The Buckeyes have two defensive tackles in the fold for 2017, but it remains a position of great focus as national signing day approaches.
Ever since four-star lineman Haskell Garrett committed in February of 2016, there hasn't been a whole lot of fireworks at the position. The Buckeyes have looked into a number of options along the interior defensive line, and the good news is that the staff's top two targets are still on the board.
In addition to Garrett – a Bishop Gorman product who's ranked No. 5 at the position – Cincinnati's Jerron Cage (Winton Woods) has been part of the class since July of 2015. While Cage has made several trips to Notre Dame and could be in South Bend again this month, it does look like his time spent there has mostly been to see his older brother, Irish lineman Daniel Cage. Still, the Cage situation should be monitored over the next month.
Larry Johnson and the Buckeyes are still looking to add another to the interior portion of the line, and there are plenty of options left for the taking.
Marvin Wilson • Bellaire, TX (Episcopal) • ★★★★★ • Composite Ranking: No. 3
We've talked a lot about the nation's top tackle ever since the Buckeyes extended an offer last March. The talk has been for a good reason as Wilson is obviously extremely talented but he's also the exact kind of player that Ohio State has been striking out on recently. It's a tall task to pull a defensive tackle from the South or Southeast, especially one who is high on LSU as the Bayou Bengals continue to see a wealth of talent at the position.
Ed Orgeron's class already features two players at the position, including Tyler Shelvin, the nation's No. 3 tackle prospect. It certainly helps that the state of Louisiana annually produces some of the country's top linemen. LSU currently looks like the team to beat for Wilson, but his crystal ball isn't totally in favor of the Tigers by any means.
The Buckeyes may very well be running second in this race, and the work the staff is doing in the Lonestar State certainly isn't hurting their chance. Early enrollees Jeffrey Okudah and Baron Browning have both been putting in work on the 6-foot-4, 330-pounder on social media. Wilson was in Columbus for the Michigan game and received a visit from Larry Johnson shortly thereafter.
Still, Wilson has a longstanding relationship with Ed Orgeron and has yet to even make his official visit to Baton Rouge. While it doesn't seem likely for the Buckeyes at this point, it's never wise to count out Urban Meyer and Larry Johnson.
Wilson will announce on national signing day.
Jay Tufele • South Jordan, UT (Bingham) • ★★★★ • Composite Ranking: No. 56
Another one of the country's top tackles was also in Columbus for the Michigan game and he too is tentatively expected to announce on the first Wednesday in February. Utah's Jay Tufele has been a popular name on both Ohio State and Michigan's recruiting boards, but the latter no longer appears to be a major threat for the nation's No. 4 tackle.
At 6-foot-3 and 297 pounds, Tufele is bigger than both Jerron Cage and Haskell Garrett, though he isn't quite the space-eater on the inside that is Marvin Wilson. For the Buckeyes, the biggest thing working against them may be the timing of the official visits. The four-star still plans on visiting BYU, USC, and the in-state favorite Utes. The visit to Salt Lake City will come the weekend before signing day, and the proximity to home – it's less than 20 miles from South Jordan to the campus – is absolutely working in the Utes' favor.
Anything can happen between now and signing day and the staff will likely make the trek out West, but the Buckeyes may very well find themselves as runner-up for this one as well.
If things fall through with both Wilson and Tufele, the staff could move in a few different directions. They may elect to just bring in the two aforementioned commits and move on to the Class of 2018; a class that has two Buckeye leans in the top-five at the position in IMG Academy's Taron Vincent and Brooklyn's Matthew Jones.
Ohio State also may go on the search for new potential targets at the position. The staff employed such a tactic in 2015 and ultimately would offer and sign Pickerington's' DaVon Hamilton late in the process.
Finally, and I feel this may be the most likely scenario, they could get back into the game with some previous targets that we've discussed throughout the cycle. Earlier this week, LandOf10's Jeremy Birmingham noted that the window may still be slightly open for Olney, Maryland's Joshua Paschal. The Kentucky pledge is listed as a defensive end but he's a player that Ohio State views as more of a tackle prospect.
Paschal has family ties to Lexington but is rumored to still be sniffing around a bit. Penn State and Notre Dame are two other teams to watch for the 6-foot-4, 255-pound lineman.
Let's preface this by saying that there hasn't been any chatter about the Buckeyes being in touch with Cam Spence, but it seems as though he's anything but solid on his pledge to Maryland.
At 6-foot-3 and 315 pounds, the four-star Washington D.C. product was viewed as a serious Buckeye target way back in the early stages of the 2017 cycle. However, things never really seemed to take off and the Terps were able to secure his commitment last April. Since that time, Penn State and a few others have creeped back into the picture and it seems as though Maryland may end up with a bit of an exodus on their hands much like last year around this time.
Again, Ohio State hasn't been mentioned at all recently, but Spence does hold a Buckeye offer and still has two official visits remaining. Thus far he's checked out Kentucky, Penn State, and Maryland and is scheduled to be in Gainesville this weekend.
The four-star resides in prime Larry Johnson territory and with some officials still remaining, he is perhaps another name worth watching if the staff does elect to circle back.
