Comfort and relationships are arguably the two biggest factors when it comes to the recruitment of the nation's top high school talent.
Luke Fickell will look to stymie Deshaun Watson and a potent Clemson offense on New Year's Eve before taking over as new head coach at the University of Cincinnati. His work on the recruiting front has been stellar, and many Buckeye fans have wondered what's next as a new face will look to lead a group of young linebackers.
The addition of veteran NFL coach Bill Davis brings some answers, but some questions still remain surrounding the unit and its future. While Davis' role hasn't officially been announced, his experience working with linebackers makes it reasonable to assume that he will play an integral part in the position's development.
Davis last coached at the collegiate level in 1991 when he was a graduate assistant in East Lansing. Needless to say, a lot has changed in the last 25 years. Success on the recruiting trail is imperative at any powerhouse college program and that's especially true for a one that is run by Urban Meyer.
It remains to be seen how Davis will adjust to the demands of being on Meyer's staff, but the Buckeyes' linebacker recruiting isn't exactly struggling for the 2017 and 2018 classes.
Brendon White looks on at Ohio State's bowl practice from last weekend. Via
The Class of 2017 feature three commits at the position, one of whom has already been spotted practicing with the team.
The crown jewel of the group is five-star Baron Browning, who committed to Ohio State over Alabama three weeks ago to the day. The Kennedale, Texas, product may be the country's most athletic player at the position. He stands 6-foot-3 and 230 pounds, saw time at cornerback during his senior season and is also a state powerlifting champion. Enrolling early will also help his chance of seeing the field early in Columbus.
Brendon White was recruited primarily as an athlete, but most knew he would ultimately end up at linebacker. He was spotted practicing with the Ohio State linebackers last week, which added a bit of an interesting element to the bowl preparation. Having already graduated from Olentangy Liberty High School, he is permitted to take part in bowl practices.
An official visit to Columbus and in-home with Luke Fickell was about all it took for the Buckeyes to sway four-star Pete Werner away from the Fighting Irish. Werner isn't ranked quite as highly as Browning (No. 9 nationally) or White (No. 114), but he could be the most likely to fill a needed void at middle linebacker.
Assuming Bill Davis is tasked with the Buckeye linebackers, the outlook for the Class of 2018 is already superb as Luke Fickell and the Ohio State staff have made major progress with several of the nation's elite.
| Prospect | High School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Palaie Gaoteote | Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) | ★★★★★ |
| Teradja Mitchell | Bishop Sullivan (Virginia Beach) | ★★★★★ |
| Dallas Gant | St. John's Jesuit (Toledo) | ★★★★ |
| Adrian Jackson | Mullen (Denver) | ★★★★ |
| Christopher Oates | Winton Woods (Cincinnati) | ★★★★ |
There's obviously a long way to go between now and February of 2018, but Raekwon McMillan and Chris Worley will both be gone – one likely sooner than the other – and who knows what could happen with Jerome Baker. He's a sophomore right now but he's made a big splash already and is likely going to be a name that's discussed next year at this time as a potential early NFL entree.
Guys like Justin Hilliard, Nick Conner, Tuf Borland, Malik Harrison and Keandre Jones should have more of an opportunity to see the field next year, and we will have to wait and see how Browning, White and Werner look during their first season in Columbus.
For 2018, the Buckeyes will be tough to beat for Bishop Gorman's Palaie Gaoteote. The five-star is the country's top outside linebacker and looked like one of the best in America this season – regardless of class. Every time the Gaels were on television, the 6-foot-2, 220-pounder was impossible to miss. He took a trip to Columbus in late October and will surely be back to see the rest of the Gorman crew in the future.
A pair of Ohioans in Dallas Gant and Christopher Oates appear to be Buckeye leans right now as both are 100 percent crystal-balled to Ohio State. If space does become an issue, Gant is considering Notre Dame and Michigan while Oates holds offers from Michigan, Oklahoma, Miami and others.
The Buckeyes offered four-star Adrian Jackson in April and the Denver product has been to Columbus multiple times since; most recently for the drubbing of the Cornhuskers in November. Nothing appears to be imminent right now, but Jackson does have Ohio State out in front.
"Ohio State is at the top of my list, while other schools stand behind," Jackson said. "The program is really organized. Everything they do is precise. They have that family atmosphere. They are always talking about brotherhood, and I like that."
Virginia's Teradja Mitchell appears to be the least likely to end up siding with the good guys, but as a true inside linebacker, he would certainly be a welcome addition to a unit that is especially strong on the outside. His crystal ball currently favors the Seminoles.
While comfort and relationships are key in the crazy world of college football recruiting, the Buckeyes have already built a strong foundation at linebacker for the the next two recruiting classes.
Davis and any other new additions will have to work to culminate what Luke Fickell and the rest of the Ohio State staff has already established.
