In the past, we've taken a look at the options for the Buckeyes' 2017 recruiting class at wide receiver. That group is one of the more intriguing position groups in next year's class because of the large number of prospects interested in Ohio State. Outside of the pass catchers, there may not be a more interesting group to keep an eye on than the defensive backs.
Why?
Because the Buckeyes could already be 40 to 50 percent full, meaning each offer from here on out – with almost 18 more months before signing day 2017 – is going to be of the committable variety. There are no "feelers" being put out, there's no "come camp and we'll really offer" stuff going on. If you're a defensive back in the 2017 class and you have a Buckeye offer it's because they want you in the mix, and if you wait too long, you may lose your spot.
It's hard to project how many Chris Ash and Kerry Coombs would prefer in the 2017 class, but for now we'll operate under the assumption that the number is five, which seems safe.
WHO IS IN
- Shaun Wade, a five-star cornerback from Jacksonville, Florida, committed to Ohio State on Jan. 12.
- Marcus Williamson, a four-star defensive back from Westerville, committed to Ohio State on April 18.
WHO IS NEXT?
The Buckeyes are in an excellent position for a number of their top targets in 2017 thanks in part to long-standing, preexisting relationships and also to diligent relationship-building with recent offers. Who are the most likely candidates to join the class at this point?
- Lamont Wade, a four-star cornerback from Pittsburgh. Wade has been to Ohio State multiple times in the last few months and his father told Eleven Warriors that right now the Buckeyes are at the top of his son's list of schools. Wade is a 5-foot-10, 185-pounder ranked as the country's 8th-best cornerback.
He's physical, he's fast and he's as confident as anyone in the country in his game. He plans on being back in Columbus for Friday Night Lights in July and his father, Carlton, suggested they'd returned for a couple of Buckeye games this fall.
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Richard LeCounte, a four-star athlete from Hinesville, Georgia, has been a regular at Ohio State since the summer of 2013 when he first visited with his good friend Raekwon McMillan. LeCounte can play a number of different positions, but the 5-foot-11, 175-pounder is likely to be a Vonn Bell-type safety in college.
Ohio State offered LeCounte in his freshman year and remain his top group along with Georgia and Clemson. LeCounte is the country's 48th-ranked prospect in 2017.
- Jeffrey Okudah is a five-star safety from Grand Prairie, Texas and a recent addition to the "viable candidate" list thanks to a scheduled trip to Ohio State next week. The 6-foot-1, 200-pound safety was one of the top players in Baltimore this past weekend at the Rivals.com Five-Star Challenge and a mid-summer trip to Ohio isn't being taken just for fun.
Okudah has 30 scholarship offers and plans to be in Columbus on June 19. While Baylor and Alabama are at the top of his crystal ball predictions, Tim Beck has been in regular contact for months and again, a pay-your-own-way visit to Ohio isn't just for giggles. There's there's interest here and the Buckeyes are in the mix.
WHO ELSE IS OUT THERE?
- Paris Ford is a four-star safety from Pittsburgh. Right now, he does not have a Buckeye offer but remains in the mix for one and could see it come his way this summer.
- Isaiah Pryor is a 6-foot-2, 190-pound five-star from Lawrenceville, Georgia. He's never been to Ohio State, but he's visited Notre Dame and Michigan already, so he's at least receptive to the idea of traveling outside of the south for school. He has a brother, Richard, who is currently at walk-on at Iowa and his father played there as well.
- Deangelo Gibbs is the country's top-ranked 2017 cornerback, one slot ahead of Ohio State commitment Shaun Wade. Gibbs hails from Suwanee, Georgia's Peachtree Ridge High School, the home of former Buckeyes Cameron Heyward and Bradley Roby. Ohio State offered almost a year ago but it is an uphill battle to try and get Gibbs to leave the southeast.
- Tyrell Ajian is a four-star athlete from Mansfield, Ohio. Perhaps the top Ohio defensive back in his class, Ajian is the country's 44th-ranked overall prospect in 2017 but sits only on five offers at this point. He's not yet made many college visits, but his last two have been to Ohio State, who have not offered to this point. If he wants to see an offer from the Buckeyes, camping at Ohio State this summer will be on his list of priorities.
- Jaylen-Kelly Powell is another in a long line of talented defensive backs from Detroit Cass Tech High School. A four-star prospect, Kelly-Powell doesn't yet have a Buckeye offer but has told 11W that receiving one is something he's working hard to accomplish. He'll return to Ohio State for Friday Night Lights and the 6-foot-tall, 185-pounder thinks a good showing there could lead to that offer. Currently, Michigan and Michigan State are near the top of the list, but the Wolverines – who've offered – probably have the edge over the Spartans, who have not.
- Chevin Calloway, a four-star from Dallas, is one of the recent offers on Ohio State's list. The country's 14th-ranked cornerback, Calloway has 21 offers and right now Baylor and Notre Dame – where Bishop Dunne's Nick Watkins matriculated in the 2014 class – are among the supposed leaders. Ohio State's Tim Beck, who recruits Texas for the Buckeyes, have been talking at length with Calloway about trying to plan a visit north, but at this point it's not yet scheduled.
