In recruiting, sometimes "boring" is a good thing. Since the original posting back in February, Ohio State has had a boring bit of recruiting, getting commitments from several players who were basically locks (Cade Stover, Ryan Jacoby, Noah Potter, Sampson James, Ronnie Hickman, Garrett Wilson) and losing no one of significance to another program. In the midst of all that boredom, the Buckeyes also snagged a couple of recruits who were off the radar a couple of months ago (Steele Chambers, Bryson Shaw), as well as their first commitment for the class of 2020 (offensive tackle Jake Wray).
QUARTERBACKS
Grant Tisdale (Allen TX; 6'1" 190 lbs; #11 dual threat; #344 overall)
Tisdale is the current front runner to be the Buckeyes' quarterback signee for the recruiting class of 2019. However, Tisdale is a dual threat quarterback (think J.T. Barrett) and Ohio State seems to be transitioning to a more traditional passing attack with Dwayne Haskins under center and Kevin Wilson and Ryan Day at the controls. At the present time, Tisdale is 100% crystal balled to Ohio State (3 predictions) but he might not be a good fit in Ohio State's new look offense. Update 04/06/2018 - As we suggested, Ohio State appears to be in the process of transitioning its offense to a more pass-oriented attack (see below), and Tisdale simply wasn't going to be a good fit. Tisdale saw the proverbial writing on the wall and committed to Ole Miss.
NEW Grant Gunnell (Houston TX St. Pius X; 6'6" 212 lbs; #3 pro-style quarterback; #96 overall)
Gunnel committed to Texas A+M all the way back on June 5, 2017. Then on February 13, 2018, Gunnell received an offer from Ohio State. A mere ten hours later, he de-committed from Texas A+M. Coincidence? I think not. Especially because Gunnell followed up the Buckeye offer with an unofficial visit (March 8th) and an official visit (April 28th). We should soon find out the results of those two trips to Columbus, but right now things are looking very good for Ohio State (54% of crystal balls and trending upward). In any event, Ohio State's pursuit of Gunnell is a strong indication that the Buckeyes are moving away from "dual threat" quarterbacks and toward "pro-style" quarterbacks who can stretch the field vertically.
RUNNING BACKS
Sampson James (Avon IN; 6'1" 205 lbs; #8 running back; #151 overall)
Sampson James just had a very good week. First, Urban Meyer made a visit to see Sampson (January 25th), which is a very good sign that Ohio State is very interested. Then Sampson received a huge bump in the 247 composite rankings, from the #18 running back to #8, and from the #229 overall prospect to #126. Although Ohio State will continue to pursue some other highly-rated running backs such as Noah Cain and Devyn Ford (see below), there is a very good chance that Sampson James will be a member of the Buckeyes' class of 2019. There are currently three crystal ball predictions for Sampson, and all are to Ohio State. Update 03/19/2018: Sampson became the third commitment for the Buckeyes' Class of 2019.
Noah Cain (Bradenton FL IMG Academy; 5'11" 200 lbs; #2 running back; #51 overall)
Blue chip running back Noah Cain is high on Ohio State's wish list, and Ohio State is high on Noah Cain's. With that being said, it's always difficult to land a five-star recruit, especially one from down south. Currently, Ohio State is the crystal ball leader with a thin 38% to 31% edge over Texas, and with Miami, Oklahoma, and Louisiana State also garnering some early predictions. When five teams each have some action, it really means that all the crystal balls are cloudy. Don't expect an early decision here. Update 05/05/2018: Ohio State remains in the running for Cain (14% crystal balls), but Texas (43% crystal balls) is the new apparent leader.
Devyn Ford (Stafford VA; 5'11" 185 lbs; #3 running back; #63 overall)
Devyn Ford is the third running back whom the Buckeyes are chasing early. At 185 pounds (and quite possibly less), Ford might be best suited for the Curtis Samuel role in Ohio State's offense. At the present time, the Buckeyes have no crystal balls in their favor, but Ohio State is listed as a "warmer" school in 247 Sport's data base along with Penn State (no crystal balls) and Virginia Tech (86% of crystal balls), with Clemson (14% of crystal balls), Oklahoma, and North Carolina also being in the mix. Update 05/05/2018: With the commitments of Sampson James and Steele Chambers, Devyn Ford dropped Ohio State from his list. His finalists are Penn State and Virginia Tech.
WIDE RECEIVERS
Theo Wease, Jr. (Allen TX; 6'2" 180 lbs; #4 wide receiver; #27 overall)
Theo Wease, Jr. is one of those five-star talents that the Buckeye staff will pursue right to the bitter end. Although Ohio State had some early momentum (27% of crystal balls), all of the recent action has been on Texas A+M (55% of crystal balls), with Oklahoma also getting some consideration (18% of crystal balls). The success (or lack thereof) of Ohio State's new look passing attack should be a major factor here, as will the (presumed) official visit. Update 04/13/2018: Wease committed to Oklahoma.
Garrett Wilson (Austin TX Lake Travis; 6'0" 178 lbs; #5 wide receiver; #29 overall)
Garrett Wilson is a high school teammate of 2018 Ohio State quarterback signee Matthew Baldwin, and he is also a native of Dublin, Ohio. Those two factors give Ohio State an early edge in what will likely be a difficult recruiting battle with the Texas Longhorns. The two schools have evenly split the ten current crystal balls, but Ohio State owns all of the most recent action. Wilson also has serious skills at cornerback. Update 04/29/2018: Wilson committed to Ohio State over Texas.
David Bell (Indianapolis IN Warren Central; 6'2" 185 lbs; #18 wide receiver; #104 overall)
The Hoosier State rarely produces top-100 talent and most of those top prospects end up leaving the state. That's good news for the Buckeyes, who are pursuing the top two prospects in Indiana in wide receiver David Bell and running back Sampson James (see above). Ohio State currently holds seven of the eight crystal balls, with Steve Wiltfong casting his lot with Michigan. A few other Big Ten schools (Iowa, Nebraska, Penn State) might also end up being players, but things look good for the scarlet and grey so far. Update 05/05/2018: Ohio State is still the crystal ball leader (60%), but Purdue is a surprising contender (40%) for Bell's services and rising fast.
Milton Wright (Louisville KY Christian Academy; 6'3" 190 lbs; #14 athlete; #146 overall)
Since the dynamic duo of Devin Smith and Michael Thomas led Ohio State to a national championship in 2014, the Buckeye coaching staff has been perpetually searching for the "next big thing" at wide receiver. Add Milton Wright to that ever-expanding list. Although listed as an "athlete" on 247 Sports, Wright will likely play wide receiver in college, and with a big frame and blazing speed he will likely succeed in that role. 247 Sports recruiting guru Steve Wiltfong just placed his crystal ball prediction on Ohio State, so you can probably put Milton Wright on commitment watch. Update 05/05/2018: Louisville (33% crystal balls) is making a push, but Ohio State (67% crystal balls) remains the leader here.
Jameson Williams (St. Louis MO Cardinal Ritter; 6'2" 160 lbs; #26 WR; #178 overall)
For the class of 2018, Ohio State signed two wide receivers from St. Louis (Kamryn Babb and Cameron Brown), so why not head back to the Gateway City for another one for the class of 2019? Four recent crystal balls have been cast for Jameson, and all four have him ending up at Ohio State. If things don't work out with the Buckeyes, then Sparty looks like a major player in this recruitment. Update 05/05/2018: Williams took an unofficial visit to Ohio State on April 8th, and the Buckeyes remain his firm leader (100% crystal balls).
Trey Knox (Mufreesoboro TN Blackman; 6'4" 190 lbs; #33 wide receiver; #193 overall)
Knox is a high school teammate of 2018 Ohio State running back signee Master Teague and the Buckeyes are Trey's dream team, and these two factors make Ohio State the early crystal ball frontrunner (83%). However, there are a lot of very talented wide receivers on Ohio State's early board so it remains to be seen how seriously the staff will pursue Knox. Home state school Tennessee is also in the mix (17% crystal balls) along with Clemson ("warmer" status) and Notre Dame (recent Junior Day visit). Update 05/05/2018: Knox took an unofficial visit to Ohio State on April 5th, and the Buckeyes remain at the top of his list (80% crystal balls), with home-state Tennessee still in the mix (20% crystal balls).
Lance Wilhoite (Nashville TN Franklin Road Academy; 6'2" 165 lbs; #15 wide receiver; #92 overall)
During the Great Tennessee Tire Fire of 2017, Ohio State swooped into Rocky Top territory and signed offensive tackle Max Wray and running back Master Teague for the Class of 2018 and made serious progress with several 2019 recruits including Lance Wilhoite. Although Lance is 100% crystal balled to Tennessee (four predictions so far), Ohio State is the only school listed as "warmer" on his 247 Sports profile. If the Volunteers can regain some stability in 2018, then Wilhoite will probably end up in Knoxville. If the tires continue to smolder, then Columbus will be a very strong possibility. Update 05/05/2018: There's really nothing new to report here, except that Florida State has entered the mix (33% crystal balls). Ohio State appears to be a long shot despite maintaining its "warmer" status.
NEW Zion Puckett (Griffin GA Spalding; 6'1" 190 lbs; #36 wide receiver; #227 overall)
Add Zion Puckett's name to the growing list of wide receiver prospects being pursued by Ohio State. The Buckeyes definitely needs to restock the wide receiver position, as the team could lose as many as six receivers to the 2019 NFL draft. Puckett made a three-day visit to Ohio State surrounding the Spring Game, and by all accounts he came away very impressed, so Zion could end up in the mix. Right now, Puckett claims no favorites and has no crystal ball predictions.
NEW Marcus Washington (St. Louis MO Trinity; 6'2" 193 lbs; #9 wide receiver; #58 overall)
After landing top wide receiver target Garrett Wilson, the Buckeye staff has now turned their Zone 6 efforts to Marcus Washington. This St. Louis native has already made three unofficial visits to Ohio State and the Buckeyes have the lone crystal ball in their favor (with another crystal ball reading "cloudy"). Washington plans to announce on August 7th (his birthday), so expect his recruitment to heat up a lot in the upcoming weeks.
NEW Craig Young (Ft. Wayne IN Wayne; 6'5" 200 lbs; #95 wide receiver; #721 overall)
Young was offered by Ohio State on January 29th, and after making two unofficial visits to Columbus in April he named the Buckeyes his leader. The crystal balls reflect that fact, with the two most recent going in Ohio State's direction (40% overall). The question is this: Is Young a "take" at this relatively early stage of the game? Young has the size you can't teach, but he is a raw prospect right now (hence the low ranking on the 247 composite). The Buckeyes have taken some reaches at wide receiver in recent years (Chris Olave in 2018, Elijah Gardiner in 2017), but those guys got offered very late in the process.
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN
Doug Nester (Huntington WV Spring Valley; 6'6" 290 lbs; #9 offensive tackle; #55 overall)
Doug Nester was the Buckeyes' first verbal commitment for the class of 2019 and he fills one of the team's few positions of need. Nester is just the second top-100 recruit (247 Composite) to hail from the State of West Virginia since wide receiver Brandon Barrett in the class of 2004.
Darnell Wright (Huntington WV Huntington; 6'6" 275 lbs; #1 offensive tackle; #2 overall)
The only other top-100 recruit (247 Composite) from West Virginia since 2004 is Doug Nester's fellow Huntington offensive tackle, Darnell Wright. In addition, Wright is the only five-star recruit from the Mountaineer State in the history of the 247 Composite that goes back to the year 2000. All five current crystal balls have Wright signing with Ohio State, although Alabama will probably be a player as well. Update 05/05/2018: To be quite honest, this one is trending away from Ohio State. Recent crystal balls have been cast in favor of Alabama and Tennessee. If a kid identifies with southern schools, he likely will not end up at Ohio State.
Devontae Dobbs (Belleville MI; 6'4" 270 lbs; #3 offensive tackle; #10 overall)
Devontae Dobbs is the top offensive tackle in the country, and at this early stage all of the crystal ball action is on Michigan State (91%, with 9% cloudy). Although the home state school is currently the overwhelming favorite, the reality is this - Michigan State rarely signs five-star recruits, home state or not. In fact, Michigan State has signed only four five-star recruits in the 20-year history of the 247 Composite, and the Spartans will have a difficult time landing Dobbs once the powerhouse programs start turning up the heat. And the current turmoil in East Lansing will not help Sparty's cause. The usual suspects - Ohio State, Alabama, and Clemson - will all make Dobbs a top priority. Update 05/05/2018: Michigan State remains the prohibitive favorite (85% crystal balls), but Ohio State has the most recent crystal prediction in its favor. The longer this goes on, the less likely Dobbs ends up committing to Sparty, which is obviously good news for the Buckeyes.
Ryan Jacoby (Mentor OH; 6'5" 265 lbs; #30 offensive tackle; #282 overall)
Ryan Jacoby is a "sleeper" prospect at this early stage. He is a four-star according to 247 Sports (#30 offensive tackle, #234 overall, #8 in Ohio), but just a three-star according to Rivals (unranked at offensive tackle and overall, #21 in Ohio). All eleven crystal balls are currently on Ohio State, and Jacoby openly admits that Ohio State is at the top of his short list (a list that probably has just one school on it). If Jacoby has an OFFER, then he's in this class. Update 03/01/2018: Jacoby became the second commitment in Ohio State's Class of 2019.
Michael Tarquin (Belleview FL; 6'5" 290 lbs; #27 offensive tackle; #273 overall)
With Doug Nester in the fold, Darnell Wright on the cusp, Ryan Jacoby being a local kid, and Devontae Dobbs worth chasing until Signing Day, Michael Tarquin might end up being the odd man out in the class of 2019. Right now, the Buckeyes are the favorite to land Tarquin (56% of the crystal balls), with Oklahoma ("warmer" status, recent Junior Day, recent in-home, but no crystal balls) being the other top choice. 04/21/2018: Tarquin stayed in-state and committed to Miami.
Xavier Truss (Warwick RI Bishop Hendricken; 6'7" 325 lbs; #14 offensive tackle; #103 overall)
Xavier Truss is a perfect example of Rivals southern bias. While 247 Sports has Truss as a four-star prospect, the #10 offensive tackle, and the #63 recruit overall, Rivals has the kid un-starred and un-ranked. Needless to say, Rivals is way out of line, as Penn State, Ohio State, Michigan, and Oklahoma are all in hot pursuit of this massive tackle prospect. Since January 5th, Penn State has gained nine crystal balls and they are the unanimous favorite, which probably means that this recruiting battle will be over rather soon. Update 05/05/2018: Truss recently made the rounds of Big Ten schools for some unofficial visits - Michigan (April 14th), Ohio State (April 16th), and Penn State (April 21st). At this point, there is nothing to suggest that Ohio State is a legitimate contender, and Penn State has all the crystal balls in its favor (14 predictions).
Harry Miller (Buford GA; 6'4 310 lbs; #2 offensive center; #35 overall)
Here's a new name that you need to know - Harry Miller, a huge offensive lineman from the State of Georgia. Although Miller is listed as a tackle prospect, with his size he might be better suited for the interior of the offensive line. Miller made an unofficial visit to Ohio State during the MLK long weekend (January 13th-15th), and since that visit Ohio State has garnered three crystal balls, including one from a UGa insider. Update 05/05/2018: Miller recently made visits to his top two schools - Stanford (unofficial, April 7th) and Ohio State (official, April 13th). Ohio State remains the unanimous crystal ball choice (14 predictions). I still think that Ohio State will be Miller's eventual spot, but if Stanford resonates with a kid it's hard to dissuade him from heading out there. One thing to note: Miller has been reclassified from tackle to center in the 247 data base, and that's probably where he'll play in college.
Zeke Correll (Cincinnati OH Anderson; 6'3" 270 lbs; #9 offensive guard; #164 overall)
Zeke Corell is one of the few interior offensive linemen that Ohio State is pursuing in the class of 2019. The Buckeyes currently have 88% of the crystal balls in their favor, and if the staff pushes for Correll they should get a commitment from him. If there is no room at the Buckeye Inn, then Notre Dame (the remaining 12% of crystal balls), Kentucky (family ties), Michigan State, and Penn State should be strong contenders for his services. Update 05/05/2018: In the past week, the crystal balls on Correll have shifted dramatically, from 83% in favor of Ohio State to 60% in favor of Notre Dame. It's probably time to put The Irish on commitment watch.
NEW Jonathan Allen (Dayton OH Dunbar; 6'6" 320 lbs; #43 offensive tackle; #461 overall)
Allen is currently a 3-star prospect, but he is quickly rising up the recruiting rankings due to his elite athleticism for a guy his size. Back in December, Allen earned offers from Wisconsin and Michigan State - two programs that know a little something about developing offensive linemen. Ohio State recently jumped into the fray with an offer, and the Buckeyes quickly picked up seven crystal balls (100%) in their favor. Allen is making an unofficial visit to Columbus this weekend, so put his on commitment watch.
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN
Zach Harrison (Lewis Center OH Olentangy; 6'5" 225 lbs; #2 weakside defensive end; #3 overall)
I've followed recruiting since the class of 1984, Chris Spielman's recruiting class. In fact, I began following recruiting because of Chris Spielman, the definition of a "can't miss" prospect - All American, national player of the year, Wheaties box, etc. Since 1984, there have been only a handful of "can't miss" prospects from Ohio - Robert Smith, Orlando Pace, Charles Woodson, Andy Katzenmoyer, Ted Ginn, Beanie Wells. It looks like defensive end Zach Harrison is the next "can't miss" prospect to hail from the Buckeye State. Harrison is a consensus 5-star prospect who already looks NFL ready. Ohio State is the early leader with all nine crystal balls going the Buckeyes' way so far. Update 05/05/2018: Ohio State is still the 100% crystal ball choice (12 predictions), but there is some chatter that Penn State has entered the mix.
Noah Potter (Mentor OH; 6'5" 250 lbs; #20 strongside defensive end; #271 overall)
Like his high school teammate Ryan Jacoby (see above), Noah Potter is all Buckeye. Right now, Ohio State has all fourteen crystal balls going its way and that's not likely to change any time soon. If Potter has an OFFER, then he's in this class. If not, then Penn State is probably a distant second on Potter's list of schools. Update 04/16/2018: Potter committed to Ohio State.
Ani Izuchukwu (Nashville TN Davidson Academy; 6'4" 230 lbs; #14 weakside end; #2128overall)
Ani Izuchukwu is another kid from Tennessee who is apparently avoiding the Knoxville Tire Fire and giving the Buckeyes a serious look. Alabama owns the lone crystal ball (from way back in June of 2017), and the Tide just received an unofficial visit from Izuchukwu on February 3rd. Izuchukwu has already been to Ohio State at least twice (FNL, Maryland game), and the Buckeyes will be very much in the mix if the staff makes a push for his services. And they very well might, as there has not been much buzz at the defensive end position so far in the class of 2019. Update 04/11/2018: Izuchukwu committed to Mississippi State over Alabama and Ohio State. Hmmm.....
Brandon Smith (Mineral VA Louisa County; 6'5" 215 lbs; #2 inside linebacker; #28 overall)
Brandon Smith is a recruit whom the Buckeyes will chase until the bitter end, and they are definitely in chase mode right now. Penn State is the clear leader with 80% of the crystal balls, with Florida State earning the remaining 20% of the predictions. Ohio State (unofficial visit for Maryland game) is still in the mix, along with Notre Dame, Alabama, and just about everybody else in the country. One to watch, but not to get excited about at this point. Update 05/05/2018: Smith made an unofficial visit to Ohio State on April 6th, but at this point the Buckeyes remain one of the many schools chasing Penn State (80% crystal balls).
NEW: Marcus Hicks (Wichita KS Northwest; 6'5" 238 lbs; #20 weakside defensive end; #259 overall)
Marcus Hicks has been on the Buckeyes' radar for quite some time, but until recently there hasn't been a lot of mutual interest. Then on March 22nd, Hicks made a stop at Ohio State as part of a midwest tour (also Michigan and Nebraska). Currently, all five crystal balls are on Oklahoma, but Ohio State is in Hicks's top five and the Buckeyes should receive an official visit this fall.
Jowon Briggs (Cincinnati OH Walnut Hills; 6'3" 275 lbs; #4 defensive tackle; #72 overall)
Jowon Briggs appears to be the Buckeyes' top target at defensive tackle for the class of 2019, but Notre Dame is the early front runner (80% of crystal balls, including all of the most recent). It's still very early, of course, and if the Irish lose steam then Ohio State (20% of crystal balls), Michigan, Michigan State, Penn State, and Alabama will be in hot pursuit. Update 05/05/2018: Basically no change here, as Ohio State (25% crystal balls) still trails Notre Dame (75% crystal balls).
Tyler Davis (Apopka FL Wekiva; 6'2" 261 lbs; #10 defensive tackle; #165 overall)
A name that you probably haven't heard much of is Tyler Davis, a defensive tackle prospect from Florida. Davis has already made two unofficial visits to Ohio State (FNL, MSU game) and his lone crystal ball (from December of 2017) is on Ohio State. Florida is also a school of interest, and Miami recently entered the ring with an offer (January 18th). With Ohio State having made very few defensive tackle offers to date, Davis might have a real shot to end up in the Buckeyes' class of 2019. Update 05/05/2018: Since the original post, Davis has made another unofficial visit to Ohio State, and received three more crystal balls, one each for Ohio State, Florida, and Florida State. Ohio State's probably still the leader, if the staff is genuinely interested....
LINEBACKERS
Cade Stover (Mansfield OH Lexington; 6'4" 215 lbs; #8 outside linebacker; #130 overall)
I'm actually kind of surprised that Cade Stover hasn't committed to Ohio State yet (and in fact he may very be a longtime silent verbal). Stover is at the top of the Buckeyes' wish list and I fully expect him to be part of Ohio State's class of 2019. Thirteen crystal balls have been cast, and all of them are in favor of Ohio State. It's only a matter of time.... Update 04/29/2018: As long expected, Stover committed to Ohio State.
Kane Patterson (Nashville TN Christ Presbyterian Academy; 6'1" 212 lbs; #15 outside linebacker; #194 overall)
Kane Patterson is a fast-rising prospect from a small school (about a hundred kids per class) who has received four major offers in the past two weeks (Ohio State, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Missouri). Although Kane's 247 Composite rankings are rather low, 247 Sport's own rankings place him as the #7 outside linebacker and #105 overall prospect in the country. If Patterson can somehow maintain his sleeper status for the next eleven months, then Ohio State looks to be in a good position to sign him. If as expected his recruitment continues to blow up, then a lot of southern schools will undoubtedly get involved. This could be one of the more interesting recruiting battles for the class of 2019. Update: 05/05/2018: Patterson made a two-day unofficial visit with his entire family to Ohio State at the end of March (always a good sign), and the Buckeyes look like they are in good position to get an official visit this fall.
Lance Dixon (West Bloomfield MI; 6'2" 195 lbs; #21 outside linebacker; #329 overall)
This looks to be a classic Big Ten East battle, with Michigan State (83% of crystal balls), Michigan (17% of crystal balls), Ohio State, and Penn State all being early favorites. Urban Meyer just made a visit to West Bloomfield (January 31st) and personally delivered an offer, so the Buckeyes are definitely interested. All of the crystal ball action occurred before the Buckeyes became involved, so it will be interesting to see if we get any "flips" to Ohio State in the upcoming weeks. Update 05/05/2018: Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State, and Penn State continue to be the favorites, with Sparty probably being the leader.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
Daxton Hill (Tulsa OK Booker T. Washington; 6'1" 190 lbs; #2 safety; #33 overall)
Ohio State snagged a top-100 safety prospect from the State of Oklahoma in 2018 (Josh Proctor), and can they do it again in 2019? Normally, five-star prospects from Oklahoma end up signing with the Sooners, the Cowboys, or maybe the Longhorns, but the Buckeyes are a real player here. The OSU and the other OSU each own one crystal ball. The good news is that the Buckeyes' crystal ball was cast more recently (January 22nd) by the ultra-accurate (and BP alum) Greg Powers. There's obviously a long way to go, but Ohio State is in a very good position early on. Update 05/05/2018: Ohio State made Hill's top six, along with Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Clemson, Alabama, and Michigan. Don't hold your breath, Buckeye fans.
Lewis Cine (Everett MA; 6'2" 180 lbs; #3 safety; #41 overall)
Because Ohio State is #DBU, the Buckeyes will always get a look from top defensive back prospects. Lewis Cine is one of those guys. Right now, Ohio State is high on Cine's list, but Penn State (89% of crystal balls) is the prohibitive favorite with Michigan also hanging around (11% of crystal balls). Probably not much to see here for Buckeye fans. Update 05/05/2018: Nothing new to report here, as Penn State is still the favorite and Ohio State is just hanging around.
Jaylen McCollough (Powder Springs GA Hillgrove; 6'1" 190 lbs; #4 safety; #101 overall)
Jaylen McCollough has Ohio State in his top-6, but that's largely just for show. Florida State owns all the early crystal balls (58%), while Alabama has all the most recent ones (42%). Unless something changes over the next few months (like a Spring Game visit), this recruiting battle is probably over so far as Ohio State is concerned. Update 05/05/2018: McCollough was supposed to make an unofficial visit to Ohio State on March 31st ... but he canceled. He was supposed to re-schedule for the Spring Game ... but he didn't. Ohio State is in his top five ... along with four SEC schools. You can see where this recruitment is trending.
Cam'Ron Kelly (Chesapeake VA Oscar Smith; 6'1" 190 lbs; #15 athlete; #159 overall)
There's not a lot of recruiting buzz concerning Cam'Ron Kelly, and there have been just two crystal balls cast for him, one going to Clemson and the other going to Virginia. But Kelly is obviously interested in Ohio State, as he made an unofficial visit for the Penn State game (October 28th) and followed that up with another trip to Columbus this weekend (February 3rd). The Buckeyes like recruiting cornerbacks with size, so keep an eye on this kid going forward. Update 05/05/2018: Ohio State made Kelly's top eight, but Penn State has all 16 crystal balls in its favor. This one is just about over.
Marlin "MJ" Devonshire (Aliquippa PA; 5'11" 170 lbs; #37 cornerback; #406 overall)
MJ Devonshire does not possess ideal size for a cornerback and he's just a three-star prospect, so it's difficult to say whether he has an Ohio State offer or OFFER. The Buckeyes have some interest to be sure, and Devonshire made an unofficial visit to Ohio State in November. All three crystal balls are currently on West Virginia, and the Mountaineers will be in good shape if the Buckeyes slow play this recruit. Update 05/05/2018: Devonshire remains interested in Ohio State (25% crystal balls), but West Virginia (75% crystal balls) might be a better landing spot for this slightly undersized 3-star cornerback prospect.
NEW Bryson Shaw (Potomac MD Bullis School; 6'2" 175 lbs; #39 safety; #554 overall)
On January 27th, Shaw committed to Wisconsin after an unofficial visit to Madison. A week later, Ohio State offered. Then on April 28th, seemingly out of nowhere, Shaw de-committed from Wisconsin and immediately committed to Ohio State. Shaw has supposedly closed his recruitment.
NEW Nick Cross (Hyattsville MD DeMatha; 6'1" 203 lbs; #6 safety; #122 overall)
Safety Nick Cross made a two-day unofficial visit to Ohio State at the beginning of April, and the Buckeye crystal balls immediately began to roll in. Since that time, however, Ohio State has accepted commitments from Ronnie Hickman, Steele Chambers, and Bryson Shaw, each of whom could wind up at safety for the Buckeyes. And of course the staff will continue to chase 5-star safety prospect Daxton Hill until the bitter end. So where does this leave Nick Cross? Cloudy....
NEW Jordan Battle (Fort Lauderdale FL St. Thomas Aquinas; 6'1" 187 lbs; #10 safety; #173 overall)
Like Nick Cross, Battle is looking for a spot in the Buckeye secondary, but will there be any room? Battle has named Ohio State his favorite and all twelve crystal balls are on the Buckeyes, but the staff has already accepted verbals from three prospects who could project at safeties at the college level (Ronnie Hickman, Steele Chambers, Bryson Shaw). Jordan is supposed to take an official visit to Columbus in early June. If that visit happens, then put him on commitment watch.
NEW John Dixon (Tampa FL Wharton; 5'11" 170 lbs; #33 safety; #368 overall)
The Buckeyes already have one John Dixon from the state of Florida, so why not sign another one? This John Dixon, a cornerback, has Ohio State in his final five along with Alabama, Miami, Penn State, and South Carolina. Dixon is supposed to make an unofficial visit to Columbus in early June and a decision shortly thereafter. No crystal balls yet (except one old prediction for Florida, who has apparently been eliminated).
ATHLETES
Ronnie Hickman (Wayne NJ DePaul; 6'1" 209 lbs; #11 athlete; #120 overall)
Ronnie "The Rocket" Hickman is a true two-way player who may end up as a wide receiver or defensive back in college. At 209 pounds and likely still growing, I'll put my money on "safety". Hickman made an unofficial visit to Ohio State over the weekend (February 3rd), which was at least his fourth trip to Columbus. That's a very good sign. It's also a very good sign that four recruiting experts have cast crystal ball predictions for Hickman, and all four have him ending up at Ohio State. Penn State will also be a serious player, with Michigan and Notre Dame also somewhere in the mix. Update 04/13/2018: Hickman committed to Ohio State. Now the only question that remains is where does this great athlete play. I'll still put my money on "safety".
Jashawn Sheffield (St. Simons Island GA Frederica Academy; 6'1" 178 lbs; #12 athlete; #134 overall)
When you are Ohio State, you get mentioned in just about every top-whatever recruit's top-whatever list. Jashawn Sheffield is no exception to that rule. Ohio State will get some love, some positive tweets, and probably a visit or two, but Florida State is Sheffield's "dream school" and all fifteen crystal balls are pointing toward Tallahassee. You do the math.... Update 05/05/2018: The only news here affects Florida State, as Auburn has become the heavy favorite over the past three months (and Sheffield's high school teammate Jaylin Simpson recently committed to the War Eagles). Ohio State might be a hat on the table, but that's about the extent of the Buckeyes' involvement with this recruitment.
Jaylin Simpson (St. Simons Island GA Frederica Academy; 5'11" 165 lbs; #18 athlete; #228 overall)
Jaylin Simpson is a high school teammate of Jashawn Sheffield (see above) and there's a pretty good chance that he follows his buddy to Tallahassee. The crystal balls break down as follows: Florida State 44%; Ohio State 33%; Clemson 22%; with a 1% rounding error. For what it's worth, Simpson is generally being recruited as a cornerback but with his shiftiness he might be a good fit in Ohio State's H-back role. Update 04/30/2018: Simpson committed to Auburn.
NEW Steele Chambers (Roswell GA Blessed Trinity; 6'2" 215 lbs; #29 athlete; #323 overall)
On March 30th, Chambers made an unofficial visit to Ohio State with his parents. Three days later, the ever-cautious Bill Kurelic crystal balled him to Ohio State. Chambers quickly shut down his recruitment and committed to Ohio State on April 18th. Chambers is a great all-around athlete, but where does he play? Running back is one possibility, although the Buckeyes seem set at that position with 2018 signees Master Teague and Brian Snead, and 2019 verbal Sampson James. Safety is also a possibility, but at 215 pounds Chambers could quickly outgrow that position. So that leaves outside linebacker as his most likely role, in the mode of former Buckeye star Darron Lee.
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To follow is a plausible Ohio State recruiting class of 2019, based on current crystal ball projections (along with an occasional bit of inside information). This is not necessarily who I think will end up at Ohio State, and it is definitely not my "dream team".
QUARTERBACKS
Grant Tisdale (Allen TX; 6'1" 190 lbs; #11 dual threat; #344 overall)
Tisdale is the current front runner to be the Buckeyes' quarterback signee for the recruiting class of 2019. However, Tisdale is a dual threat quarterback (think J.T. Barrett) and Ohio State seems to be transitioning to a more traditional passing attack with Dwayne Haskins under center and Kevin Wilson and Ryan Day at the controls. At the present time, Tisdale is 100% crystal balled to Ohio State (3 predictions) but he might not be a good fit in Ohio State's new look offense. Update 04/06/2018 - As we suggested, Ohio State appears to be in the process of transitioning its offense to a more pass-oriented attack (see below), and Tisdale simply wasn't going to be a good fit. Tisdale saw the proverbial writing on the wall and committed to Ole Miss.
NEW Grant Gunnell (Houston TX St. Pius X; 6'6" 212 lbs; #3 pro-style quarterback; #96 overall)
Gunnel committed to Texas A+M all the way back on June 5, 2017. Then on February 13, 2018, Gunnell received an offer from Ohio State. A mere ten hours later, he de-committed from Texas A+M. Coincidence? I think not. Especially because Gunnell followed up the Buckeye offer with an unofficial visit (March 8th) and an official visit (April 28th). We should soon find out the results of those two trips to Columbus, but right now things are looking very good for Ohio State (54% of crystal balls and trending upward). In any event, Ohio State's pursuit of Gunnell is a strong indication that the Buckeyes are moving away from "dual threat" quarterbacks and toward "pro-style" quarterbacks who can stretch the field vertically.
RUNNING BACKS
Sampson James (Avon IN; 6'1" 205 lbs; #8 running back; #151 overall)
Sampson James just had a very good week. First, Urban Meyer made a visit to see Sampson (January 25th), which is a very good sign that Ohio State is very interested. Then Sampson received a huge bump in the 247 composite rankings, from the #18 running back to #8, and from the #229 overall prospect to #126. Although Ohio State will continue to pursue some other highly-rated running backs such as Noah Cain and Devyn Ford (see below), there is a very good chance that Sampson James will be a member of the Buckeyes' class of 2019. There are currently three crystal ball predictions for Sampson, and all are to Ohio State. Update 03/19/2018: Sampson became the third commitment for the Buckeyes' Class of 2019.
Noah Cain (Bradenton FL IMG Academy; 5'11" 200 lbs; #2 running back; #51 overall)
Blue chip running back Noah Cain is high on Ohio State's wish list, and Ohio State is high on Noah Cain's. With that being said, it's always difficult to land a five-star recruit, especially one from down south. Currently, Ohio State is the crystal ball leader with a thin 38% to 31% edge over Texas, and with Miami, Oklahoma, and Louisiana State also garnering some early predictions. When five teams each have some action, it really means that all the crystal balls are cloudy. Don't expect an early decision here. Update 05/05/2018: Ohio State remains in the running for Cain (14% crystal balls), but Texas (43% crystal balls) is the new apparent leader.
Devyn Ford (Stafford VA; 5'11" 185 lbs; #3 running back; #63 overall)
Devyn Ford is the third running back whom the Buckeyes are chasing early. At 185 pounds (and quite possibly less), Ford might be best suited for the Curtis Samuel role in Ohio State's offense. At the present time, the Buckeyes have no crystal balls in their favor, but Ohio State is listed as a "warmer" school in 247 Sport's data base along with Penn State (no crystal balls) and Virginia Tech (86% of crystal balls), with Clemson (14% of crystal balls), Oklahoma, and North Carolina also being in the mix. Update 05/05/2018: With the commitments of Sampson James and Steele Chambers, Devyn Ford dropped Ohio State from his list. His finalists are Penn State and Virginia Tech.
WIDE RECEIVERS
Theo Wease, Jr. (Allen TX; 6'2" 180 lbs; #4 wide receiver; #27 overall)
Theo Wease, Jr. is one of those five-star talents that the Buckeye staff will pursue right to the bitter end. Although Ohio State had some early momentum (27% of crystal balls), all of the recent action has been on Texas A+M (55% of crystal balls), with Oklahoma also getting some consideration (18% of crystal balls). The success (or lack thereof) of Ohio State's new look passing attack should be a major factor here, as will the (presumed) official visit. Update 04/13/2018: Wease committed to Oklahoma.
Garrett Wilson (Austin TX Lake Travis; 6'0" 178 lbs; #5 wide receiver; #29 overall)
Garrett Wilson is a high school teammate of 2018 Ohio State quarterback signee Matthew Baldwin, and he is also a native of Dublin, Ohio. Those two factors give Ohio State an early edge in what will likely be a difficult recruiting battle with the Texas Longhorns. The two schools have evenly split the ten current crystal balls, but Ohio State owns all of the most recent action. Wilson also has serious skills at cornerback. Update 04/29/2018: Wilson committed to Ohio State over Texas.
David Bell (Indianapolis IN Warren Central; 6'2" 185 lbs; #18 wide receiver; #104 overall)
The Hoosier State rarely produces top-100 talent and most of those top prospects end up leaving the state. That's good news for the Buckeyes, who are pursuing the top two prospects in Indiana in wide receiver David Bell and running back Sampson James (see above). Ohio State currently holds seven of the eight crystal balls, with Steve Wiltfong casting his lot with Michigan. A few other Big Ten schools (Iowa, Nebraska, Penn State) might also end up being players, but things look good for the scarlet and grey so far. Update 05/05/2018: Ohio State is still the crystal ball leader (60%), but Purdue is a surprising contender (40%) for Bell's services and rising fast.
Milton Wright (Louisville KY Christian Academy; 6'3" 190 lbs; #14 athlete; #146 overall)
Since the dynamic duo of Devin Smith and Michael Thomas led Ohio State to a national championship in 2014, the Buckeye coaching staff has been perpetually searching for the "next big thing" at wide receiver. Add Milton Wright to that ever-expanding list. Although listed as an "athlete" on 247 Sports, Wright will likely play wide receiver in college, and with a big frame and blazing speed he will likely succeed in that role. 247 Sports recruiting guru Steve Wiltfong just placed his crystal ball prediction on Ohio State, so you can probably put Milton Wright on commitment watch. Update 05/05/2018: Louisville (33% crystal balls) is making a push, but Ohio State (67% crystal balls) remains the leader here.
Jameson Williams (St. Louis MO Cardinal Ritter; 6'2" 160 lbs; #26 WR; #178 overall)
For the class of 2018, Ohio State signed two wide receivers from St. Louis (Kamryn Babb and Cameron Brown), so why not head back to the Gateway City for another one for the class of 2019? Four recent crystal balls have been cast for Jameson, and all four have him ending up at Ohio State. If things don't work out with the Buckeyes, then Sparty looks like a major player in this recruitment. Update 05/05/2018: Williams took an unofficial visit to Ohio State on April 8th, and the Buckeyes remain his firm leader (100% crystal balls).
Trey Knox (Mufreesoboro TN Blackman; 6'4" 190 lbs; #33 wide receiver; #193 overall)
Knox is a high school teammate of 2018 Ohio State running back signee Master Teague and the Buckeyes are Trey's dream team, and these two factors make Ohio State the early crystal ball frontrunner (83%). However, there are a lot of very talented wide receivers on Ohio State's early board so it remains to be seen how seriously the staff will pursue Knox. Home state school Tennessee is also in the mix (17% crystal balls) along with Clemson ("warmer" status) and Notre Dame (recent Junior Day visit). Update 05/05/2018: Knox took an unofficial visit to Ohio State on April 5th, and the Buckeyes remain at the top of his list (80% crystal balls), with home-state Tennessee still in the mix (20% crystal balls).
Lance Wilhoite (Nashville TN Franklin Road Academy; 6'2" 165 lbs; #15 wide receiver; #92 overall)
During the Great Tennessee Tire Fire of 2017, Ohio State swooped into Rocky Top territory and signed offensive tackle Max Wray and running back Master Teague for the Class of 2018 and made serious progress with several 2019 recruits including Lance Wilhoite. Although Lance is 100% crystal balled to Tennessee (four predictions so far), Ohio State is the only school listed as "warmer" on his 247 Sports profile. If the Volunteers can regain some stability in 2018, then Wilhoite will probably end up in Knoxville. If the tires continue to smolder, then Columbus will be a very strong possibility. Update 05/05/2018: There's really nothing new to report here, except that Florida State has entered the mix (33% crystal balls). Ohio State appears to be a long shot despite maintaining its "warmer" status.
NEW Zion Puckett (Griffin GA Spalding; 6'1" 190 lbs; #36 wide receiver; #227 overall)
Add Zion Puckett's name to the growing list of wide receiver prospects being pursued by Ohio State. The Buckeyes definitely needs to restock the wide receiver position, as the team could lose as many as six receivers to the 2019 NFL draft. Puckett made a three-day visit to Ohio State surrounding the Spring Game, and by all accounts he came away very impressed, so Zion could end up in the mix. Right now, Puckett claims no favorites and has no crystal ball predictions.
NEW Marcus Washington (St. Louis MO Trinity; 6'2" 193 lbs; #9 wide receiver; #58 overall)
After landing top wide receiver target Garrett Wilson, the Buckeye staff has now turned their Zone 6 efforts to Marcus Washington. This St. Louis native has already made three unofficial visits to Ohio State and the Buckeyes have the lone crystal ball in their favor (with another crystal ball reading "cloudy"). Washington plans to announce on August 7th (his birthday), so expect his recruitment to heat up a lot in the upcoming weeks.
NEW Craig Young (Ft. Wayne IN Wayne; 6'5" 200 lbs; #95 wide receiver; #721 overall)
Young was offered by Ohio State on January 29th, and after making two unofficial visits to Columbus in April he named the Buckeyes his leader. The crystal balls reflect that fact, with the two most recent going in Ohio State's direction (40% overall). The question is this: Is Young a "take" at this relatively early stage of the game? Young has the size you can't teach, but he is a raw prospect right now (hence the low ranking on the 247 composite). The Buckeyes have taken some reaches at wide receiver in recent years (Chris Olave in 2018, Elijah Gardiner in 2017), but those guys got offered very late in the process.
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN
Doug Nester (Huntington WV Spring Valley; 6'6" 290 lbs; #9 offensive tackle; #55 overall)
Doug Nester was the Buckeyes' first verbal commitment for the class of 2019 and he fills one of the team's few positions of need. Nester is just the second top-100 recruit (247 Composite) to hail from the State of West Virginia since wide receiver Brandon Barrett in the class of 2004.
Darnell Wright (Huntington WV Huntington; 6'6" 275 lbs; #1 offensive tackle; #2 overall)
The only other top-100 recruit (247 Composite) from West Virginia since 2004 is Doug Nester's fellow Huntington offensive tackle, Darnell Wright. In addition, Wright is the only five-star recruit from the Mountaineer State in the history of the 247 Composite that goes back to the year 2000. All five current crystal balls have Wright signing with Ohio State, although Alabama will probably be a player as well. Update 05/05/2018: To be quite honest, this one is trending away from Ohio State. Recent crystal balls have been cast in favor of Alabama and Tennessee. If a kid identifies with southern schools, he likely will not end up at Ohio State.
Devontae Dobbs (Belleville MI; 6'4" 270 lbs; #3 offensive tackle; #10 overall)
Devontae Dobbs is the top offensive tackle in the country, and at this early stage all of the crystal ball action is on Michigan State (91%, with 9% cloudy). Although the home state school is currently the overwhelming favorite, the reality is this - Michigan State rarely signs five-star recruits, home state or not. In fact, Michigan State has signed only four five-star recruits in the 20-year history of the 247 Composite, and the Spartans will have a difficult time landing Dobbs once the powerhouse programs start turning up the heat. And the current turmoil in East Lansing will not help Sparty's cause. The usual suspects - Ohio State, Alabama, and Clemson - will all make Dobbs a top priority. Update 05/05/2018: Michigan State remains the prohibitive favorite (85% crystal balls), but Ohio State has the most recent crystal prediction in its favor. The longer this goes on, the less likely Dobbs ends up committing to Sparty, which is obviously good news for the Buckeyes.
Ryan Jacoby (Mentor OH; 6'5" 265 lbs; #30 offensive tackle; #282 overall)
Ryan Jacoby is a "sleeper" prospect at this early stage. He is a four-star according to 247 Sports (#30 offensive tackle, #234 overall, #8 in Ohio), but just a three-star according to Rivals (unranked at offensive tackle and overall, #21 in Ohio). All eleven crystal balls are currently on Ohio State, and Jacoby openly admits that Ohio State is at the top of his short list (a list that probably has just one school on it). If Jacoby has an OFFER, then he's in this class. Update 03/01/2018: Jacoby became the second commitment in Ohio State's Class of 2019.
Michael Tarquin (Belleview FL; 6'5" 290 lbs; #27 offensive tackle; #273 overall)
With Doug Nester in the fold, Darnell Wright on the cusp, Ryan Jacoby being a local kid, and Devontae Dobbs worth chasing until Signing Day, Michael Tarquin might end up being the odd man out in the class of 2019. Right now, the Buckeyes are the favorite to land Tarquin (56% of the crystal balls), with Oklahoma ("warmer" status, recent Junior Day, recent in-home, but no crystal balls) being the other top choice. 04/21/2018: Tarquin stayed in-state and committed to Miami.
Xavier Truss (Warwick RI Bishop Hendricken; 6'7" 325 lbs; #14 offensive tackle; #103 overall)
Xavier Truss is a perfect example of Rivals southern bias. While 247 Sports has Truss as a four-star prospect, the #10 offensive tackle, and the #63 recruit overall, Rivals has the kid un-starred and un-ranked. Needless to say, Rivals is way out of line, as Penn State, Ohio State, Michigan, and Oklahoma are all in hot pursuit of this massive tackle prospect. Since January 5th, Penn State has gained nine crystal balls and they are the unanimous favorite, which probably means that this recruiting battle will be over rather soon. Update 05/05/2018: Truss recently made the rounds of Big Ten schools for some unofficial visits - Michigan (April 14th), Ohio State (April 16th), and Penn State (April 21st). At this point, there is nothing to suggest that Ohio State is a legitimate contender, and Penn State has all the crystal balls in its favor (14 predictions).
Harry Miller (Buford GA; 6'4 310 lbs; #2 offensive center; #35 overall)
Here's a new name that you need to know - Harry Miller, a huge offensive lineman from the State of Georgia. Although Miller is listed as a tackle prospect, with his size he might be better suited for the interior of the offensive line. Miller made an unofficial visit to Ohio State during the MLK long weekend (January 13th-15th), and since that visit Ohio State has garnered three crystal balls, including one from a UGa insider. Update 05/05/2018: Miller recently made visits to his top two schools - Stanford (unofficial, April 7th) and Ohio State (official, April 13th). Ohio State remains the unanimous crystal ball choice (14 predictions). I still think that Ohio State will be Miller's eventual spot, but if Stanford resonates with a kid it's hard to dissuade him from heading out there. One thing to note: Miller has been reclassified from tackle to center in the 247 data base, and that's probably where he'll play in college.
Zeke Correll (Cincinnati OH Anderson; 6'3" 270 lbs; #9 offensive guard; #164 overall)
Zeke Corell is one of the few interior offensive linemen that Ohio State is pursuing in the class of 2019. The Buckeyes currently have 88% of the crystal balls in their favor, and if the staff pushes for Correll they should get a commitment from him. If there is no room at the Buckeye Inn, then Notre Dame (the remaining 12% of crystal balls), Kentucky (family ties), Michigan State, and Penn State should be strong contenders for his services. Update 05/05/2018: In the past week, the crystal balls on Correll have shifted dramatically, from 83% in favor of Ohio State to 60% in favor of Notre Dame. It's probably time to put The Irish on commitment watch.
NEW Jonathan Allen (Dayton OH Dunbar; 6'6" 320 lbs; #43 offensive tackle; #461 overall)
Allen is currently a 3-star prospect, but he is quickly rising up the recruiting rankings due to his elite athleticism for a guy his size. Back in December, Allen earned offers from Wisconsin and Michigan State - two programs that know a little something about developing offensive linemen. Ohio State recently jumped into the fray with an offer, and the Buckeyes quickly picked up seven crystal balls (100%) in their favor. Allen is making an unofficial visit to Columbus this weekend, so put his on commitment watch.
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN
Zach Harrison (Lewis Center OH Olentangy; 6'5" 225 lbs; #2 weakside defensive end; #3 overall)
I've followed recruiting since the class of 1984, Chris Spielman's recruiting class. In fact, I began following recruiting because of Chris Spielman, the definition of a "can't miss" prospect - All American, national player of the year, Wheaties box, etc. Since 1984, there have been only a handful of "can't miss" prospects from Ohio - Robert Smith, Orlando Pace, Charles Woodson, Andy Katzenmoyer, Ted Ginn, Beanie Wells. It looks like defensive end Zach Harrison is the next "can't miss" prospect to hail from the Buckeye State. Harrison is a consensus 5-star prospect who already looks NFL ready. Ohio State is the early leader with all nine crystal balls going the Buckeyes' way so far. Update 05/05/2018: Ohio State is still the 100% crystal ball choice (12 predictions), but there is some chatter that Penn State has entered the mix.
Noah Potter (Mentor OH; 6'5" 250 lbs; #20 strongside defensive end; #271 overall)
Like his high school teammate Ryan Jacoby (see above), Noah Potter is all Buckeye. Right now, Ohio State has all fourteen crystal balls going its way and that's not likely to change any time soon. If Potter has an OFFER, then he's in this class. If not, then Penn State is probably a distant second on Potter's list of schools. Update 04/16/2018: Potter committed to Ohio State.
Ani Izuchukwu (Nashville TN Davidson Academy; 6'4" 230 lbs; #14 weakside end; #2128overall)
Ani Izuchukwu is another kid from Tennessee who is apparently avoiding the Knoxville Tire Fire and giving the Buckeyes a serious look. Alabama owns the lone crystal ball (from way back in June of 2017), and the Tide just received an unofficial visit from Izuchukwu on February 3rd. Izuchukwu has already been to Ohio State at least twice (FNL, Maryland game), and the Buckeyes will be very much in the mix if the staff makes a push for his services. And they very well might, as there has not been much buzz at the defensive end position so far in the class of 2019. Update 04/11/2018: Izuchukwu committed to Mississippi State over Alabama and Ohio State. Hmmm.....
Brandon Smith (Mineral VA Louisa County; 6'5" 215 lbs; #2 inside linebacker; #28 overall)
Brandon Smith is a recruit whom the Buckeyes will chase until the bitter end, and they are definitely in chase mode right now. Penn State is the clear leader with 80% of the crystal balls, with Florida State earning the remaining 20% of the predictions. Ohio State (unofficial visit for Maryland game) is still in the mix, along with Notre Dame, Alabama, and just about everybody else in the country. One to watch, but not to get excited about at this point. Update 05/05/2018: Smith made an unofficial visit to Ohio State on April 6th, but at this point the Buckeyes remain one of the many schools chasing Penn State (80% crystal balls).
NEW: Marcus Hicks (Wichita KS Northwest; 6'5" 238 lbs; #20 weakside defensive end; #259 overall)
Marcus Hicks has been on the Buckeyes' radar for quite some time, but until recently there hasn't been a lot of mutual interest. Then on March 22nd, Hicks made a stop at Ohio State as part of a midwest tour (also Michigan and Nebraska). Currently, all five crystal balls are on Oklahoma, but Ohio State is in Hicks's top five and the Buckeyes should receive an official visit this fall.
Jowon Briggs (Cincinnati OH Walnut Hills; 6'3" 275 lbs; #4 defensive tackle; #72 overall)
Jowon Briggs appears to be the Buckeyes' top target at defensive tackle for the class of 2019, but Notre Dame is the early front runner (80% of crystal balls, including all of the most recent). It's still very early, of course, and if the Irish lose steam then Ohio State (20% of crystal balls), Michigan, Michigan State, Penn State, and Alabama will be in hot pursuit. Update 05/05/2018: Basically no change here, as Ohio State (25% crystal balls) still trails Notre Dame (75% crystal balls).
Tyler Davis (Apopka FL Wekiva; 6'2" 261 lbs; #10 defensive tackle; #165 overall)
A name that you probably haven't heard much of is Tyler Davis, a defensive tackle prospect from Florida. Davis has already made two unofficial visits to Ohio State (FNL, MSU game) and his lone crystal ball (from December of 2017) is on Ohio State. Florida is also a school of interest, and Miami recently entered the ring with an offer (January 18th). With Ohio State having made very few defensive tackle offers to date, Davis might have a real shot to end up in the Buckeyes' class of 2019. Update 05/05/2018: Since the original post, Davis has made another unofficial visit to Ohio State, and received three more crystal balls, one each for Ohio State, Florida, and Florida State. Ohio State's probably still the leader, if the staff is genuinely interested....
LINEBACKERS
Cade Stover (Mansfield OH Lexington; 6'4" 215 lbs; #8 outside linebacker; #130 overall)
I'm actually kind of surprised that Cade Stover hasn't committed to Ohio State yet (and in fact he may very be a longtime silent verbal). Stover is at the top of the Buckeyes' wish list and I fully expect him to be part of Ohio State's class of 2019. Thirteen crystal balls have been cast, and all of them are in favor of Ohio State. It's only a matter of time.... Update 04/29/2018: As long expected, Stover committed to Ohio State.
Kane Patterson (Nashville TN Christ Presbyterian Academy; 6'1" 212 lbs; #15 outside linebacker; #194 overall)
Kane Patterson is a fast-rising prospect from a small school (about a hundred kids per class) who has received four major offers in the past two weeks (Ohio State, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Missouri). Although Kane's 247 Composite rankings are rather low, 247 Sport's own rankings place him as the #7 outside linebacker and #105 overall prospect in the country. If Patterson can somehow maintain his sleeper status for the next eleven months, then Ohio State looks to be in a good position to sign him. If as expected his recruitment continues to blow up, then a lot of southern schools will undoubtedly get involved. This could be one of the more interesting recruiting battles for the class of 2019. Update: 05/05/2018: Patterson made a two-day unofficial visit with his entire family to Ohio State at the end of March (always a good sign), and the Buckeyes look like they are in good position to get an official visit this fall.
Lance Dixon (West Bloomfield MI; 6'2" 195 lbs; #21 outside linebacker; #329 overall)
This looks to be a classic Big Ten East battle, with Michigan State (83% of crystal balls), Michigan (17% of crystal balls), Ohio State, and Penn State all being early favorites. Urban Meyer just made a visit to West Bloomfield (January 31st) and personally delivered an offer, so the Buckeyes are definitely interested. All of the crystal ball action occurred before the Buckeyes became involved, so it will be interesting to see if we get any "flips" to Ohio State in the upcoming weeks. Update 05/05/2018: Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State, and Penn State continue to be the favorites, with Sparty probably being the leader.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
Daxton Hill (Tulsa OK Booker T. Washington; 6'1" 190 lbs; #2 safety; #33 overall)
Ohio State snagged a top-100 safety prospect from the State of Oklahoma in 2018 (Josh Proctor), and can they do it again in 2019? Normally, five-star prospects from Oklahoma end up signing with the Sooners, the Cowboys, or maybe the Longhorns, but the Buckeyes are a real player here. The OSU and the other OSU each own one crystal ball. The good news is that the Buckeyes' crystal ball was cast more recently (January 22nd) by the ultra-accurate (and BP alum) Greg Powers. There's obviously a long way to go, but Ohio State is in a very good position early on. Update 05/05/2018: Ohio State made Hill's top six, along with Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Clemson, Alabama, and Michigan. Don't hold your breath, Buckeye fans.
Lewis Cine (Everett MA; 6'2" 180 lbs; #3 safety; #41 overall)
Because Ohio State is #DBU, the Buckeyes will always get a look from top defensive back prospects. Lewis Cine is one of those guys. Right now, Ohio State is high on Cine's list, but Penn State (89% of crystal balls) is the prohibitive favorite with Michigan also hanging around (11% of crystal balls). Probably not much to see here for Buckeye fans. Update 05/05/2018: Nothing new to report here, as Penn State is still the favorite and Ohio State is just hanging around.
Jaylen McCollough (Powder Springs GA Hillgrove; 6'1" 190 lbs; #4 safety; #101 overall)
Jaylen McCollough has Ohio State in his top-6, but that's largely just for show. Florida State owns all the early crystal balls (58%), while Alabama has all the most recent ones (42%). Unless something changes over the next few months (like a Spring Game visit), this recruiting battle is probably over so far as Ohio State is concerned. Update 05/05/2018: McCollough was supposed to make an unofficial visit to Ohio State on March 31st ... but he canceled. He was supposed to re-schedule for the Spring Game ... but he didn't. Ohio State is in his top five ... along with four SEC schools. You can see where this recruitment is trending.
Cam'Ron Kelly (Chesapeake VA Oscar Smith; 6'1" 190 lbs; #15 athlete; #159 overall)
There's not a lot of recruiting buzz concerning Cam'Ron Kelly, and there have been just two crystal balls cast for him, one going to Clemson and the other going to Virginia. But Kelly is obviously interested in Ohio State, as he made an unofficial visit for the Penn State game (October 28th) and followed that up with another trip to Columbus this weekend (February 3rd). The Buckeyes like recruiting cornerbacks with size, so keep an eye on this kid going forward. Update 05/05/2018: Ohio State made Kelly's top eight, but Penn State has all 16 crystal balls in its favor. This one is just about over.
Marlin "MJ" Devonshire (Aliquippa PA; 5'11" 170 lbs; #37 cornerback; #406 overall)
MJ Devonshire does not possess ideal size for a cornerback and he's just a three-star prospect, so it's difficult to say whether he has an Ohio State offer or OFFER. The Buckeyes have some interest to be sure, and Devonshire made an unofficial visit to Ohio State in November. All three crystal balls are currently on West Virginia, and the Mountaineers will be in good shape if the Buckeyes slow play this recruit. Update 05/05/2018: Devonshire remains interested in Ohio State (25% crystal balls), but West Virginia (75% crystal balls) might be a better landing spot for this slightly undersized 3-star cornerback prospect.
NEW Bryson Shaw (Potomac MD Bullis School; 6'2" 175 lbs; #39 safety; #554 overall)
On January 27th, Shaw committed to Wisconsin after an unofficial visit to Madison. A week later, Ohio State offered. Then on April 28th, seemingly out of nowhere, Shaw de-committed from Wisconsin and immediately committed to Ohio State. Shaw has supposedly closed his recruitment.
NEW Nick Cross (Hyattsville MD DeMatha; 6'1" 203 lbs; #6 safety; #122 overall)
Safety Nick Cross made a two-day unofficial visit to Ohio State at the beginning of April, and the Buckeye crystal balls immediately began to roll in. Since that time, however, Ohio State has accepted commitments from Ronnie Hickman, Steele Chambers, and Bryson Shaw, each of whom could wind up at safety for the Buckeyes. And of course the staff will continue to chase 5-star safety prospect Daxton Hill until the bitter end. So where does this leave Nick Cross? Cloudy....
NEW Jordan Battle (Fort Lauderdale FL St. Thomas Aquinas; 6'1" 187 lbs; #10 safety; #173 overall)
Like Nick Cross, Battle is looking for a spot in the Buckeye secondary, but will there be any room? Battle has named Ohio State his favorite and all twelve crystal balls are on the Buckeyes, but the staff has already accepted verbals from three prospects who could project at safeties at the college level (Ronnie Hickman, Steele Chambers, Bryson Shaw). Jordan is supposed to take an official visit to Columbus in early June. If that visit happens, then put him on commitment watch.
NEW John Dixon (Tampa FL Wharton; 5'11" 170 lbs; #33 safety; #368 overall)
The Buckeyes already have one John Dixon from the state of Florida, so why not sign another one? This John Dixon, a cornerback, has Ohio State in his final five along with Alabama, Miami, Penn State, and South Carolina. Dixon is supposed to make an unofficial visit to Columbus in early June and a decision shortly thereafter. No crystal balls yet (except one old prediction for Florida, who has apparently been eliminated).
ATHLETES
Ronnie Hickman (Wayne NJ DePaul; 6'1" 209 lbs; #11 athlete; #120 overall)
Ronnie "The Rocket" Hickman is a true two-way player who may end up as a wide receiver or defensive back in college. At 209 pounds and likely still growing, I'll put my money on "safety". Hickman made an unofficial visit to Ohio State over the weekend (February 3rd), which was at least his fourth trip to Columbus. That's a very good sign. It's also a very good sign that four recruiting experts have cast crystal ball predictions for Hickman, and all four have him ending up at Ohio State. Penn State will also be a serious player, with Michigan and Notre Dame also somewhere in the mix. Update 04/13/2018: Hickman committed to Ohio State. Now the only question that remains is where does this great athlete play. I'll still put my money on "safety".
Jashawn Sheffield (St. Simons Island GA Frederica Academy; 6'1" 178 lbs; #12 athlete; #134 overall)
When you are Ohio State, you get mentioned in just about every top-whatever recruit's top-whatever list. Jashawn Sheffield is no exception to that rule. Ohio State will get some love, some positive tweets, and probably a visit or two, but Florida State is Sheffield's "dream school" and all fifteen crystal balls are pointing toward Tallahassee. You do the math.... Update 05/05/2018: The only news here affects Florida State, as Auburn has become the heavy favorite over the past three months (and Sheffield's high school teammate Jaylin Simpson recently committed to the War Eagles). Ohio State might be a hat on the table, but that's about the extent of the Buckeyes' involvement with this recruitment.
Jaylin Simpson (St. Simons Island GA Frederica Academy; 5'11" 165 lbs; #18 athlete; #228 overall)
Jaylin Simpson is a high school teammate of Jashawn Sheffield (see above) and there's a pretty good chance that he follows his buddy to Tallahassee. The crystal balls break down as follows: Florida State 44%; Ohio State 33%; Clemson 22%; with a 1% rounding error. For what it's worth, Simpson is generally being recruited as a cornerback but with his shiftiness he might be a good fit in Ohio State's H-back role. Update 04/30/2018: Simpson committed to Auburn.
NEW Steele Chambers (Roswell GA Blessed Trinity; 6'2" 215 lbs; #29 athlete; #323 overall)
On March 30th, Chambers made an unofficial visit to Ohio State with his parents. Three days later, the ever-cautious Bill Kurelic crystal balled him to Ohio State. Chambers quickly shut down his recruitment and committed to Ohio State on April 18th. Chambers is a great all-around athlete, but where does he play? Running back is one possibility, although the Buckeyes seem set at that position with 2018 signees Master Teague and Brian Snead, and 2019 verbal Sampson James. Safety is also a possibility, but at 215 pounds Chambers could quickly outgrow that position. So that leaves outside linebacker as his most likely role, in the mode of former Buckeye star Darron Lee.
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To follow is a plausible Ohio State recruiting class of 2019, based on current crystal ball projections (along with an occasional bit of inside information). This is not necessarily who I think will end up at Ohio State, and it is definitely not my "dream team".
| Prospect's Name | Prospect's Hometown | Position | 247 Rate | 247 Rank | 247 Score | Ohio St CB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Darnell Wright | Huntington, West Virginia | OT | 5* | #2 | .9980 | 71% |
| Zach Harrison | Lewis Center, Ohio | WDE | 5* | #3 | .9979 | 100% |
| Garrett Wilson | Austin, Texas | WR | 5* | #29 | .9861 | verbal |
| Harry Miller | Buford, Georgia | OC | 4* | #35 | .9825 | 100% |
| Doug Nester | Huntington, West Virginia | OT | 4* | #55 | .9675 | verbal |
| Marcus Washington | St. Louis, Missouri | WR | 4* | #58 | .9670 | 50% |
| Grant Gunnell | Houston, Texas | QB | 4* | #96 | .9573 | 54% |
| David Bell | Indianapolis, Indiana | WR | 4* | #104 | .9546 | 60% |
| Ronnie Hickman | Wayne, New Jersey | ATH | 4* | #120 | .9470 | verbal |
| Cade Stover | Mansfield, Ohio | OLB | 4* | #130 | .9447 | verbal |
| Milton Wright | Louisville, Kentucky | ATH | 4* | #146 | .9377 | 67% |
| Sampson James | Avon, Indiana | RB | 4* | #151 | .9360 | verbal |
| Zeke Correll | Cincinnati, Ohio | OG | 4* | #164 | .9311 | 40% |
| Jordan Battle | Ft. Lauderdale, Florida | DB | 4* | #173 | .9288 | 100% |
| Jameson Williams | St. Louis, Missouri | WR | 4* | #178 | .9277 | 100% |
| Trey Knox | Murfreesboro, Tennessee | WR | 4* | #193 | .9239 | 80% |
| Kane Patterson | Nashville, Tennessee | OLB | 4* | #194 | .9230 | No CBs |
| Noah Potter | Mentor, Ohio | SDE | 4* | #271 | .9048 | verbal |
| Ryan Jacoby | Mentor, Ohio | OT | 4* | #282 | .9031 | verbal |
| Steele Chambers | Roswell, Georgia | ATH | 4* | #323 | .8954 | verbal |
| Jonathan Allen | Dayton, Ohio | OT | 3* | #461 | .8789 | 100% |
| Bryson Shaw | Potomac, Maryland | DB | 3* | #554 | .8700 | verbal |
| Craig Young | Ft. Wayne, Indiana | WR | 3* | #721 | .8577 | 40% |
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