A pair of Ohio State’s early enrollees in the 2017 class wanted to make things very clear.
Jeffrey Okudah and Baron Browning, a pair of five-star prospects from Texas already on campus for the Buckeyes, want to continue a pipeline from the Lone Star State to Ohio.
Here is a tweet sent from Okudah late Wednesday night:
I think we get one more Buckeye out of the Lone Star State #Shhhh
— Jeffrey Okudah III (@TheJeffOkudah) January 26, 2017
Browning, in a since-deleted tweet, delivered a similar message:
"That TX to OH connection is almost complete," Browning's tweet read. "We need that #RealLifeGoon and it's a wrap."
According to the 247Sports composite rankings, Okudah and Browning are the second- and fourth-ranked players in the state of Texas for the 2017 recruiting class. Running back J.K. Dobbins, another one of Ohio State’s nine early enrollees, is the No. 6-ranked player. That gives the Buckeyes three of the top-six players in a football-crazed state that isn’t exactly close to home. That’s awfully impressive.
But Okudah, Browning and Ohio State’s coaching staff want more, and that’s why the two signees sent out those tweets for the public to see. The Buckeyes are going hard after Marvin Wilson, the No. 1-ranked player in the state of a Texas and a five-star defensive tackle.
Urban Meyer and defensive line coach Larry Johnson made their final pitch to Wilson on Wednesday night as the two made their in-home visit. It appears to be a three-team race between the Buckeyes, LSU and Florida State so the Wednesday visit was crucial with under a week until National Signing Day.
Ohio State is fighting a bit of an uphill battle here, but the hope is the relationship developed by Johnson and Meyer with the Wilson family, plus the influence of other Texas players like Browning and Okudah can help the Buckeyes overcome the distance-from-home factor.
This recruiting success in Texas isn’t new for Ohio State, of course, as the Buckeyes signed a handful of highly-coveted prospects over the years — J.T. Barrett, Dontre Wilson and Demetrius Knox to name a few. But for Ohio State to be recruiting at this level in one class with three of the top-six players already signed — and a shot at a fourth — speaks volumes about the program’s national brand.
It also helps the hometown program was in a bit of turmoil throughout this recruiting cycle, too. Texas fired head coach Charlie Strong following the season and that didn’t give the Longhorns much of a chance to retain the state’s top talent.
But that figures to change a bit going forward as Tom Herman was hired to be Strong’s replacement. From Ohio State’s perspective, it had to cash in now. The Buckeyes did just that when they landed Browning, Dobbins and Okudah all in the same cycle.
All three have star potential in Columbus.
Okudah, the highest-ranked recruit in Ohio State's 2017 class, has the potential to play very early in his career. The Buckeyes lost 75 percent of their starting secondary early to the NFL Draft for the second-straight season, so if Okudah is as good as advertised — and many believe he is — there could be a significant role for him as a true freshman.
Browning is the highest-rated linebacker Meyer and Co. signed since arriving in Columbus — higher than Raekwon McMillan in 2014 and Justin Hilliard in 2015. Jerome Baker and Chris Worley return to the fold next season so only one starting spot is up for grabs — McMillan's spot in the middle — but don't be surprised if Browning plays a role similar to that of McMillan's when he was a true freshman. It might be hard to keep him off the field.
Dobbins might be the most complete back Ohio State signed since Ezekiel Elliott in 2013. He's got a nice blend of power and speed in addition to his pass-catching ability. Mike Weber will be the starter for the Buckeyes next season, but don't be surprised if Dobbins pushes Antonio Williams for the backup spot — assuming Demario McCall moves to H-back — as just a true freshman.
The three players out of Texas that Ohio State already has on campus can all make an immediate impact. They're all highly-ranked and come from arguably the best high school football state in the country.
And right now, Ohio State is trying to do anything it can to extend that pipeline.
