Notre Dame '23 OH DE - Brenan Vernon (Notre Dame Verbal)

Discussion in ''23 Committed Elsewhere' started by OSUBasketballJunkie, Jun 24, 2020.

  1. OSUBasketballJunkie

    OSUBasketballJunkie Proud to be a Buckeye Staff Member

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  2. OSUBasketballJunkie

    OSUBasketballJunkie Proud to be a Buckeye Staff Member

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    AN INTRODUCTION TO VERNON
    Obviously, Ohio State’s top priority is closing out its 2021 class with a bang, with the five highest remaining uncommitted targets being J.T. Tuimoloau, Tywone Malone, Emeka Egbuka, Jager Burton and Davis (probably in that order).

    They are also keeping a keen eye on the 2022 class, as steady and thorough film evaluation continues on that front before they are able to start making stronger pushes there.

    But the coaching staff is also looking at the horizon toward the 2023 class, especially toward in-state prospects, as the relationship-building process begins very early with the best players in the state.

    This weekend, we are introducing two key in-state names to get to know early on in this process, as you are likely to hear about these two players quite a bit in the years ahead.

    Today, we are looking at Mentor rising sophomore Brenan Vernon, a strongside defensive end with nine offers to his name already from Duke, Indiana, Kent State, Kentucky, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, Notre Dame and West Virginia.

    Vernon is a 6-foot-5, 245-pounder who has a quick get-off at the snap, great lateral quickness and great athleticism, especially for his age. There is a lot of chatter already that Vernon could be the top-ranked player in the state of Ohio by the time he is a junior or a senior, and if he does earn that billing, he would join Zach Harrison (2019) and Jack Sawyer (2020) as recent in-state defensive ends to earn the No. 1 spot in the state. Vernon says he is aware of those expectations, but he is not letting those burden him.

    “I definitely feel pressure, but I like to just stay in my own little zone and just worry about myself,” Vernon told Eleven Warriors. “I try not to worry about what's going on with others in the football community. I'm just worried about myself and the work I’m producing.”

    Vernon touches base with Ohio State director of football relations Tim Hinton and defensive line coach Larry Johnson every week, as he and Johnson continue building a relationship that started last summer at a one-day Ohio State camp. Johnson worked with Vernon at that camp, critiquing and correcting technique in how Vernon was using his hips and upper body, and he showed Vernon some hand-throwing techniques, as well.

    Johnson and Co. have not yet offered Vernon, but it feels like it’s only a matter of time before that occurs.

    And while it's still very early in the recruiting process for Vernon and he has yet to get enveloped in the craziness of it all, he is already heeding advice on how to handle himself when things do begin to ramp up. He says some weeks are more hectic than others when it comes to recruiting.

    “The biggest advice I get is from my coaches,” Vernon said. “When times get rough, they'd really be the ones stepping in and getting me in a right state of mind when it comes to all this.

    “They’ve said to just do your thing and let the recruiting take care of itself, meaning don't mess your head up by continuously thinking of it and stressing about it.”

    In the meantime, Vernon is focused on improving his own play and taking his team to another level. Vernon and his Mentor teammates have been getting back onto the field for workouts on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and he’s happy to be back out between the lines.

    “It was real frustrating not being able to be working with my team each and every day,” Vernon said. “We’ve adjusted to it quickly. I just don't think about the fact that everything’s different. I just go in and put in the work that has to be done.”

    While Vernon says there was a bit of an adjustment period on that first day back to the field, he says that he was staying in shape during the quarantine by doing sprints around his cul-de-sac, bodyweight exercises and being fortunate enough to get into a weight room twice a week.

    He says some results started to show: “I was able to put on some good weight with what I was doing.”

    Last season, Mentor went 13-1 before losing to Pickerington Central, 28-21, in the Division I state semifinals. The Cardinals outscored their opponents, 368-42, backed by one of the best defenses in the state. They captured the Greater Cleveland Conference championship with a 7-0 mark in conference games.

    This season, Vernon and his teammates are back for more.

    “There’s some growth to occur in all of us, but we definitely got a squad,” Vernon said. “It’s just a matter of how bad they and myself want it.”

    As a freshman in 2019, Vernon finished seventh on the team in the three main tackling categories – total tackles (45), solo (27) and assisted (18) – and finished ninth with three tackles for loss. He tallied two sacks. In his sophomore season, Vernon is hoping to make more strides.

    “The main goal is to be the best – the best that offensive tackles ever played and the best player that team has ever seen,” Vernon said. “My goal’s to be the best in whatever I do.”
     
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    Ohio State offers first in-state 2023 star
    There are more questions than answers when it comes to football recruiting right now, but one thing that remains somewhat of a sure thing is that 6-foot-5, 245-pound sophomore defensive ends from powerhouse football programs land Ohio State offers.

    That’s what happened a few days ago when Mentor product Brenan Vernon became the first 2023 prospect inside of Ohio to earn an offer from the Buckeyes.

    Vernon landed the Ohio State offer last Friday from Buckeyes assistant Greg Mattison.

    “It feels amazing,” Vernon told Lettermen Row. “It’s just pure excitement.”

    Like most kids growing up in Ohio, Vernon has an obvious affinity for Buckeyes football. His relationship with Mattison, Ryan Day and the rest of the Ohio State coaching staff is developing and has a ways to go. But there’s no doubt that the program becomes the presumptive favorite to land him.

    Notre Dame, Michigan, West Virginia, Nebraska, Tennessee and more have already offered, with the Fighting Irish one of the top early contenders to the Buckeyes.
     
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    VERNON “READY TO ATTACK”
    Mentor (Ohio) High School defensive end Brenan Vernon was not pleased with his performance in his 2020 season debut last Friday night.

    He told our own Colin Hass-Hill that he “didn't feel I was ready today. But, hey, that's what tomorrow's for. It's a new day. I'm here to get better.”

    Great mentality to have, and in addition to his recruitment, that's exactly what Vernon spoke about at length following Mentor's 37-19 win over Medina – his strive to make this a breakout season.

    “It all started with my base,” Vernon said when asked what he improved during the offseason. “I'm trying to get bigger, faster, stronger. But the technical standpoint, it's my sophomore season. I'm moving on to bigger, better things. Last season, coach just gave me a few points to go out there, do my job and that's that. Work hard, do my job. This year, there's a little more. I'm dropping back. I need to use my hands more in the pass rushes. It's a very important part of the season. Just a lot of things techical-wise and everything. It's a big step up from last year.”

    Vernon says that he's felt he has undergone “a big change” since the last time he took the field for a game, but he's far from a finished product.

    “I'm not pleased with where I'm at,” Vernon said. “Definitely a lot of work to take care of. But definitely some changes and I'm ready to attack the year, and I know my team is, too.”

    In addition to being Ohio's top-ranked 2023 prospect, Vernon is ranked No. 9 overall and No. 3 at strongside defensive end nationally – both of which could improve if Vernon keeps adjusting and adding moves to his arsenal.

    “Rush the edge. The pass-rush game,” Vernon said when asked what he wants to accomplish individually this season. “Being able to just dominate that edge. I didn't feel I had that tonight. But just being able to go off the ball and just dominate that person in front of me, whether that be the pass game or the run game. Either way, I'm here to dominate.”
     
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  19. Bucknut502

    Bucknut502 Well-Known Member

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    This kid's last name might as well be Bosa. He's one of the next great ones!
     
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