It sure was an eventful week for Ohio State on the recruiting trail, wouldn't you say?
The Buckeyes locked down a commitment from Jeffrey Okudah - the top-rated cornerback in the country - during last Saturday's U.S. Army All-American Bowl, then just three days later added highly sought-after junior college corner Kendall Sheffield to supplant Alabama atop the recruiting rankings.
The Crimson Tide jumped back into the lead when four-star wide receiver Tyjon Lindsey suddenly reopened his recruitment that evening, but the gap closed as Cleveland Heights four-star wideout Jaylen Harris took Lindsey's spot in the class when he admitted the inevitable and committed to Ohio State on Friday.
And to think there are still more than two weeks left until National Signing Day...
Ohio State currently sits at 19 commits, nine of which have already enrolled. But the Buckeyes still hope to add at least one more defensive tackle, running back and offensive lineman to the class, making the following prospects their top priority:
- Bellaire, Texas, Episcopal five-star defensive tackle Marvin Wilson
The 6-foot-4, 329-pound Wilson is among the most dominant and physically impressive defensive players in the country. But he's also the kind of player Ohio State has missed out on in recent years.
Though Wilson is good friends with commits Baron Browning and Jeffrey Okudah, it'll be an uphill battle for the Buckeyes to pull him out of the South.
Wilson has a long-standing relationship with LSU head coach Ed Orgeron, and his official visit to Baton Rouge this weekend may have sealed the deal for the Tigers.
If Ohio State does ultimately land Wilson, however, it will be the result of Browning and Okudah's recruiting acumen as much as Urban Meyer or Larry Johnson's.
- South Jordan, Utah, Bingham four-star defensive tackle Jay Tufele
Ohio State may very well find itself on the outside looking in for the 6-foot-3, 297-pound Tufele, as well.
He lives less than 20 minutes from Utah's campus and many believe he'd have a hard time leaving home for school, though he said that wasn't the case during Army Bowl practices.
"[The distance] won't play a major factor," Tufele told Eleven Warriors. "At the end of the day, wherever I think [the] fit is best for me, that's where I'm going to go."
Meyer and Johnson can both make an in-home visit prior to signing day, but trips to BYU, USC and Utah in consecutive weeks put Ohio State at a distinct disadvantage in the weeks leading up to Tufele's decision.
- Massillon four-star offensive tackle Thayer Munford
When offensive tackle Jake Moretti flipped his commitment to Colorado in November, many wondered if Ohio State would look to the 6-foot-6, 320-pound Munford to fill his spot in the class.
The Buckeyes still haven't offered him a scholarship, though that looks increasingly likely after Meyer, offensive line coach Greg Studrawa and linebackers coach Bill Davis made a stop in Massillon on Saturday night.
I've said for months Munford would commit the moment an offer were extended, so be on the lookout for that in the near future. If not, he'll likely end up at Kentucky or Pittsburgh.
- Pickerington Central three-star running back Morgan Ellison
After several months without contact, Ohio State running backs coach Tony Alford reached out to the 6-foot-1, 221-pound Ellison on Wednesday night. And though he's committed to Ohio, an offer from the Buckeyes would certainly change his mind.
"[Alford] thinks I can play there and they want another running back," Ellison told Eleven Warriors.
Ellison may have already had an offer from Ohio State had he not suffered a devastating injury that forced him to miss most of his sophomore and junior seasons. By the time he was back to 100 percent, the Buckeyes shifted their focus to five-star Cam Akers.
With Akers off to Florida State, though, Ellison's life-long dream may come true.
