With nine of its 16 commitments considered by 247Sports Composite to be among the top 100 prospects in the country, Ohio State is on track to land the top overall class in 2017. The Buckeyes are still looking to add six or seven more four- and five-star recruits to the cycle, which could push the class even further into unprecedented territory and seal its fate as the best recruiting class in school history — and, quite possibly, the top signing class in the six-year history of 247Sports' rankings.
A lot can change in the nearly six months until national signing day, but here are my predictions for where several remaining uncommitted Ohio State targets will land come February.
Jeffrey Okudah, safety, Grand Prairie, Texas
Five-star safety Jeffrey Okudah is perhaps the top remaining target on the Buckeyes' recruiting board. He has more than 30 scholarship offers from top programs across the country, but Ohio State or Oklahoma are the most likely destinations for the 6-foot-1 and 190-pounder. The top-ranked safety has made two unofficial visits to Columbus — most recently this spring — and is expected to attend the Buckeyes' showdown with the Sooners on Sept. 17.
Prediction: Ohio State
Cam Akers, running back, Clinton, Mississippi
Running back Cam Akers has been linked to Ohio State since he decommitted from Alabama in March. The five-star prospect was expected to attend Friday Night Lights in July, but hasn't made it back to Columbus since his first visit in the days following his split from the Crimson Tide. Georgia, LSU, Ole Miss and Tennessee remain in hot pursuit of the 5-foot-11, 213-pound back, but the Buckeyes remain in solid standing with Akers. It's my understanding that getting him on campus for an official visit this fall would probably seal the deal.
Prediction: Ohio State — and J.K. Dobbins stays, too
Baron Browning, linebacker, Kennedale, Texas
Baron Browing had been considered an Ohio Sate lean for some time, but a recent trip to Texas has the second-ranked linebacker contemplating playing college football a little bit closer to home. Standing 6-foot-3 and 230 pounds, Browning has offers from 40 programs but maintains a Top 10 list of Alabama, LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Ohio State, TCU, Texas, UCLA and USC. The Longhorns, meanwhile, have seemingly entered the chase for another top linebacker — Dallas' Devodrick Johnson — which I believe will have a significant impact on Browning's recruitment.
Prediction: Ohio State
Darnay Holmes, cornerback, Calabasas, California
Five-star cornerback Darnay Holmes was one of the stars of last month's Friday Night Lights camp. And though he's a long shot to play his college ball in Columbus, Ohio State has made significant strides in his recruitment as of late. Homes, who is also considering Michigan, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Stanford and Washington, is expected to travel to Columbus for an official visit when the Buckeyes host the Cornhuskers on Nov. 5. With that said, I wouldn't hold out hope for his pledge.
Prediction: UCLA
Trevon Grimes, wide receiver, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Ohio State is the odds-on favorite to land five-star receiver Trevon Grimes when he announces his college decision on Aug. 24. The 6-foot-3, 202-pounder will choose that day between Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Ohio State and Miami, and it would be a major shock if he ends up anywhere but Columbus. Grimes said at Friday Night Lights the Buckeyes have been his leader since he was a freshman at St. Thomas Aquinas.
Prediction: Ohio State
Tyjon Lindsey, wide receiver, Corona, California
Five-star receiver Tyjon Lindsey will announce his intentions just two days prior to Grimes, though it will have no impact on the latter's decision. The 5-foot-9, 180-pounder trimmed his list to Alabama, Auburn, Michigan, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oregon, Tennessee and USC in early June, but the Buckeyes are considered the favorite to gain his pledge. Lindsey is the fifth-ranked receiver prospect in the Class of 2017.
Prediction: Ohio State
Lamont Wade, cornerback, Clairton, Pennsylvania
With at least at least eight current commits having already expressed a desire to enroll early, Ohio State fines itself in a tricky spot with five-star cornerback Lamont Wade. The Buckeyes would love to add him to the haul, but it's unclear at this time if the team would be able to accompany his wishes of enrolling early at his college of choice. Wade has been checking out other schools in recent weeks — including Pittsburgh and Penn State — while Ohio State continues to crunch the numbers.
Prediction: Penn State
Jay Tufele, defensive tackle, South Jordan, Utah
With Cincinnati's Jerron Cage and Las Vegas, Nevada's, Haskell Garrett already in the fold, Ohio State has seemingly locked down one of the best defensive line hauls in the Class of 2017. However, adding South Jordan, Utah's, Jay Tufele would be the cherry on top for defensive line coach Larry Johnson and the Buckeyes. Though all has been quiet on the recruiting front since the 6-foot-2, 300-pounder listed Ohio State as his leader in May, things will certainly heat up in the coming months.
Prediction: Ohio State
Anthony Hines, linebacker, Plano, Texas
With more than 90 scholarship offers, linebacker Anthony Hines is far and away the most recruited prospect in the country. Things seemed to be trending toward Ohio State at one point in the game, and Hines included the Buckeyes in his Top 10 back in early July. However, the 6-foot-3, 225-pounder recently visited Oklahoma for third time, so it looks as if the Sooners have taken the upper hand. Hines also hopes to announce his college decision in December and enroll early at his school of choice, making it less likely he ends up in the Scarlet and Gray.
Prediction: Oklahoma
Jaylen Harris, wide receiver, Cleveland, Ohio
Arguably the best wide receiver in the state of Ohio, Jaylen Harris recently included Ohio State alongside Alabama, Michigan State, Penn State and Tennessee on a narrowed down list of five final schools. Though he's indicated that he's in no hurry to make a decision on his future, the Buckeyes' pursuit of the above mentioned prospects leave Harris in a tricky spot. Quite simply, there may not be enough room for the 6-foot-5, 210-pound prospect. Like Wade before him, Harris will just have to wait and see how things shake out.
Prediction: Ohio State
Jaylen Kelly-Powell, safety, Detroit, Michigan
Though Michigan is the favorite to land safety Jaylen Kelly-Powell, don't discount the ability that Ohio State defensive backs coach Kerry Coombs has to land the top recruits from the state up north. The 6-foot, 175-pounder attended Friday Night Lights last month, and though he did not participate in workouts, he thoroughly enjoyed the trip because of Coombs. The pair would be a perfect match, but the scholarship crunch may just be too much to overcome in this case.
Prediction: Michigan
Markquese Bell, safety, Bridgeton, New Jersey
Rutgers has long been the favorite to land Markquese Bell, but Ohio State has made a late push for the four-star safety by offering him a scholarship in July. Bell was in Columbus for Friday Night Lights, after which he saw his recruiting rankings skyrocket. The recruitment of the 6-foot-3, 194-pounder solely rests upon where the aforementioned Okudah lands, but Bell included Ohio State in his recently released Top 7 and expects to visit Columbus when the Buckeyes play host to Michigan on Nov. 26.
Prediction: Rutgers
For more national predictions, check out my 247Sports Crystal Ball page.
