Larry Johnson and the Buckeyes landed one of their top 2018 targets last week when five-star defensive tackle Taron Vincent sided with Ohio State over Jimbo Fisher's Seminoles. We previously had the IMG Academy star at No. 2 on our board, and landing the nation's top prospect at the position was a major coup for Johnson and Meyer.
From a personnel standpoint, Michael Hill and Tracy Sprinkle both enter the 2017 campaign as seniors. A number of sophomores also will be in two-deep including guys like Robert Landers, DaVon Hamilton, Dre'Mont Jones, and Jashon Cornell.
The recruitment of defensive tackles has been a hot topic over the past several years, and while the Class of 2018 is off to a fantastic start, the expectation is for the Buckeyes to add one or two more to accompany Vincent.
There are a number of names to monitor over the coming months, all of whom have already been on campus at one point or another.
| Prospect | Hometown | Measurables | Rating | Pos. Rank | Nat. Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TYLER FRIDAY | Ramsey, NJ | 6-foot-3, 260 pounds | ★★★★ | No. 3 | No. 41 |
| Matthew Jones | Brooklyn, NY | 6-foot-4, 305 pounds | ★★★★ | No. 4 | No. 49 |
| Austin Fontaine | Hyattsville, MD | 6-foot-2, 312 pounds | ★★★★ | No. 5 | No. 53 |
| PJ Mustipher | Owings Mills, MD | 6-foot-6, 285 pounds | ★★★★ | No. 6 | No. 62 |
| Michael Thompson | Saint Louis, MO | 6-foot-3.5, 291 pounds | ★★★★ | No 8 | No. 75 |
| Aeneas Hawkins | Cincinnati, Ohio | 6-foot-3, 265 pounds | ★★★★ | No. 23 | No. 248 |
| BrANt Lawless | Nashville, TN | 6-foot-3, 285 pounds | ★★★★ | No. 25 | No. 265 |
Ohio State is battling Michigan and Penn State for the nation's No. 3 player at the position. Tyler Friday, the top player in the state of New Jersey, has visited all three Big Ten powers dating back to the winter months. The Wolverines have made a habit of signing the No. 1 player in the Garden State, having done so in three of the last four years. It's no surprise, but Jim Harbaugh appears to have Michigan out in front right now.
Matthew Jones is an interesting prospect since his ultimate position still looks to be up in the air. The best way to view the Ohio State target is as an athlete along the line since both Larry Johnson and Greg Studrawa would love to get their hands on him. The Buckeyes remain the favorite for the Erasmus Hall star who was just on campus last week.
Right now it does appear that offensive line may be the likely destination, but Jones is talented enough to play a number of different spots. Clemson, Georgia, and Penn State are also in the hunt for the four-star.
If you're looking for news on Hyattsville, Maryland's Austin Fontaine, then you may be searching for a while. The 6-foot-2, 312-pounder has had a relatively quiet recruitment, especially for a player at a powerhouse program like DeMatha Catholic. The former teammate of Chase Young was in Columbus last summer for a camp and then returned for a game in the fall. Maryland and Penn State are two other programs honing in on him, and it will be interesting to track his whereabouts this spring and summer.
Fontaine is little different than several of the other tackle targets. At 312 pounds, he's a bit more of a space-eater and could fill a role that the Buckeyes don't often have along the defensive line.
Another Maryland target – Owings Mills' PJ Mustipher – was in Columbus last weekend scoping out the Buckeyes. The nation's No. 6 tackle is considering a number of Big Ten schools as well as Notre Dame, Tennessee, and others. His older brother Sam is an offensive lineman at Notre Dame, and the Irish currently hold the vast majority of the crystal ball picks.
The four-star hasn't narrowed things down yet, but he has noted that a decision could come as early as this spring. The Buckeyes appear to have made a move after last week's visit, but there's still a lot of work to be done.
Ohio State is looking to strike again in Saint Louis as they are targeting wideout Kamryn Babb and defensive tackle Michael Thompson. While they may be out in front for Babb, Thompson's recruitment looks to be very much up in the air. The four-star has visited a number of programs including Michigan, Ohio State, Alabama, and LSU. He is scheduled to check out the Nebraska spring game next weekend.
There's still a long way to go in this one, but Missouri and Michigan are likely two of the prime competitors for four-star. He plans on using all five officials and has discussed waiting until signing day to announce his decision.
Cincinnati's Aeneas Hawkins (Moeller) is another interesting case. Ohio State offered back in September and since that time schools like Clemson, Oklahoma, Georgia, and Alabama have all followed suit. At 6-foot-3 and 265 pounds, Hawkins is a player who right now looks more like a defensive end than an interior lineman. There's a chance that the Buckeyes could bring him in with just a "defensive lineman" label and then figure out where he best fits.
Ohio State visit was everything I hoped it would be. #GoBucks
— Aeneas Hawkins (@King_Hawk92) April 1, 2017
Penn State is a major player in this recruitment as well, and Hawkins has been to Happy Valley multiple times. He was most recently there in late March but also made a return trip to Columbus last week. The four-star was scheduled to announce his commitment in early May but has since canceled those plans and appears to be in no rush to make a decision. The crystal ball currently favors the Buckeyes, but the most recent picks have been in the Nittany Lions' favor.
Nashville's Brent Lawless is a newer name to many, and the four-star was in town last month for a visit. LSU, Alabama, Oklahoma, and Tennessee have also offered, but the Volunteers look to be in the driver's seat right now. Lawless was in Knoxville twice last fall for games and has been in town this spring as well.
He previously had discussed making a decision before his senior season, and some Tennessee insiders have identified Ohio State as a team that could give the Volunteers some fits.
