Danny Clark Becoming the Comeback Kid? Notes on Big Recruiting Weekend

For the first time in a long time, the Buckeyes lost a regular season game and did so in front of a record crowd in Columbus. In that crowd were a number of the Buckeyes' biggest and highest-priority recruits for 2015, seeing an offense struggle to pick up a blitz, abandon the run and appear, in general, be out-schemed. 

While one loss, even on a big stage, doesn't hurt the Buckeyes on its own. However, they've now been dealt an "L" in three consecutive marquee games and the questions raised during the Michigan State defeat last December have now become a problem rather than an anomaly. What's the answer to that problem? Winning. Winning on the field and in the living room and right now the answer is quite simple: Ohio State needs more talent, especially on their offensive line and at the wide receiver position. There's reason for concern, but fans should remember that their response to tough times is often being watched, and it absolutely can negatively impact recruiting efforts. Far more than you'd think. At least one Buckeye commitment is trying to avoid letting that impact him personally.

I hate negative people and negative vibes in any situation. It doesn't help anything. I know Buckeyes will bounce back . #GOBUCKS

— Josh Moore (@JoshMoore_08) September 7, 2014

That said, let's look at how some future Buckeyes, and prospective Buckeyes, fared this weekend. 

CLARK, TIGERS COMEBACK - AGAIN

A week after a late comeback against Perry, Ohio State 2017 quarterback commitment Danny Clark and his Massillon Tigers teammates were at it again. The Tigers, on the strength of 2015 running back J.D. Crabtree's incredible late touchdown run, toppled rival Canton Glen Oak 17-10 in one of Stark County's most anticipated contests, this year and every year. For Clark, he values his team's heart and never-say-die attitude, but he believes the best is definitely yet to come for Massillon.

"We haven't been close to playing our best game yet," Clark told Eleven Warriors. "We're used to being in (tight games) by now though. We've got to just come out and be at our best from the first play of the game."

Clark and the Tigers focused on the ground game to beat Glen Oak, and when the gameplan calls for someone else to be the go-to-guy, the sophomore quarterback knows he can help his team in other ways.

"My job in tight games is to be calm and collected in the huddle and to lead this football team," he said. "The rest of the team will follow and be focused on getting done what needs to be done to win the game, and that's what we did this week."

BURROW CONTINUES HOT START TO THE SEASON

After starting his senior season with an almost too easy 12-12 passing, 52-0 win in week one, Buckeyes 2015 quarterback commit Joe Burrow was looking forward to week two's contest against Zanesville, expecting a more complete test. When Zanesville returned the opening kick 73 yards for a score, it seemed as if a test was on the docket.

Then Burrow took the field. 

In a scorching first half of action, Burrow amassed 312 yards on 15-19 passing and five scores before the intermission, giving his teammates a 52-14 lead and a running clock in the second half. When it was all said and done, Burrow finished 18-25 for six scores. He also added 11 carries for 76 yards on the ground, proving he's capable of beating teams with his feet as well.

MCCALL HAS SECOND STRAIGHT FIVE SCORE GAME

Breaking: Demario McCall is pretty darn good.

One week ago, 279 yards and five touchdowns, this week, 190 yards and five touchdowns. The country's 85th-ranked player for 2016 didn't just do it on offense, either: he had a spectacular interception return for a touchdown as well as North Ridgeville rolled the Parma Redmen 41-7.

For McCall, it's not about him right now. He gives his credit to his teammates. 

“It all comes down to our line, they do a great job,” McCall told the Chronicle Online. “I like the ball as much as they want to give it to me. Just let me and my fullback go and do our thing.”

Ten touchdown in two big wins? Consider the thing officially being done. McCall had planned on making a visit to Columbus for Ohio State's game Saturday night, but was unable to and instead says he'll make a visit to another game soon.

DEAN BACK IN ACTION FOR FIRST TIME SINCE ACL INJURY

If you've ever injured yourself in an athletic endeavor, you know the challenge of getting back in the saddle for the first time post-surgery. Ohio State 2015 commitment Jamel Dean, who tore his ACL last winter, said the mental side of the recovery was a major challenge in his return to the field last night.

"I was definitely nervous," Dean told Eleven Warriors. "But my teammates were there to help me and support me and to keep reminding me that my knee was fine and any nerves were all in my head, but I wasn't sure. After I got it hit that first time I was like 'Yeah, it's good.'"

For Dean and his Cocoa teammates, that was good news and they opened their season against Titusville. The defensive back didn't get much of a chance to impact the game defensively, but he felt good being out there.

"It felt great to be back on the field," he said. "I had two tackles, but they didn't really throw to my side. I did have a touchdown catch though, like 50 yards."

Cocoa won their opener 31-17.

LITTLE THINGS

Ohio State 2016 running back target Robert Washington had a huge game against Pine Lake Prep in North Carolina. Washington, the 16th-ranked running back in the 2016 class, had 24 carries for 301 yards and four touchdowns.

Damien Harris was, in a word, spectacular during Madison Southern's victory Friday night. He had a whopping 318 yards on 17 carries and once again highlighted why he's the top running back in the country for 2015. Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops caused some hoopla when he arrived during a helicopter to watch Harris, who's college choice seems to be coming down to the Wildcats and the Buckeyes.