Urban Meyer can't get them all.
This weekend's trip to Norman will feature several of the more notable names in the country. Buckeye fans and the Ohio State coaching staff can also expect to see a trio of opposing players who were pretty close to donning the Scarlet and Gray themselves.
Mark Andrews • Sophomore (RS) • WR/TE • Scottsdale, AZ
Scottsdale's Mark Andrews was the nation's 18th-ranked wide receiver for the Class of 2014. At 6-foot-6 and 230 pounds, he hardly looked like a high school wideout, or even a collegiate wideout for that matter. He's now up to 250 pounds and is starting for Bob Stoops in Norman.
Though he's listed as a wide receiver, Andrews seems to be coming around to the new position. In Oklahoma's first two games, he's already totaled 154 yards receiving and three scores.
Mark Andrews refers to himself as a tight end, which is debatable. #Sooners
— Brady Vardeman (@BradyVardeman) September 12, 2016
While many schools were recruiting him as more of a tight end or H-back, Ohio State made the wise decision to recruit him as a wideout, which was his position of choice throughout the process. A composite four-star prospect, Andrews visited Columbus in April of 2013 as the Buckeyes were being mentioned along with the likes of Notre Dame and Michigan.
“Before this trip I had known really only about most the coaching staff and a lot about Coach Meyer,” he said. “He’s very prestigious and has been a lot of places and been very successful, but I didn’t know much else. Now I know about the entire school and that they are really trying to get a consistent passing game in place to go along with their running game. Via
Andrews would have a quiet and fairly short-lived recruitment. He had discussed plans to commit after his senior season, but a surprise visit to Oklahoma sealed the deal for the Sooners in August of 2013.
The Buckeyes' 2014 signing day haul would feature wideouts Noah Brown, Terry McLaurin, Parris Campbell, and Curtis Samuel (ATH).
Ricky DeBerry • Freshman (RS) • Linebacker • Mechanicsville, VA
In April of 2014, Ricky DeBerry – the nation's No. 2 inside linebacker – made the trek to Columbus with fellow Virginian and current Buckeye Matthew Burrell. In recapping the visit with 11W, he discussed his growing relationship with Urban Meyer and Larry Johnson. The 6-foot-2, 240-pounder talked about a return trip for an official visit, but that would never end up happening.
"(Coach Johnson and I) get along great," DeBerry told Eleven Warriors. "He's almost got a 'father-figure' type of feel to him whenever you meet with him or talk with him. He sees me as a versatile player who could stand up or be a rush-end, depending on the defense. He said I've got the size to play in the middle of the defense and the athleticism to play outside or rushing the quarterback."
DeBerry ultimately would nail things down to a final group of eight schools; a group that included Oklahoma, Tennessee, Alabama, Michigan State, and others. The Buckeyes missed the cut, but by the end of October, Urban Meyer already had secured commitments from three linebackers in Justin Hilliard, Jerome Baker, and Nick Conner.
Since arriving in Norman, DeBerry has worked his way into the two-deep at outside linebacker. He saw his first action this past weekend and recovered a fumble late in the game against Louisiana-Monroe.
Neville Gallimore • Freshman (RS) • Defensive Tackle • St. Catharines, Ontario
In a class that saw the Buckeyes miss out on all of their top defensive tackle targets, losing Neville Gallimore to the Sooners probably stung the most. For a long while, the now 6-foot-3, 310-pounder looked to be a likely addition to Ohio State's 2015 recruiting class.
The Buckeyes offered the four-star tackle in May of 2014 and two weeks later he would take an unofficial visit to Columbus. Gallimore then spent time with several Buckeye commits at Nike's The Opening in July. While rooming with new Ohio State pledge Jashon Cornell in Oregon, the duo struck up quite a friendship. It was around that time that the drumbeats started to grow that the Buckeyes were in a great spot to land the Canadian.
S/O to the Buckeye Nation, my host Jalen Holmes, @HeaftyLefty @LC1era_ @JayRock_9 @JHilliard47, for a great weekend. #Loco #GoBuckeyes
— Big Nev (@Path2Greatwork) November 30, 2014
Florida State and Oklahoma were the main competition for the majority of the process and, oddly enough, it seemed as though his recruitment took a turn following a late-November official visit to Ohio State. The officials to Tallahassee and Norman had taken place earlier in the fall, and something just seemed a bit off after he returned from Columbus as the crystal balls started flying in Oklahoma's direction.
He made his Sooner pledge official at the Army All-American Game. Credit has to be given to former defensive line coach Jerry Montgomery as Gallimore repeatedly cited their relationship as one of the determining factors. Montgomery now is an assistant with the Green Bay Packers.
Ohio State would go on to sign defensive tackles Robert Landers and DaVon Hamilton.
Your stutter step does not work against Neville Gallimore. #Sonners https://t.co/Bb9FX5hcSU
— Sooner Gridiron (@soonergridiron) September 11, 2016
Following the Sooners' week two win over Louisiana-Monroe, defensive coordinator Mike Stoops noted that Gallimore is their most improved player from a year ago. He finished the game with eight tackles (three TFL), one sack, and a forced fumble. With defensive tackle Marquise Overton out for the season with an ankle injury, Gallimore could see more playing time along the Sooners' 3-4 front.
The kid is going to be a good one.
Looking ahead to 2017, the Buckeyes and Sooners are battling it out for the nation's No. 6 overall prospect. Five-star defensive back Jeffrey Okudah has been an Ohio State lean for several months now, but the Sooners have a couple of his friends currently committed and they have proximity to home working in their favor.
Okudah, along with the majority of Oklahoma's 2017 commits, will be in Norman this weekend for an official visit.
