The Buckeye coaches have gotten to know this wellThe first priority in recruiting should always be to get the top players in your state to come to your school. In the recruiting class of 2012, that mission won't change for Ohio State, as the current junior class is one of the best in the history of Ohio high school football. Coaches from all over the country will be swarming the Buckeye state over the next 6-12 months to take their best shot at the abundance of talent available, but Jim Tressel will certainly do his best to make sure the Bucks get the guys they want come next February on signing day.
While next year's class can be made up of all Ohioans, don't count the Buckeyes out when it comes to targeting talent beyond the state walls. The state of Florida continually produces most of the nation's top talent year after year, and like Ohio, the class of 2012 has many players that will garner national attention. OSU has done well in the Sunshine State over the years, bringing in players like Santonio Holmes, Nate Salley, Chimdi Chekwa, Brian Rolle, Orhian Johnson, Etienne Sabino, Mike Brewster, Travis Howard, Jaamal Berry, James Louis, Carlos Hyde, Duron Carter, Ryan Shazier, Jeremy Cash, and Jeff Heuerman during the Tressel era that have helped build strong ties in areas that were formally locked down by the big three schools in the state (Miami, FSU, UF).
As OSU continues it's dominance of the Big Ten and keeps it's streak of BCS game appearances alive, the program's name seems to be consistent among schools considered by national type talent coming out of Florida. The year 2012 is no different and there are a number of elite prospects already looking at the Buckeyes as their destination for autumn quarter 2012. We looked at the top 12 targets for 2012 a few weeks back, and now it's time to take a look at some products down south that could be donning the Scarlet and Gray sometime in the near future.
Ricardo Louis of Miami Beach Senior High School is a 6-2/200 athlete that can play at wide receiver or safety at the next level. Ohio State has offered Louis and while he plays quarterback for his high school team, he is playing wide receiver in 7-on-7 competition and projects there if he decides to come to Columbus. Already holding offers from Alabama, Miami, UNC, Oregon, and Tennessee, it will definitely be tough to reel in Louis, but he seems to have OSU at the top of his list right now and a Spring Game or summer camp visit seems likely. Wait to see what happens on the unofficial visit and the picture will become more clear on this super athlete.
Travis Blanks (pictured right) is a player that we featured in the top 12 for 2012 and he is one of the nation's best. The Buckeyes sit in good position right now according to what Blanks has told the media, but it will be an uphill battle as the Bucks are joined by Auburn, Florida State, Alabama, Clemson, Florida, Georgia, Notre Dame, Louisville, South Carolina, Tennessee, UFS, and other in offering the North Florida Christian (Tallahassee) product. As a junior Blanks notched 104 tackles and 4 interceptions while playing corner back, and also returned two punts for touchdowns on special teams. I think because of his excellent tackling ability and length, Blanks projects as a better safety for the college game. It will be interesting to see how things play out here, but if he visits for camp in the summer or in April for the Spring Game, you can start top get excited about potentially landing what could be the best player in the state when it's all said and done.
Deon Bush isn't quite there yet in terms of the number of offers that Blanks has, but he is certainly doing his best to catch up. Out of all the prospects on this list, I think the Bucks may have the best chance with Bush and he is a player I fall in love with more each and every day. At 6-1/180 he is a player that can project as a corner back or safety and had 50 tackles, 3 interceptions, and 2 defensive touchdowns during his junior season. His 4.4 speed in the 40-yard dash and tremendous coverage skills will prove extremely valuable at the next level, where he is considering Alabama, Florida, FSU, Miami, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Boston College, Ole Miss, Notre Dame, Rutgers, and Tennessee in addition to Ohio State. A relationship with Jeremy Cash and Ryan Shazier should help OSU's case with Bush and I think this is certainly a player that OSU has a great shot to land.
Laith Harlow is a player on OSU's radar, but after hearing Alabama is his clear cut number one right now, the Bucks may cool off on this tight ened prospect from Gobdy High School in Tallahassee. With Jake Stoneburner, Reid Fragel, Jeff Heuerman, and Nick Vannett all in the fold for the 2012-2013, Harlow isn't someone likely to end up in Columbus, but if you're the type that likes the national recruiting scene, this 6-5/240 athlete is one to excite many. I'm taking the Crimson Tide to secure a commitment from Harlow early, but wouldn't be surprised to see Jimbo Fisher snatch up this local product, especially with the way the Seminoles are rolling on the recrutiing trail.
TJ Davis is Harlow's teammate at Godby, but the Bucks have a better shot to land the 6-0/175 corner. OSU has offered along with Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Illinois, Louisville, Ole Miss, South Carolina, USF, and others, but right now this is an open battle for his services. I do think the Buckeyes are longshots to land Davis, but watch for any type of visit whatsoever to get a better grasp on his true interest in OSU. With a thin depth chart at corner back, this is a position of need for the Bucks, so expect them to fight hard for Davis through the whole process.
Jordan Diggs along with Deon Bush is a player the Buckeyes have a very good shot at landing. Diggs is a true safety prospect at 6-1/185 and recorded 53 tackles, 2 interceptions, and 1 sack last year for Bishop Verot High School in Fort Meyers. He has tremendous instincts and is an excellent finisher when it comes to tackling, but he needs to improve his coverage skills a bit before making the jump to the next level. OSU has offered Diggs and joins Boston College, Maryland, UCF, USF, and South Carolina on his list right now, but I have a feeling that he could end things early if he makes the trip up to Columbus for the Spring Game. A great person off the field as well, Diggs is an ideal Jim Tressel recruit, and right now from what I'm hearing, I think there is a really good chance you'll see him patrolling the OSU secondary in a few seasons.
Abraham "Nacho" Garcia (pictured right) is a friend of the blog and we sat down to do an interview with him just a few months back, but it seems not much has changed for the massive lineman out of the University School in Miami. Nacho continues to list Ohio State, Wisconsin, and LSU as his favorites, as it appears he is looking to leave his hometown state. Garcia stands at 6-6/340 and with OSU having a big need at the tackle position, I think it should be a no-brainer to offer someone of his caliber. If all his favorites come through with an offer, I think this will end up being an LSU-OSU battle, but with South Florida Express teammates Shazier and Cash already in Columbus, I'd like the Buckeyes chances if they put the full court press on Nacho.
Alton "Pig" Howard of Edgewater in Orlando currently says Ohio State is his leader, and Buckeye fans can thank Michael Brewster for that. Brewster, an Edgewater product himself, has talked up OSU to the 5-10/180 receiver, who has UCF, Florida, Cincinnati, Miami, ECU, Purdue, UCLA, and Virginia listed right below the Bucks. Wide receiver is an interesting position for recruitment next year for the Bucks, so it will be interesting to see how the numbers game plays out. I can definitely see Howard staying local at UCF or Florida, but as stated by the player himself, the Buckeyes are currently the team to beat.
Angelo Jean-Louis of Palm Beach Central is another elite receiver prospect in Florida, but unlike Howard, the Bucks will have to do some harder work for his services. Miami, Florida State, Florida, West Virginia, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, USC, Virginia Tech, and USF are his other offers right now and it will be really tough to lure him out of the home state. He has said he likes OSU a lot when asked, but I still think the Bucks are on the outside looking in on Miami, FSU, and UF when it comes down to the nitty gritty. Once again, look for any type of visit here over the next 3-4 months. If he doesn't get to Columbus before the end of summer, I put chances on landing him from possible to doubtful.
Tracy Howard is the last prospect on our list today and the Miramar corner is one to get excited about. Already given an Amry All-American invite, Howard has offers from Alabama, Florida, FSU, Miami, South Carolina, and West Virginia in addition to OSU, but once again he will be a tough egg to crack. The Florida schools and Alabama seem to have the edge out front here, but the Bucks are definitely on his mind and getting him on campus by the end of the summer will be key. Howard's great coverage skills and intelligence in the secondary make him an extremely valuable prospect, while his experience while playing for a championship winning program and the culture that comes with that are an added bonus that certainly will make Jim Tressel smile. If I had to pick it today, I'd say Florida State is the school he chooses, but in recruiting anything can happen.
