Matt Tamanini
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Five-star wide receiver to pick between Ohio State and three Florida schools this month
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
247Sports
The Buckeyes are not expected to earn Vernon Brown III’s commitment, but don’t count out Brian Hartline.
Believe it or not, the 2025 recruiting cycle has a bit of a down for Brian Hartline. There are three wide receivers currently committed to the Buckeyes, and despite one bright spot, on the whole, the class is not up to the normal standards that the position coach has been turning out in recent seasons. Quincy Porter is the top-ranked WR in the class right now at No. 45 nationally according to 247Sports’ Composite Rankings. The next receiver currently in the class is De’zie Jones at No. 289 nationally, and the third and final player in Hartline’s haul is Bodpegn Miller, an in-state player currently rated as a three-star prospect at No. 591 nationally.
Now, you are not going to read me criticizing Hartline, because there is literally no better at what he does in the country. However, it is noticeable that he has not been locking down the best of the best this season. Perhaps that has to do with the logjam of top, young WR talent already in Columbus, or perhaps the talent nationally at the wide receiver position is not as high as it has been in recent years.
No matter what the reason, Hartline and the Buckeyes will have a chance to improve upon their current holdings on July 21 when five-star Orlando native Vernell Brown III will announce his college choice. The Buckeyes are among four finalists, joining Brown’s in-state schools, Florida, Miami, and Florida State.
Brown is a 5-foot-11, 170-pound receiver who plays for Jones High School in Orlando (about 20 miles from where I live). He is currently ranked as the No. 25 player nationally according to 247Sports Composite Rankings. Brown is the No. 6-rated receiver in the country and the No. 5 player from the state of Florida.
Brown opened the official visit season at the end of May and beginning of June in Columbus, and followed that up with trips to Coral Gables, Gainesville, and Tallahassee. Being the first OV isn’t always a good sign, and it looks like it might be difficult for the Buckeyes to earn the commitment in a week and a half.
Despite the fact that 247Sports’ former director of recruiting Steve Wiltfong logged a crystal ball in favor of Ohio State in March, before departing for On3, three subsequent predictions since June have gone in favor of the Gators. To emphasize that point, 247Sports’ national recruiting analyst Tom Loy entered his UF prediction on Tuesday.
Not to pile on, but On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine gives the Florida Gators an 87.8% chance to earn Brown’s commitment. The Buckeyes are in second at 9.2%. While the odds appear to be stacked against the Buckeyes at this point, I would never count Brian Hartline out, especially when there are still nearly two full weeks to sway him from playing in The Swamp.
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Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
247Sports
The Buckeyes are not expected to earn Vernon Brown III’s commitment, but don’t count out Brian Hartline.
Believe it or not, the 2025 recruiting cycle has a bit of a down for Brian Hartline. There are three wide receivers currently committed to the Buckeyes, and despite one bright spot, on the whole, the class is not up to the normal standards that the position coach has been turning out in recent seasons. Quincy Porter is the top-ranked WR in the class right now at No. 45 nationally according to 247Sports’ Composite Rankings. The next receiver currently in the class is De’zie Jones at No. 289 nationally, and the third and final player in Hartline’s haul is Bodpegn Miller, an in-state player currently rated as a three-star prospect at No. 591 nationally.
Now, you are not going to read me criticizing Hartline, because there is literally no better at what he does in the country. However, it is noticeable that he has not been locking down the best of the best this season. Perhaps that has to do with the logjam of top, young WR talent already in Columbus, or perhaps the talent nationally at the wide receiver position is not as high as it has been in recent years.
No matter what the reason, Hartline and the Buckeyes will have a chance to improve upon their current holdings on July 21 when five-star Orlando native Vernell Brown III will announce his college choice. The Buckeyes are among four finalists, joining Brown’s in-state schools, Florida, Miami, and Florida State.
Brown is a 5-foot-11, 170-pound receiver who plays for Jones High School in Orlando (about 20 miles from where I live). He is currently ranked as the No. 25 player nationally according to 247Sports Composite Rankings. Brown is the No. 6-rated receiver in the country and the No. 5 player from the state of Florida.
Brown opened the official visit season at the end of May and beginning of June in Columbus, and followed that up with trips to Coral Gables, Gainesville, and Tallahassee. Being the first OV isn’t always a good sign, and it looks like it might be difficult for the Buckeyes to earn the commitment in a week and a half.
Despite the fact that 247Sports’ former director of recruiting Steve Wiltfong logged a crystal ball in favor of Ohio State in March, before departing for On3, three subsequent predictions since June have gone in favor of the Gators. To emphasize that point, 247Sports’ national recruiting analyst Tom Loy entered his UF prediction on Tuesday.
Not to pile on, but On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine gives the Florida Gators an 87.8% chance to earn Brown’s commitment. The Buckeyes are in second at 9.2%. While the odds appear to be stacked against the Buckeyes at this point, I would never count Brian Hartline out, especially when there are still nearly two full weeks to sway him from playing in The Swamp.
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