After a very successful haul at linebacker in 2014 and 2015, the Buckeyes find themselves in a position of power as it pertains to their linebacker recruiting in 2016. Depth – and talent – at the position is stronger than it has been in a long time and with that comes the chance to be particular in their pursuit of 2016 prospects.
It's likely, according to sources close to the Buckeyes, that two – perhaps three – linebackers is the ideal number they'd like to sign next February.
Here's a number of the names and faces that we could end up hearing about over the next few months.
BRENDAN FERNS // ST. CLAIRSVILLE, OHIO // ST. CLAIRSVILLE
Ohio's best linebacker in 2016 and perhaps the Buckeyes' top target overall at the position is St. Clairsville's Brendan Ferns. Ferns is the country's 72nd-ranked overall player and the brother of West Virginia's Michael Ferns, who recently transferred from Michigan. Ferns, Ohio's 6th-ranked player, is interested in many of the best schools in the region but the Buckeyes, Mountaineers, Oklahoma and Penn State remain near the top of his list.
Ferns could make a decision by the end of the spring, but since the end of the football season has not focused much on recruiting, instead focusing on his junior season of basketball. With a limited number of spots available at linebacker, not much will happen with other names on this list until Ferns makes his decision.
CARTER COUGHLIN // EDEN PRAIRIE, MINNESOTA // EDEN PRAIRIE
If there's any linebacker ahead of Ferns on Ohio State's target list, it might be Minnesota's Carter Coughlin. Coughlin isn't rated as highly and at this point may not be as physical as Ferns, but with a 6-foot-3, 200-pound frame, he's got the physical tools to become a very good college player and he's a prospect Ohio State is very interested in.
A decision from Coughlin is likely to come this week, and the Buckeyes are battling Minnesota – where Coughlin's family ties reside – and Oregon for the services of this four-star linebacker.
TUF BORLAND // BOLINGBROOK, ILLINOIS // BOLINGBROOK
A Wisconsin legacy, Tuf Borland is a 6-foot-2, 225-pound linebacker from Illinois who has been another of the top players on the Buckeyes' list. Ohio State, Wisconsin, Michigan State, Kentucky, Iowa, Northwestern, Illinois and Purdue have offered the country's 21st-ranked outside linebacker, who visited Columbus in November and again in January.
The Badgers are expected to land Borland according to most, but Ohio State's Luke Fickell and Chris Ash have continued to recruit Borland aggressively. He'll attend a star-studded Junior Day weekend at Notre Dame on March 21st, and it wouldn't be surprising to see him leave South Bend with an offer following that trip.
KEANDRE JONES // OLNEY, MARYLAND // GOOD COUNSEL
A Maryland commitment Keandre Jones is a newer name to the list for most Buckeye fans but perhaps one that's worth paying a bit more attention to. Jones is the country's 215th-ranked player and 18th-ranked outside linebacker and is from Good Counsel High School, one of Maryland's most prestigious football programs. At 6-foot-3 and 198 pounds, Jones is going to have to develop his physical side, but he plays the game fast and angry and has a knack for finding the football.
Jones is expected to visit Ohio State at the end of March with his good friend – and Buckeye commit – Terrell Hall – and it will be interesting to see if a Buckeye offer comes his way that weekend. The fact that Carter Coughlin is likely to decide by that weekend should help provide some clarity about his potential spot in Ohio State's 2016 class.
ZACH SANDWISCH // ELMORE, OHIO // TOLEDO CENTRAL CATHOLIC
Despite missing half of his junior season because of OHSAA transfer rules, Zach Sandwisch is a state champion at Toledo Central Catholic and is starting to add some big-time offers to his big-time talent. At 6-foot-3, 220 pounds, Sandwisch has an ideal physicality in the middle of a defense; he plays fast and angry and is on the verge of becoming a national name.
Sandwisch was recently offered by West Virginia and Indiana, two places he's visited in the last week, and also has offers from Iowa, Western Michigan, Toledo and Miami of Ohio. A three-star prospect, Sandwisch is a player Ohio State is keeping their eye on and a guy I expect to open some eyes at camps this spring and summer.
JANGO GLACKIN // LEBANON, OHIO // IMG ACADEMY
Lebanon, Ohio native and current IMG Academy linebacker Jango Glackin is another talented athlete that – in a year that saw a greater need for linebackers – could have been in line for an early offer from the Buckeyes. Glackin is 6-foot-2, 215-pounder and a bit raw, but supremely athletic. He made the move to IMG to improve his stock and to test himself against the elite talent he faces at IMG daily and it's caught the attention of recruiters.
West Virginia, Indiana and most of the MAC have offered Glackin, who recently received an offer from Yale, and he's continuing to hear from Ohio State, Michigan State, Oregon and others. He could be in line for a big summer and you should expect to see him in Columbus at once for an Ohio State's one-day camp.
ETHAN TUCKY // DELAWARE, OHIO // RUTHERFORD B. HAYES
One of Ohio's most athletic overall prospects, Ethan Tucky is a bit of a 'tweener' – he could end up playing defensive end in college – and maybe the biggest sprinter in Ohio. Tucky is 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds and consistently reports 40 times in the sub-4.5 range, but being a 'tweener' as he is, it's difficult to project exactly where he fits into the plans for the Buckeyes or others.
Tucky currently has offers from Kentucky, Illinois, Boston College, Bowling Green, Toledo and a few other MAC schools, but he's another player to watch as we head into evaluation season. His athleticism could separate him from the pack, but until he finds a true position on the field he might find himself meddling in the masses.
BRYCE YOUNGQUIST // RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CALIFORNIA // LOS OSOS
Perhaps the least recognizable name on the list, Bryce Youngquist, is a California native with Ohio ties. Youngquist's mother is from Akron, and he's a fan of the Buckeyes; he camped in Columbus last summer. While he doesn't have an offer from Ohio State at this point, he's earning himself a nice reputation nationally: he's the 10th-ranked outside linebacker and 130th-ranked overall prospect in 2016.
Youngquist has very impressive physical tools and reports a 4.37-40-yard dash. Even if that number is inaccurate – which it probably is – at 6-foot-1 and 215 pounds if he's under 4.5 he's in rarefied air. Arizona State, Oklahoma, Arizona State, Colorado, Wisconsin and Washington State are among his early offers and the Buckeyes could absolutely become a player in his recruitment if they make a play.
TRISTIAN PIPP // GREENDALE, WISCONSIN // GREENDALE HIGH SCHOOL
A new name for most Buckeye fans, Tristian Pipp has been in contact with Ohio State since last fall, and that communication has picked back up recently. Pipp is a three-star linebacker, the country's 25th-ranked inside 'backer and a 6-foot-1, 210-pounder with offers from Wisconsin, Iowa and a handful of mid-majors. He's not yet visited Ohio State, but has informed 11W that he plans to make a trip to Columbus this spring.
Pipp is from Wisconsin, and so rightfully one can assume the Badgers are near the top of his list, but he claims that the Buckeyes – as well as Michigan State – are two schools he wants to gain an offer from the most. He says he won't feel pressure to stay at home if another opportunity is best for him. Ohio State's Chris Ash is the coach who has been recruiting Wisconsin's 5th-ranked player.
