Back in early May, as the Buckeyes 2016 recruiting class sat on 13 commitments, Eleven Warriors gave a little rundown on who we felt were the 11 most important prospects left on the Ohio State big board. Since then, the class has swelled to 17 thanks to the commitments of three players form the May list: Drue Chrisman, Michael Jordan and Austin Mack.
A number of the names haven't changed since May, but the circumstances around the recruitments may have. With now 17 pledges and an expected class size of 23-24, there's not going to be room for everyone, so when someone wants to commit is just as important as who they are.
Let's dive right into it, shall we? Here's our pick for the top 11 targets remaining in the 2016 class.
No. 11: Aaron Hansford or Caleb Kelly
Linebacker is not a priority for the Buckeyes in 2016. They've got one, Illinois star Tuf Borland, and right now there's not a rush to add another at the position, but if they do – and a part of me thinks they will – it's likely to be Washington, D.C.'s Aaron Hansford or Fresno, California's Caleb Kelly.
Ohio State was once a heavy favorite to land Hansford, but in recent months the communication between the pair has fallen off as numbers tightened for 2016. Kelly, a five-star prospect who has the Buckeyes in his final seven, has not yet been to campus but continues to include Ohio State on his list of places he'd like to see.
No. 10: Rashan Gary/Rashard or Dexter Lawrence
Unlike the linebackers listed at No. 11, Ohio State is looking for help at the defensive tackle position. While Rashan Gary, Rashard Lawrence and Dexter Lawrence are not the most likely to end up in Columbus at this point, they're all part of a second group of tackles that would be a mega-coup if the Buckeyes were able to land one.
Gary, the country's top overall prospect, has been to Ohio State a handful of times for visits but it seems nothing the Buckeyes do helps them gain traction. Louisiana's Rashard Lawrence visited Columbus in mid-June but is an unlikely option to become a Buckeye because it's nearly impossible to beat LSU for a Bayou boy and Dexter Lawrence, from North Carolina, has yet to visit but says the Buckeyes will land one of his officials come fall.
No. 9: Nate Craig-Myers
When he re-opened his recruitment in early May, Ohio State became a stylish pick to land Tampa's Nate Craig-Myers. The country's top-ranked wide receiver, Craig was a vocal proponent of Ohio State and Urban Meyer a year ago but surprised many when he made a commitment to Auburn. Since his decommitment, Florida State has been the most commonly associated program with Craig, but he remains vocal in his desire to visit Columbus.
If Craig-Myers ever visits the Buckeyes, he'll catapult up this list, but until then, he's a pipe-dream and nothing more. As good as he is, he may not be the player that best fits into the Ohio State offense at the position and that's why he's a bit lower on this list.
No. 8: Jaylon Jones
One of the more recent additions to the already extensive list of potential 2016 defensive back targets, Allen, Texas standout Jaylon Jones visited Ohio State on June 19th and is revered by Chris Ash, the Buckeyes' defensive co-ordinator and safeties' coach. Some on the Ohio State staff view Jones as the "next Vonn Bell."
Jones was a recent participant in Nike's The Opening and is scheduled to make a pivotal visit to Ole Miss this week. A decision about his future could come soon after and Ohio State, Texas A&M, Ole Miss and others are all anxiously awaiting his decision. Like Myers, if I felt the Buckeyes had a better chance at Jones, he'd be higher on this list.
No. 7: Donnie Corley, Jr.
If I were writing this in January, Donnie Corley would be right at the top of the list. The Detroit Martin Luther King, Jr. star wide receiver was another top receiving target who once favored the Buckeyes but has since fallen off. Now, Michigan State and Tennessee are each thought to have a better chance at landing the country's 17th-ranked wide receiver.
Corley was expected to make a decision last week in Oregon at The Opening but, from all accounts, his parents stepped in and asked him to delay. That delay is expected to mean one last visit to Ohio State for Friday Night Lights, but there's little optimism from the Buckeyes on Corley. He's ahead of Craig-Myers because the Buckeyes have put in a lot of time and energy into his recruitment, even if it's still expected he ends up elsewhere.
No. 6: Andrew Pryts
A Penn State legacy from Hermitage, Pennsylvania, defensive back Andrew Pryts sits at No. 6 on our list. Pryts has been to to Columbus multiple times this year, including twice in April, and is returning to Ohio State for Friday Night Lights. The nation's 18th-ranked safety is predicted to end up a Buckeye according to 247Sports' crystal ball.
Pryts has recently visited Notre Dame and Stanford, but most still believe this is a Buckeye/Nittany Lion battle and a decision could come as soon as early August. Ohio State is hoping his FNL visit will be enough to seal the deal and secure his spot as one of the (likely) two remaining defensive back spots in 2016.
No. 5: Binjimen Victor
Ever since putting on a show at the 2014 edition of Friday Night Lights, Binjimen Victor has had the eye of Zach Smith and Urban Meyer. The 6'4" 170-pound WR most recently visited Columbus on June 13th with his teammate and fellow OSU target DB Trayvon Mullen.. Victor had been planning a June 22nd commitment but decided to postpone those plans. This delay was great news for Ohio State, as a June decision almost assuredly would have been in favor of the in-state Gators.
So where do things currently stand for the Cocunut Creek product? A return trip to Friday Night Lights is still in the picture, but transportation arrangements will need to be ironed out before the visit can happen. OSU fans should expect an official visit from Victor this fall. They should also expect this to be quite the battle with the long-time favorite Gators and perhaps even Tennessee.
No. 4: Jordan Fuller
With (probably) only two slots to be filled by defensive backs in 2016 and Andrew Pryts likely making a commitment before New Jersey's Jordan Fuller does, why is Fuller at No. 4? Simple: he's that dang good. The 117th-ranked prospect in the country, Fuller is capable of playing defensive back (Ohio State sees him as a safety), wide receiver, quarterback, or whatever. He's a supremely talented athlete and is near the "too good to pass up zone" of the recruiting world.
Fuller will not be back in Columbus this summer, but he says there's no doubt the Buckeyes will receive one of his official visits. He's got a brother at UCLA and the Bruins are one of the favorites to land him, but Ohio State is the current runaway leader in Crystal Ballville. The key for Fuller? Continuing to make him a priority regardless of where he fits into the class.
No. 3: Damar Hamlin
The defensive backfield is one of the few remaining groups where Ohio State is still looking to add multiple players. At 6-foot-1 and 175 pounds, Pittsburgh Central Catholic's Damar Hamlin has the versatility to play pretty much anywhere in the secondary. Hamlin has visited Ohio State several times – most recently in late May – and is making a return trip for Friday Night Lights.
After watching the Jordan Whitehead recruitment last year, it's understandable that Ohio State fans may have their expectations tempered just a bit. However, all indications are that the Buckeyes are in a great spot right now for the four-star defensive back. This one is shaping up to be an Ohio State and Pittsburgh battle, with Notre Dame and Penn State also lurking. Hamlin does not currently have a timeline for a decision.
No. 2: Antwuan Jackson
It's no secret that defensive tackle is one position where Ohio State needs to add some more talent. Many may argue that it is the single-most important need for the 2016 class. With Malik Barrow already in the fold, the staff's focus is now on Ellenwood, Georgia's Antwuan Jackson. The nation's eighth-ranked defensive tackle took an extended visit to Ohio State in mid-June and is contemplating a return trip for Friday Night Lights.
Jackson recently named Ohio State and Auburn as his co-leaders, and the Tigers aren't going to be easy to beat out. Jackson has visited Auburn close to a dozen times and he has a great relationship with their coaching staff. However, Auburn (and Georgia, who is running third here) could be in a bit of a numbers crunch at defensive tackle. Auburn currently has one tackle on board and they are in the running for Rashan Gary, Kyree Campbell, and a few others. Jackson doesn't have any definitive plans for a decision but has mentioned a possible announcement during his senior season.
No. 1 Nick Bosa
Nick Bosa, the nation's second-ranked defensive end and composite five-star has probably been to more Ohio State games than anyone on this list. For several months now, Ohio State fans have been waiting for the younger Bosa to commit to following in his brother's footsteps.
Recently, the 6-foot-4, 265-pound Bosa announced that he wanted to take a couple visits to some in-state schools before announcing his decision. Now that the dead period has come and gone, those plans seem to be solidified. On Monday Bosa took to Twitter to announce that he would be visiting Florida and Florida State this weekend. Ohio State fans should be expecting some good news by early August.
