Akron Rick
Heisman
1.Ohio State
2.Stanford
3.Stielacoom C.C.
4.Ford Sports Performance (work study program)
2.Stanford
3.Stielacoom C.C.
4.Ford Sports Performance (work study program)
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No Stanford is huge
Andrew Ellis at 11W suggested a few days ago that Stanford made a surge, so it’s good news that they were not included.I didn't know they were considered a serious contender in his recruitment. I assumed the main threats were Clemson and UW
It’s not at all a surprise to see those four programs on his list. Ohio State has done probably the best job of creating early, sustainable relationships with him via Brian Hartline and Ryan Day each making in-person visits to him during his sophomore year. That early relationship getting built was one of the driving forces in the Buckeyes firmly getting their foot in the door. And the other three programs have made solid inroads with Egbuka over the last year.
What is surprising, however, is that Stanford has been dropped from his list of contenders. Other than the Buckeyes being on the list themselves, of course, that is the most noteworthy takeaway from the list being dropped – since we were very confident the other three would be on that list.
Academics are of extremely vital importance for both Egbuka – a near 4.0 GPA student at Steilacoom – and his parents, who both hold Master's degrees. Stanford looked to be a rising contender in Egbuka’s recruitment, but it seems as if the Cardinal will now have to bow out of the race.
Going forward, from an Ohio State perspective, getting Egbuka and his father on campus is of utmost importance. I don’t believe a commitment is around the corner, despite the heavy amount of Crystal Ball predictions for Egbuka to join the Buckeyes, until he gets back on campus for the first time since October, when Egbuka made the visit to Columbus with his mother.
As for the academic recruiting pitch, Ohio State might be approaching Egbuka’s recruitment in a similar vein as it did with Tunmise Adeleye.
In April, Adeleye told Eleven Warriors the following: “Emeka’s half-Nigerian. I know Emeka, just the Nigerian connection we have, once my dad starts talking with his dad, it’s gonna be set. … Nigerians are very academic-oriented people. His dad, I already know how his dad’s looking at the recruiting process. It’s the same way my dad was. He wants to know that I’m gonna be set up in the best possible situation academically. Whatever I wanna study, I can study. Whatever I wanna achieve, I can achieve.
“He wanted to know that there’s an alumni base that can back me once I’m out of college. Ohio State checks all those boxes. He knew that what they can bring to me and off the field was elite. So he was all in on the decision. So I know that once he sits down with Emeka’s dad and really talks with him and they form that kind of friendship, I know it’s a done deal.”
As we’ve said plenty of times in the past, one of Ohio State’s biggest recruiting tools is peer-to-peer recruiting. Perhaps, in this case, parent-to-parent recruiting could be a factor. Adeleye seems to feel pretty confident that could be the case.
“He’s already been to Ohio State once. He likes it,” Adeleye said. “But it’s really gonna be up to how his dad feels about it. I’m gonna let it play out and see where he wants to take things. It’s not my recruitment. It’s his recruitment. He’s entitled to do whatever he wants. I just know that once my dad sits down with his dad, if they get the opportunity, it’s a done deal.”
Andrew Ellis at 11W suggested a few days ago that Stanford made a surge, so it’s good news that they were not included.
The Bank has also flat out said that UW has been eliminated and that Clemson has made Stellato a higher priority than Egbuka.
Finally, Kurelic has said that he believes Oklahoma is now the biggest threat.
Seems like it’s a recruitment where it’s always Ohio State and a rotating cast of teams vying for second place.