With 13 verbal commitments already in the fold, Ohio State’s 2017 recruiting class currently ranks No. 1 in the country, according to 247Sports’ composite rankings. The Buckeyes have long had hold of that No. 1 spot and, at the moment, can seemingly do no wrong on the recruiting trail.
“We’re kind of hot right now,” Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer said after his team’s first spring practice of the year. “Guys want to come.”
And that's never been clearer than it was at recent spring practices inside the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. Recruits from all across the country have traveled to Columbus in recent weeks to catch a glimpse of Ohio State, to check out all of the hype.
Just this past week alone, Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas had three of its biggest names on the Buckeyes’ campus to take in practice. Haskell Garrett, a four-star defensive tackle committed in the 2017 class, enjoyed a few days. He was joined by teammates, a pair of quarterbacks, Tate Martell and Dorian Thompson-Robinson.
Four-star safety and 2017 commit Isaiah Pryor was at practice Thursday; five-star wide receiver Tyjon Lindsey was on campus over the weekend, as well.
These are only a few names. There were others. There will be more to come.
This is the time of year where high schools are on spring break so it makes sense some out-of-state prospects are coming to Columbus. The recruits have free time so they want to go around and see as many different colleges as they can. The point here is that these aren't just Ohio kids coming. These prospects are coming to Columbus from all across the country.
Why?
Because Ohio State is on a roll in the recruiting world right now and it's showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
“When you do this,” cornerbacks coach Kerry Coombs said, motioning his hands as if to hold up a trophy. “That’s an exciting thing, so that’s why I think it is how it is.”
Obviously the Buckeyes did not win a title in their most recent season, but the lore of 2014 is still alive and well. And it also doesn’t hurt Ohio State has the potential to break some records at the upcoming NFL Draft. Recruits absolutely see that type of exposure on a national level.
“That Pro Day was ridiculous,” Coombs said. “There’s a lot of guys saying, ‘I want a part of that.’”
So, recruits are coming to check things out for themselves.
This isn’t new at Ohio State, of course, as the Buckeyes have been one of the nation’s top programs for years. But there’s certainly a bit of a different feel around now that Meyer has fully made his mark on the program.
Ohio State may be at an all-time high right now when it comes to the world of recruiting.
“I’ve always said many times, since I was this big, Ohio State’s been a national name,” Meyer said, holding his hand roughly three feet off the ground. “Players from all over the country come to Ohio State.
“You’ve gotta take care of your state first then go through it and that’s kind of what we do.”
