Last year in Oregon, the trio of Justin Hilliard, Jashon Cornell and Tyler Green helped the "Elite '15" reel in Torrance Gibson, Matt Burrell, Mike Weber, and KJ Hill after spending time developing relationships during Nike's The Opening.
The camp, the most prestigious scouting/competition camp around the country, has returned for 2015, its fifth iteration. This time around the Buckeyes arrive in the Pacific Northwest with five verbal pledges ready to show off their skills and help Ohio State's 2016 recruiting class continue to grow.
Let's take a look at the invites and examine who and what to pay attention to.
QUARTERBACK
- Buckeye Commitments: Ohio State pledge Tristen Wallace did not receive an invitation the Elite 11 Finals and the Buckeyes do not have a quarterback on hand.
The quarterbacks that have been assembled in Oregon are a who's who of 2016 names, including a handful that are familiar to Ohio State fans from earlier in this recruiting cycle. The Elite 11, which is already underway, has been highlighted – at least according to reports – by Dwayne Haskins, Jr. and Jarrett Guarantano.
Penn State (Jake Zembiec), Michigan (Brandon Peters), Michigan State (Messiah deWeaver), Maryland (Haskins), and Rutgers (Anthony Russo) each have their quarterback commitments present and accounted for.
Don't think for a second that the Buckeyes' coaching staff feels they "missed out," though. They love Wallace and are very happy to have him as their quarterback of the future.
RUNNING BACK
- Buckeye Commitments: Kareem Walker and Demario McCall are ranked as the country's first and second-ranked tailbacks respectively and they'll both be in Oregon, lining up for team Lunarbeast.
Clearly, Ohio State is pretty well off at running back in 2016 and they're not going to make any overtures to additional backs barring a change in the status of Walker, McCall or George Hill.
Penn State commitment Miles Sanders is one of the most explosive players in the country and is sure to turn heads once again.
WIDE RECEIVER
- Buckeye Commitments: Austin Mack
- Buckeye Targets: Donnie Corley, Jr., Nate Craig-Myers, Binjimen Victor, Trevon Grimes, Donovan Peoples-Jones, Tyjon Lindsey
One of the more important positional groups – in 2016 and 2017 – for the Buckeyes this week is wide receiver.
Corley, the Detroit Martin Luther King product, is one of a handful of potential announcements to be made this week, but it's uncertain if he'll decide, although he appears to be leaning towards a commitment. If he does, it likely means Michigan State or Tennessee as his destination, and if he doesn't, there's more time for Ohio State to try and get him back on campus.
This position is one area that not having "your" quarterback around can negatively impact recruiting. Last year, Ohio State lost ground with a number of big-time wide receivers in Oregon because they didn't get a chance to develop chemistry with Joe Burrow or the then uncommitted Torrance Gibson. Gibson, who committed to Ohio State in November, played wide receiver at last year's event.
TIGHT END
- Buckeye Commitments: Jake Hausmann
Hausmann, the country's third-ranked tight end, will be the only Ohio State target at the position and I hope he's got his running shoes on. There are only six tight ends on the near 150-man roster and these guys will get their fair share of work in, so quality reps are easy to discern for this group.
Stay hydrated, Jake.
OFFENSIVE LINEMAN
- Buckeye Commitments: There are no Ohio State commitments along the offensive line in attendance.
- Buckeye Targets: Tommy Kraemer, Michael Onwenu, Jack Anderson, Calvin Ashley
Tommy Kraemer and Michael Onwenu are, admittedly, long-shots at best, but the Buckeyes are keeping tabs on the pair still, despite not actively pursuing another offensive lineman for 2016. The pair, committed to Notre Dame and Michigan respectively, have each visited Ohio State a number of times and this week will be a good opportunity for Buckeye pledges to at least see where things stand.
Frisco, Texas 2017 guard Jack Anderson told 11W over the weekend he hopes to visit Columbus for Friday Night Lights on July 24. He and Calvin Ashley, committed to Auburn, are the only 2017 offensive lineman in Oregon for The Opening.
DEFENSIVE LINEMAN
- Buckeye Commitments: Jonathon Cooper
- Buckeye Targets: Rashan Gary, Rashard Lawrence, Antwuan Jackson
"The Big Three" defensive tackles will be the highest-priority for Ohio State commit Jonathon Cooper in Oregon. Over the course of the last month, "Coop" has spent time with each tackle in Columbus and now will get his chance for more face time, especially with Jackson who is also on team Lunarbeast with all five Buckeye commitments.
Michigan State commitment Mike Panasiuk is one player that I'm interested to hear about. He's been a bit of a surprise on the camp circuit this spring/summer and I imagine he'll still surprise some folks out west.
LINEBACKER
- Buckeye Commitments: None, Tuf Borland did not participate in any Nike regional camps.
- Buckeye Targets: Caleb Kelly, Aaron Hansford, Daelin Hayes, Dontavious Jackson
It's unlikely that Ohio State takes another linebacker in 2016 but a couple of the targets they're still considering will be in Oregon at The Opening.
The Buckeyes would love to get California's Caleb Kelly on campus for a visit and have been the leader (or near the top of the list) for Aaron Hansford for months. The pair of Daelin Hayes (committed to USC) and Dontavious Jackson have Ohio State offers but neither is a truly viable option for the Buckeyes at this point.
DEFENSIVE BACK
- Buckeye Commitments: There are no Buckeye commitments at defensive backs participating in The Opening.
- Buckeye Targets: Jared Mayden II, Jordan Fuller, Damar Hamlin, Jaylon Jones, Trayvon Mullen, Jamyest Williams, Nigel Warrior, Demetris Robertson.
The Buckeyes will be watching the 7-on-7 portion of the camp closely and if you examine the wide receivers and defensive backs closely, you can see why.
Ohio State is rumored to be in the lead for both Jordan Fuller and Damar Hamlin. Wide receiver commit Austin Mack says those two are among his biggest targets, but it's the late-week announcement of Jared Mayden that has stolen much of the intrigue coming into Oregon. Mayden, from Sachse, Texas, is expected to select either Ohio State or Oregon.
Allen, Texas, standout Jaylon Jones had been considering a decision at The Opening but now says he'll wait a bit longer. He's got a visit scheduled to Ole Miss for next weekend and says a commitment could happen soon thereafter.
