Heat Check: Former Notre Dame Commit Makes His Debut and a New JUCO Target Emerges in the Secondary

The Buckeyes' 2017 recruiting class entered November with 17 commitments and was ranked as the No. 1 class in America. A month later, that number is down to 15 and the class checks in at No. 2 to only Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide.

A lot went down in the month of November as our recruiting board has undergone more changes than it's ever seen in a single month. Ohio State hosted a small army of official visitors – the majority of them for last weekend's triumph over the Maize and Blue – and saw the class lose two of its longtime commitments with the flip of Jake Moretti to Colorado and Antjuan Simmons' decision to decommit less than 24 hours ago.

Our updated board features some familiar faces, old names from months past, and a few fresh additions.

*Last month's version can be found HERE. 

It's the same old story at the top of the board and that story could reach its conclusion any day now. Jeffrey Okudah was in Columbus for his official visit last weekend and really nothing has changed with his recruitment for some time now. There was a very brief moment when it looked as though the Sooners could be a real threat to the Buckeyes, but that time has come and gone. 

Sticking with the Texas theme, five-star linebacker Baron Browning has been the biggest storyline over the past week or so and has moved up our board because A) he's arguably the most athletic linebacker in America and B) the class now has nobody committed at the position.

Ohio State was in a great spot, but then the Alabama predictions started coming in hot and heavy. However, a lot of the Bama chatter that started last week has started to fizzle a bit since Browning was in Columbus for the Michigan game.

So what's going on with this one? My personal opinion is that a couple people on the Alabama side heard some very positive things from a few Alabama commits and then ran with the information. There's no way of telling how accurate it was or if it will still come to fruition, but the Ohio State side remains extremely confident.

Urban Meyer, Luke Fickell, Greg Schiano, and Tim Beck were all at the Browning household last night and Alabama linebackers coach Tosh Lupoi followed suit afterward. Much like Okudah, a decision could come at any moment for the January enrollee.

Great in home visit with THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY... #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/6e79eneT8H

— Baron Browning (@baronbrwnng) December 1, 2016

Earlier this week, we said the longer this one plays out then the better it is for Ohio State. The pendulum has now switched and Buckeye fans should be hoping for something sooner rather than later. Nick Saban was not able to visit Texas this week due to preparation for the SEC Championship Game. Next week could be a different story.

Ohio State's search for another defensive tackle is ongoing, and Jay Tufele continues to be the most likely addition. Maryland defensive end/tackle Joshua Paschal was mentioned last month, but communication has slowed down between the four-star and the Buckeyes. Tufele was in Columbus last weekend and apparently had a fine time with family in tow. He's already been to Ann Arbor and the Wolverines and Utes continue to be the primary competitors. 

Switching back to the Lone Star State yet again, Ohio State appears to be surging for the nation's No. 1 defensive tackle. Marvin Wilson had previously been mentioned mostly as just a pipe dream and many – myself included – didn't even think the Ohio State visit would ever take place. As it turns out, the 6-foot-4, 330-pounder was in town last weekend and got to spend some time with Okudah and other native Texans.

Five-star Texans Marvin Wilson and Jeffrey Okudah.

LSU and Texas are still the likely destinations, but perhaps Okudah (and maybe Browning) can lend the Buckeyes a helping hand. Ohio State had previously been identified as Wilson's "dream school" – so who knows? 

One Texan that's no longer on the board is Plano's Anthony Hines. The nation's No. 2 inside linebacker had been consistently mentioned for a number of months, but it just isn't going to happen. Look for the four-star to end up at Texas A&M unless Tom Herman is able to pull off some type of sorcery. 

Exit Hines and the aforementioned Antjuan Simmons? Enter Pete Werner. The one-time Notre Dame commit visited Ohio State on Saturday and that trip was followed up by Luke Fickell checking in with the four-star this week. Werner officially decommitted from Notre Dame shortly thereafter and right now all signs are pointing toward Ohio State. It's tough to even get a gauge on what other schools are in the mix, but Penn State and Michigan State were both mentioned before he pledged to the Irish in March. 

In the secondary, the Shaun Wade sweepstakes remains just about as cloudy as ever. The five-star was in Tuscaloosa last weekend for the Iron Bowl but his comments after the game weren't exactly glowing. Wade has indicated that a final decision will come next week and the coaching staffs will be informed. However, he doesn't plan on making a public announcement until Jan. 7 at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. 

Darnay Holmes resurfaces after his official visit for The Game. It's probably safe to move this one from the "highly unlikely" to the "lukewarm" category. UCLA, Michigan, and Nebraska are all still heavily involved, but Ohio State hit a homerun with last weekend's official. The Trojans are expected to get their shot at the five-star this weekend. 

One of the month's more interesting developments involves the nation's top-ranked junior-college cornerback. Kendall Sheffield signed with Alabama in 2015 but then left the program after redshirting his freshman year. The former five-star then found his way to Blinn College in Brenham, Texas. Most had thought the family would prefer that he stay within the state for his next go-around at the FBS level, but Ohio State has its sights set on the 6-foot, 185-pounder.

Sheffield, like practically everyone else we've discussed, was in Columbus last weekend and Meyer also visited with him this week. It certainly doesn't seem like the JUCO star is any sort of backup plan right now. With the possibility of both Gareon Conley and Marshon Lattimore moving onto the next level, the chance for immediate playing time is there for the taking. Sheffield will have three years of eligibility remaining. Tom Herman's Longhorns extended an offer just yesterday, but Texas A&M has long been thought to be the favorite. 

Things also have really quieted down on the Bubba Bolden front, so perhaps Ohio State has elected to look for more of an immediate impact guy at corner to fill one of the additional remaining spots? 

Sheffield's senior highlights show exactly why he was so highly coveted. Some may ask "well then why was he unable to play right away in college and had to go the JUCO route?" You have to remember that he was at Alabama, a school that has a loaded secondary every single year. It's not like the kid struggled to see the field at Wright State University's Lake Campus in Celina. 

Cam Akers has now taken an official visit to Ohio State as well, but he still is plummeting down our board. J.K. Dobbins seems about as solid as ever and Akers just looks like he will end up in the Southeast. I am a big Akers fan, so hopefully it won't be at Ole Miss, a school that ranks right behind Baylor in my eyes. #Cam2Tally

Five-star offensive tackle Trey Smith remains a bit of a longshot, but the Buckeyes helped their cause last weekend and are going all in on the nation's No. 5 tackle. Family ties to the in-state Volunteers have had Tennessee out in front for some time now, but after yet another lackluster season for Butch Jones, there are questions surrounding the program.

Rivals.com recruiting analyst Marc Givler reported that Ohio State will have an in-home with Smith tonight. A decision is scheduled for next Tuesday, Dec 6.

Not much to report on wide receiver Jaylen Harris. Still think the Cleveland four-star ends up at Ohio State, but he seems content on taking his time. Given the numbers crunch going on right now, the staff is probably more than okay with that. 

So, it was a wild month with a ton of action. One decommit was pretty surprising while the other was somewhat expected, though Simmons' social media game certainly made it appear that everything was fine. We still wait for the inevitable Jeffrey Okudah and Baron Browning decisions, and both could possibly come as soon as today. 

After an unseasonably warm November, the December forecast is for more frigid temps as well as at least a pair of new pledges for the Buckeyes' 2017 class.

Over/Under on new commitments for the month? We will go with 3.5.

Personally, I welcome our likely snow-laden December overlord. Conference championships, bowl games, and Christmas are always a good time. 

And it's hard to hold a candle in the cold November rain.