It's been almost two weeks since Ohio State heard the bad news that Cleveland St. Ignatius offensive lineman Liam Eichenberg was committing to Notre Dame. Eichenberg was a player that the Buckeyes had hoped to land for some time, and he could have been the final piece in a three-man offensive line class for 2016, joining a pair of Ohioans in Tyler Gerald and Jack Wohlabaugh.
After missing out on Eichenberg – and Ohio's top-ranked 2016 prospect Tommy Kraemer before him – the Buckeyes are forced to examine all other potential options at offensive tackle. Even after landing a handful of players at the position last year, they'd like to land at least one, and maybe two, players this year.
There are a few out-of-state targets that we've discussed at length, players who could potentially end up rounding out the class. Those players, like Plymouth, Michigan's Michael Jordan, Traverse City, Michigan's Thiyo Lukusa and Washington, D.C.'s Jauan Wililams, are all possibilities, but there's varying reasons for being less than optimistic with each.
There are a trio of newer possibilities inside of Ohio though, and these players are finding themselves moving up the list for the Buckeyes. If they continue to develop as players, and give themselves the time to get a bit closer to Ohio State, these prospects could find their way into the Buckeyes' 2016 class.
GAVIN CUPP // LEIPSIC (LEIPSIC HIGH SCHOOL)
One of the most talked about names along the offensive line in Ohio right now is Leipsic's Gavin Cupp, a 6-foot-5, 270 offensive tackle who currently has offers from Michigan State, Illinois, Pittsburgh, West Virginia and others.
Cupp has visited Ohio State multiple times this spring and Ed Warinner and the Buckeyes are continuing to keep a close eye on him. If Cupp decides to camp at Ohio State this summer, which is expected, he could easily play his way into an offer.
ALEX GELLERSTEDT // DUBLIN (COFFMAN HIGH SCHOOL)
While Cupp has received much of the recent speculation, there's people I know close to Ohio State that feel Alex Gellerstedt, a 6-foot-7, 275-pounder from Dublin, might be just as close to a potential offer. Gellerstedt has had a big week, adding offers from Penn State and West Virginia to a list that already included Maryland, Cincinnati, Illinois, North Carolina, Vanderbilt and nearly a dozen others.
As a player who's star is clearly rising, Gellerstedt may find himself in a position of envy among other in-staters, he's going to have big opportunities coming his way and that may actually press Ohio State's hand a bit when it comes to offering, maybe even without a camp appearance, but the Buckeyes would absolutely prefer that.
JOSH SILLS // BYESVILLE (MEADOWBROOK HIGH SCHOOL
Another fast-rising prospect in the class of 2016 is Byesville's Josh Sills. A 6-foot-5, 320-pound guard, Sills has offers from Michigan, Cincinnati, Ball State, Toledo, Miami (Ohio), and Eastern Michigan but is a prospect that the Buckeyes have recently begun paying a bit more attention to.
Sills will be a name to watch over the summer, he's recently visited Pittburgh and has been hearing from Michigan State and others. The Buckeyes will no doubt want to see him in camp in early June, but his impressive athleticism for his size has them talking about how he could potentially fit into their class.
DARIUS HARPER // SPRINGFIELD (SPRINGFIELD HIGH SCHOOL)
Darius Harper, a 6-foot-8, 270-pounder from Springfield, could be a much bigger football prospect if he hadn't been focusing on basketball much of the last two years. Kentucky, Boston College, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Maryland and have offered him on the gridiron, based almost solely on his potential and frame. Most believe that he prefers basketball, but because the future success in football could be brighter, that it's where he'll end up.
Harper will have a decision to make, so if he dives head-first into football, he's a player worth watching, similar to Cincinnati's Prince Sammons in size, potential and unfortunately, raw, untapped skill.
