Ohio State signees Stephen Collier and Terry McLaurin helped to earn their offers from Ohio State camps last year. In June, football prospects will fill the Woody Hayes Athletic Facility hoping to do the same.
For some prospects, it is a final chance to impress the coaches in hopes of landing a prized offer. Others give staff a live look at their talent, while some enjoy the rare instruction from some of the best coaches in the nation.
This year, the Buckeyes will host one-day prospect camps on June 8, 19 and 21. There is no official date for Friday Night Lights, but it is often held in Ohio Stadium on the last Friday of July. FNL draws some of the nation's elite underclassmen for an evening camp in front of a couple thousand fans.
Some intriguing prospects are planning to camp at Ohio State this summer. Many prospects have yet to complete their plans.
Recent offers tight end Josh Moore and offensive lineman Grant Schmidt have tentative visits for the June 8 camp. Schmidt, a four-star offensive lineman from South Dakota, told Eleven Warriors he would like to go to the camp to see Ohio State.
A pair of well regarded junior prospects from Ohio have plans to camp at Ohio State as well. C.J. Stalker of Lakota West and Chris Fobbs of Miamisburg will take one last stab at earning offers.
Stalker may not earn an offer because of a crowded linebacker recruiting board. The three-star linebacker holds offers from Louisville, Kentucky, Virginia and West Virginia. Fobbs, a four-star corner, only holds a Toledo offer but has heavy interest from other schools.
Last month, I mentioned Reggie Rogers, Chandler Cotterman, Deric Phouthavong and J.D. Crabtree as prospects planning to camp. I also noted three-star wide receiver Emanuel Hall and safety Brody Hoying showing interest in camping as well. After a commitment to Toledo, Cotterman is no longer expected to attend.
One prospect the coaches hoped would camp at Ohio State is Winton Wood (Ohio) offensive tackle Noah Listermann. The Buckeyes have kept in close contact with Listermann, whom Kerry Coombs has called a "project." Recently, he had to reschedule a visit to Columbus due to Urban Meyer being out of town. If he does camp, he may have the best chance at landing an offer. If not, the Cincinnati native could end up at Michigan State.
Speaking of the Spartans, they might be the favorite to land Ohio four-star linebacker Anthony McKee. McKee loves the Buckeyes, but higher-rated targets have kept him from landing an offer. McKee said he is unsure whether he will camp at Ohio State this summer.
One of Ohio's top sophomores, four-star linebacker Ethan Tucky, said he will be at Ohio State's camp on the 21st. Urban Meyer and company have been in routine contact, as recent as earlier this month, and an offer could be in the works. As the crystal ball shows, many insiders expect him to land an offer and select the Buckeyes.
With only two commitments for the 2015 class, campers could leave a lasting impression on the coaching staff. Since Ohio State is in good position for some of the nation's top talent, camp attendees may have to wait. Much like Brady Taylor's recruitment, future offers are more likely than immediate offers.
The list of camp visitors will grow in the coming weeks. While the rising seniors fight for offers, most of the upcoming juniors will be bursting onto the scene. Last year, eventual Illinois commitment Gabe Megginson came to Columbus with zero offers. A few months later, he held offers from Ohio State and many other top programs.
Here's the moral of the story: prospects need to hit the camp circuit hard. In most cases, coaches like to see a player work out in person before offering. These camps are one of many opportunities to impress the Buckeyes coaching staff.
