The dead period has finally come and gone and the Buckeyes are set to host several of their top remaining targets. Let's take a look at what we should be watching for during one of the biggest recruiting weekends of the 2016 cycle.
With three defensive backs already in the fold, Ohio State is still hoping at add at least one more to the 2016 haul. Fortunately, its top two targets remain on the board, and both of them will be in Columbus this weekend.
Pittsburgh's Damar Hamlin (Central Catholic) has visited Ohio State numerous times already — most recently for the Michigan State game — and the four-star has confirmed that he will be in town for an official. The Buckeyes got a bit of good news when Notre Dame was removed from his list of top schools, but things still seem to be pointing toward the hometown Pitt Panthers. Hamlin is planning on visiting Penn State the following weekend and his final official — to Pitt, of course — is scheduled for Jan. 29.
We've been saying for a while the Buckeyes continue to have a shot here, but this one feels like Jordan Whitehead all over again. It has become a tall task to sway the hometown kids away from Pat Narduzzi and the Panthers.
The Buckeyes appear to be in a much better spot when it comes to Westwood, New Jersey's Jordan Fuller (Old Tappan). Fuller was pretty quiet throughout the fall, focusing on his senior season. That focus paid off for the four-star as he was named Gatorade Player of the Year in New Jersey after leading Old Tappan to a state championship.
His laid-back approach this fall caused some concern, especially when he wouldn't really commit to taking an official visit to Columbus. Alas, the 6-foot-2, 195-pounder will be in town this weekend and the growing sentiment is the Buckeyes are the team to beat. The Fuller family has a history with new co-defensive coordinator Greg Schiano, who previously recruited his older brother.
Can Greg Schiano help the Buckeyes reel in Jordan Fuller? Via
Fuller hasn't been in town since April, so this visit — with family in tow — will obviously be pretty important. He is scheduled to visit Michigan the following weekend and has also discussed a trip to Happy Valley. The Army All-American is also considering the Fighting Irish, whom he officially visited last month.
Ohio State fans got a pleasant surprise Tuesday when five-star athlete Mecole Hardman announced that he too would be in Columbus this weekend. The nation's top-ranked athlete released his list of top six schools on New Year's Day; a list that didn't even include the Buckeyes. However, after bonding with Austin Mack and other Ohio State commits in San Antonio, he has decided to give Urban Meyer a shot.
I will be taking an official tohio State this weekend #Buckeyes
— Mecole Hardman Jr. (@iiAm_Mesho) January 13, 2016
Stating the obvious here, but this one is going to be a tough pull. Despite recently naming Alabama as his leader, most seem to think the hometown Bulldogs are the team to beat. Hardman does have a relationship with new Crimson Tide defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt, and there are rumors that Bama is one of the few teams that prefer him as a defensive back. Not very often do you see Alabama trotting out a 5-foot-9, 170-poundish corner, but who are we to argue with the national champs? The Buckeyes are recruiting him as a wide receiver, though he's mentioned the possibility of playing both ways.
The search for an additional linebacker continues to focus on Malik Harrison. The Columbus (Walnut Ridge) product has been viewed as an Ohio State lean ever since receiving an offer back in early December. The 6-foot-4, 215-pounder made it pretty clear that he was going to wait until after his official visit to make a decision. Wisconsin was thought to be the leader before the Buckeyes entered the picture.
While Binjimen Victor and the Sambourghini — which may be my favorite nickname ever— continue to sit atop the wide receiver board, Akron's Jonah Morris (Archbishop Hoban) is tentatively expected to make the trip to Columbus this weekend. Morris has the potential to suit up at wideout, safety, or even linebacker, but it appears that Ohio State is looking at him as a pass-catcher. The Buckeyes are likely to see how things play out with some other targets before extending an offer. The one-time Michigan State commit is expected to visit Notre Dame later this month.
Baton Rouge will be another place to keep an eye on this weekend. Five-star defensive tackle Rashard Lawrence took to Twitter on Wednesday to lay out his commitment plans. The 6-foot-3, 305-pounder will officially visit LSU this weekend and will decide between the Buckeyes and Tigers next Friday.
Dwayne Haskins continues to trend toward Ohio State as the four-star looks to be on his way out of the Maryland class. As discussed earlier this week, the Terps have offered a couple of new signal-callers and appear to be preparing for life without Haskins. The LSU staff is rumored to be visiting with the Potomac, Maryland standout on Thursday, where they will most assuredly be trying to solidify an official visit for the upcoming weekend.
There have been conflicting reports on the status of the visit. The Maryland side seems to think Haskins will be in Baton Rouge this weekend, but most of the LSU sources appear to be a bit skeptical. Either way, if there is an in-home visit on Thursday, that should go a long way in ironing out those plans. If the visit doesn't happen, Meyer could have his 2016 quarterback sooner rather than later.
