leave camp without knowing that on Sept. 1 I was going to get a scholarship offer,” Klein said. “He said he’s been watching me for two years.”
Klein played mostly at linebacker during the camp, but also saw some time in the backfield. Klein, who has formed a strong relationship with Fickell and running backs coach Dick Tressel, said he figured the day might have been coming. But he added he was still blown away with it.
“I was a little shocked at first. I wanted to start crying,” Klein said. “That’s what I’ve been working for since I was little. It’s always been my dream.
“I told him thank you and he said ‘Ohio State loves you, and we’d love to have you.’ He told me whenever they talk about the class of 2009, I’m the first guy that comes up. That meant something.”
Klein said Ohio State is the favorite right now for where he will play, but he also plans to take his time on what will be a hectic process.
He has received letters of interest from major Big Ten programs among others, and Klein knows his phone will be ringing constantly when September comes. He said he’s prepared for the onslaught of calls, but he’s going to remain as level-headed as possible through a strenuous time.
“They know I love Ohio State, and I told them that. It’s a great school with great football, but I’m still thinking right now,” Klein said. “I’m just going to relax and take it slow. I have a lot of time to think about that.”
Klein also has to focus on two more years of high school football with the Panthers.
Klein, however, will take plenty of momentum into this year after a standout performance at the camp built on an already impressive career. He was timed at 4.5 seconds in the 40-yard dash and had a time of 4.2 in the shuttles drill.
This comes off a banner year at Licking Valley for the soon-to-be junior, where Klein rushed for 1,829 yards and 27 touchdowns. He helped lead the team to a Mid-State League-Ohio Division title, and he finished eighth at 215 pounds at the Division II state wrestling meet.
Klein also rushed for more than 1,000 yards as a freshman for the Panthers. Valley remains his focus for the time being.
“I’m thinking about our first game right now,” Klein said. “I am still in high school, so I have to focus on that. I’m just going to let things happen as they come. I’ve always said I’m going to try and let things take care of themselves.”
But as far as motivation, Klein got all he ever needed when he heard the scholarship offer from Tressel.
“I know I’m going to have to work harder and take it up a notch,” Klein said. “Ohio State’s big time, and you have to step your game up for them.”
LV's Klein gets verbal offer from OSU
HANOVER — Just before he left the Ohio State summer football camp on Thursday, Storm Klein was called into the office.
But he wasn’t in trouble — far from it, actually.
Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel made a verbal offer of a full scholarship to play for the Buckeyes to Klein, making him the first member of 2009 to be offered a verbal scholarship.
Per NCAA rules, official written scholarships can’t be offered until Sept. 1, but Tressel made it clear to Klein he wanted the Licking Valley standout to be a Buckeye.
“(Co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach) Luke Fickell told me coach Tressel wanted to talk to me, so I went to his office and (Tressel) told me he didn’t want me to leave camp without knowing that on Sept. 1 I was going to get a scholarship offer,” Klein said. “He said he’s been watching me for two years.”
Klein played mostly at linebacker during the camp, but also saw some time in the backfield. Klein, who has formed a strong relationship with Fickell and running backs coach Dick Tressel, said he figured the day might have been coming. But he added he was still blown away with it.
“I was a little shocked at first. I wanted to start crying,” Klein said. “That’s what I’ve been working for since I was little. It’s always been my dream.
“I told him thank you and he said ‘Ohio State loves you, and we’d love to have you.’ He told me whenever they talk about the class of 2009, I’m the first guy that comes up. That meant something.”
Klein said Ohio State is the favorite right now for where he will play, but he also plans to take his time on what will be a hectic process.
He has received letters of interest from major Big Ten programs among others, and Klein knows his phone will be ringing constantly when September comes. He said he’s prepared for the onslaught of calls, but he’s going to remain as level-headed as possible through a strenuous time.
“They know I love Ohio State, and I told them that. It’s a great school with great football, but I’m still thinking right now,” Klein said. “I’m just going to relax and take it slow. I have a lot of time to think about that.”
Klein also has to focus on two more years of high school football with the Panthers.
Klein, however, will take plenty of momentum into this year after a standout performance at the camp built on an already impressive career. He was timed at 4.5 seconds in the 40-yard dash and had a time of 4.2 in the shuttles drill.
This comes off a banner year at Licking Valley for the soon-to-be junior, where Klein rushed for 1,829 yards and 27 touchdowns. He helped lead the team to a Mid-State League-Ohio Division title, and he finished eighth at 215 pounds at the Division II state wrestling meet.
Klein also rushed for more than 1,000 yards as a freshman for the Panthers. Valley remains his focus for the time being.
“I’m thinking about our first game right now,” Klein said. “I am still in high school, so I have to focus on that. I’m just going to let things happen as they come. I’ve always said I’m going to try and let things take care of themselves.”
But as far as motivation, Klein got all he ever needed when he heard the scholarship offer from Tressel.
“I know I’m going to have to work harder and take it up a notch,” Klein said. “Ohio State’s big time, and you have to step your game up for them.”