From the outside looking in, it would appear that there's been a bit of a lull in the once rolling Ohio State 2016 recruiting class.
Three decommitments since July, including the departures of two of the class' top-ranked players (Terrell Hall and Kareem Walker) and first commitment (George Hill) have left some wondering exactly what could be going wrong in Columbus.
Did Urban Meyer forget how to recruit?
#WellActually, no, he didn't.
The truth is that in this day and age, recruiting isn't just a couple of days a week job and it's certainly not a field where everything that goes on behind-the-scenes, despite an increase in exposure and information, is revealed publicly. The facts are that in the cases of Hall, Walker, Hill and–the truth to be told–every single player committed to Ohio State and still being recruited by the Buckeyes, there's things that happen that just aren't meant to be disclosed and consumed by everyone.
(To be clear; that includes the media. There are a number of instances where it feels like there's a handle on things or an understanding of what a particular player or school is thinking only to find out a week or two later that the mark was missed and in some cases, missed badly.)
As Ohio State prepares for the home stretch of the 2015 season, they also enter the final run of the 2016 recruiting cycle. Currently with 18 commitments, the Buckeyes' class, which had been ranked as the country's best for a good major, sits second presently as they look to add somewhere between five and seven more names to the list. We've tried over the last year and more to give the best coverage we can here so that no names are a surprise to Eleven Warriors' readers and today we're offering up a list of 11 players, in order of likelihood, who could sign with the Buckeyes come February.
BINJIMEN VICTOR • WIDE RECEIVER • COCONUT CREEK, FLORIDA
Ohio State is looking for another wide receiver to line up across from Austin Mack in 2016 and Binjimen Victor continues to be the most likely one for them to land.
Victor made an official visit to Columbus the weekend of Oct. 17 and, although he's publicly stating that no school leads for his signature right now, the Buckeyes continue to feel confident in their position.
ANTWUAN JACKSON • DEFENSIVE TACKLE • ELLENWOOD, GEORGIA
Although Malik Barrow is committed to Ohio State, the Buckeyes' coaching staff has been hot on the trail of Georgia's Antwuan Jackson since the spring. Jackson made his first visit to Ohio in June–and returned in July–and made an unofficial trip in September.
This weekend, he'll return for his official visit as the Buckeyes take on Michigan State, a trip that Ohio State hopes can permanently put the Scarlet and Gray on top. Auburn and Ohio State remain the favorites in the race to sign Jackson.
DAMAR HAMLIN • DEFENSIVE BACK • PITTSBURGH
Admittedly, as this list is supposed to be about "confidence" in signing, Damar Hamlin might need to be lower on this list. The reason for being so high is simple: Hamlin has visited Ohio State a lot. He's been the Buckeyes' top target at defensive back for almost the entire recruiting cycle and although other schools have been there for a while too, I still believe if Hamlin leaves Pittsburgh for college that Ohio State's odds are as good or better than anyone.
Hamlin has not been back to Columbus since Friday Night Lights in July, but he's expected to be on hand this weekend. Can Luke Fickell, Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes get back in the driver's seat?
JORDAN FULLER • DEFENSIVE BACK • WESTWOOD, NEW JERSEY
Another player that a few months ago was widely thought to be an Ohio State "lean" is New Jersey's Jordan Fuller. The talented athlete — who the Buckeyes continue to recruit with an intense, daily communication — has backed off of his recruiting almost entirely. He's not yet made a single official visit but continues to talk as though one to see Urban Meyer's program is imminent.
Fuller's brother lines up at wide receiver for UCLA, he's fond of Penn State, Notre Dame, Michigan, TCU and Ohio State and all the programs he's listing are up in the air waiting for something to happen in his recruitment. For now, it's a holding pattern on Jordan Fuller, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.
DAELIN HAYES • LINEBACKER • ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN
Michigan four-star linebacker Daelin Hayes certainly would not have been on this list at all a month ago, but now the Buckeyes are right in the mix for the 6-foot-4, 235-pounder. Recruited by Tony Alford and Kerry Coombs primarily, Hayes made his first ever visit to Ohio State for the Nov. 7 game against Minnesota and will return to Columbus this weekend as the Buckeyes host Michigan State.
A former USC commit, Hayes' recruitment is now coming down to three schools: Michigan State, Notre Dame and Ohio State and a decision is coming soon. Can the Buckeyes steal the country's eighth-ranked player from the rumored favorite Irish? One thing to watch: Hayes could very well return to Michigan State on Nov. 28 and the Spartans have recruited him longer than almost anyone.
MYLES DORN • DEFENSIVE BACK • CHARLOTTE
A newer name on the Ohio State radar, North Carolina's Myles Dorn is making an official visit to Columbus this weekend and he's a name that could be worth watching, especially in Hamlin/Fuller continue to slide down the list. Dorn is a 6-foot-2, 195-pounder who had been heavily linked to North Carolina State. However, the Buckeyes and Clemson are both moving into the mix and could make his decision a difficult one.
This weekend's visit will be as much about getting to know Dorn from the Ohio State perspective.
PATRICE RENE • DEFENSIVE BACK • ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA
An old name made new? Canada-native and now Virginia resident Patrice Rene was impressive at Ohio State's Friday Night Lights in July but ended up committing to Rutgers in early August as the Buckeyes went in a different direction. Now, the possibility of Rene, the country's 37th-ranked cornerback, getting back into the mix is starting to percolate. There's been talk that the 6-foot-2, 190-pounder is considering a visit–maybe as soon as this weekend–and that would certainly signal something interesting.
RASHARD LAWRENCE • DEFENSIVE TACKLE • MONROE, LOUISIANA
If the Buckeyes don't land Antwuan Jackson–and even if they did–the pursuit of Rashard Lawrence has been a major priority for Larry Johnson and Ohio State over the last few months.
Though LSU is the runaway favorite to sign the nation's 24th-ranked player, Lawrence has made two trips to Columbus over the last few months and there's discussion that he'll be on hand this weekend, but that has not yet been confirmed. If that visit does happen, although I personally don't think it will, watch out for an Urban Meyer upset special.
SAM BRUCE • WIDE RECEIVER • FORT LAUDERDALE
If there's a wide receiver that could find his way into the class for the Buckeyes regardless of whomever else Ohio State signs, Sam Bruce from St. Thomas Aquinas could be that guy. The dynamic Miami Hurricanes' commitment, Bruce made an official visit in October and the rumor mill continues to churn out information that says he's not going to sign with Miami, although I'm personally skeptical. With limited numbers left in 2016, there may not be room for Bruce depending on what happens at other positions of greater need.
NIGEL WARRIOR • DEFENSIVE BACK • ATLANTA
As this list reaches the end, Nigel Warrior, whose first college offer was from Ohio State, finds his way on to it. Visiting officially this coming weekend, Warrior is a long-shot at best, but he's routinely mentioned the Buckeyes and assistant coach Kerry Coombs when discussing his recruitment. This weekend will be a big one for Ohio State's chances to lure Warrior–the son of former Tennessee Volunteer Dale Carter–away from the SEC.
MIQUE JUAREZ • LINEBACKER • TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA
The final spot on this list is another long-shot, but a player that's worth the risk if you're the Buckeyes. California five-star linebacker Mique Juarez, who decommitted from USC in October, continues to mention Ohio State as a potential official visit destination and with a need for another linebacker getting stronger, Juarez would be a high-priority for the Buckeyes if he makes the trip. If Urban Meyer is able to land Daelin Hayes, it's likely the chances to sign Juarez go from almost none to absolute zero.
