The Ohio State-Cincinnati night game is going to host some of the top prospects from across the nation. We've got you covered with the talent that is attending.
Baker and Gibson Check In
Over a dozen recruits will be in attendance for the Cincinnati game on Sept 27; let's start with the two guests of honor, Jerome Baker and Torrance Gibson.
Florida commit Jerome Baker is taking an unofficial visit this weekend, with plans of a later official visit. Even with the visit, Baker reiterated that his commitment status is unchanged.
"I am taking this visit and just enjoying this process," Baker told Eleven Warriors. "I am going to Florida, but you never know what life throws at you sometimes. But I am all Florida."
I don't think Baker is going to flip unless there is a coaching change at Florida, but the odds that Will Muschamp makes it to next season are getting worse as his situation deteriorates. Needless to say, instability benefits the Buckeyes in this race.
The other big headliner this weekend is Torrance Gibson, making an official visit fresh off an Eleven Dubcast appearance. Gibson said the Buckeyes were his current leader in July, and that's still the case. For Gibson, a night game at Ohio Stadium is alluring.
"I am excited to check out the game atmosphere at Ohio State!" Gibson told 11W. "I've got to see everything else there, so I am excited to check out the game."
From the team's perspective, this weekend's goal is to pad the lead they have on everyone else recruiting Gibson. There won't be a commitment this weekend (Gibson has said he will not make a commitment until after he takes the SAT), but that doesn't mean the Buckeyes can't make an impression.
Other 2015 visitors taking official visits include wide receiver K.J. Hill (committed to Arkansas) and Kendall Sheffield, a five-star cornerback from Texas. Sheffield and Hill are long shots for Ohio State, but if the staff misses on Lawrence Cager and can impress Hill, at least one visit could bear fruit.
2016 Recruits Abound
There are far more class of 2016 visitors than 2015 visitors for the Cincinnati game. Two of the most important recruits are from southwest Ohio, Tommy Kraemer of Elder and Jake Hausmann of Archbishop Moeller.
"I cannot wait to get back," Kraemer said. "It is going to be good getting back to Ohio State." The visit is good timing for Ohio State, as it gives the Buckeyes a chance to impress Kraemer before he goes to Notre Dame's home game against Stanford.
Hausmann has been considered an Ohio State lean but a recent unofficial visit to South Bend really impressed him. Notre Dame is becoming more and more of a player for the four-star tight end, making this visit to Columbus a crucial opportunity for the Buckeyes to rebuild the steam they had earlier in his recruitment.
Dwayne Haskins is visiting this weekend and he is the top pro-style quarterback on the list for the Buckeyes. OSU coaches visited Haskins last Friday, making this back-to-back weekends of contact. Haskins has stated before that Ohio State is on top, although a commitment is not likely as he wants to decide after the season.
Two Indiana prospects, Austin Mack and Auston Robertson, will be in attendance as well. Robertson has Ohio State on top, while many believe Mack's recruitment is a two-horse race between Ohio State and Notre Dame. Mack and Robertson previously visited Columbus on Sept 13 for the Kent State game.
Rounding out the list of 2016 visits are two Ohioans, Jonathon Cooper of Gahanna Lincoln and DeMario McCall of North Ridgeville. Each has made several visits to campus, and each has Ohio State on top. While it would be unlikely, I would not be surprised by a weekend commitment from either of them.
