Ohio State's top-ranked 2018 recruiting class features 14 commitments from many of the country's top prospects. Names like Emory Jones, Taron Vincent, and Jaelen Gill have gotten a lot of the buzz, and it's been for good reason as they are some of America's best players at their respective positions.
If there's one commitment that we really don't know a whole lot about, look no further than Orlando, Florida cornerback Sevyn Banks.
Banks visited Ohio State back in mid-April, and less than two weeks later he was a part of its 2018 recruiting class. The commitment was a bit of a surprise because frankly, Banks hadn't been a player we had talked too much about.
The reason there are still some question marks surrounding the recruitment primarily stems from the 2016 season; a season in which Banks didn't see the field at all due to a torn ACL. Thus, there's not a whole lot of film to watch and the evaluators simply don't have much to look at. Despite the lack of film, schools like Florida, Florida State, Alabama, and LSU have all come calling.
Greg Schiano and the Buckeye staff will likely bring in a trio of cornerbacks this cycle, and right now the Orlando product is the only one in the fold.
Most of the defensive back discussion has revolved around five-star cornerback Anthony Cook (Houston, Texas) and four-star Tyson Campbell (Plantation, Florida), and there's no doubt these are two of the top remaining names on Ohio State's board. The Buckeyes brought in an abundance of talent for the 2017 cycle, and Cook and Campbell may both be leaning toward Ohio State right now.
Still, there's a lot to be excited about in regards to the lone 2018 cornerback commit.
At 6-foot-1 and 180 pounds, Banks has the size that we've grown accustomed to in the Schiano-led secondary. He's showing no ill side effects of the torn ACL and recorded one of the highest Nike+ football ratings at the Orlando regional back in February. His 4.50 forty was the second-fastest time among defensive backs and a vertical of 41.7 inches was tops among the 300+ competitors.
41.7 Inch Vert pic.twitter.com/UsFWYttV43
— Sevyn Banks7 (@BanksNiko) April 10, 2017
Banks' brother Marcell Harris is a safety for Jim McElwain's Gators, and the four-star had identified Florida as his "dream school" way back in January when they extended an offer. The Buckeyes offered about a week later and were followed by the likes of LSU, Florida State, and Tennessee.
Anyone who was wondering – or still is wondering – about how serious this recruitment was should probably take note of Ohio State's efforts this past spring. Banks was invited up for the spring game the weekend of April 15. Ace recruiter Kerry Coombs then made an appearance at Orlando's Jones High School on April 26. News of the commitment broke later that evening.
The Buckeyes got their guy. Again.
This week's festivities in Oregon will give the Ohio State commit ample opportunity to show what he's got as he goes up against some of the nation's best. Obviously, a prospect can only show so much in a 7-on-7 setting, but the entire recruiting world will be watching as The Opening finals unfold.
Banks checks in as a three-star prospect by both 247Sports and Rivals but is a composite four-star thanks in part to a slightly loftier rating on ESPN and Scout. He is ranked as the No. 26 cornerback in the country.
Truth be told, that's a pretty impressive rating for someone who hasn't seen any live action since the 2015 season.
The Buckeye pledge already has the measurables, physical tools, and the offer sheet of someone you'd expect to see rated in the top 100. Now fully healthy, the summer months and 2017 football season will go a long way in showing Ohio State and the rest of the country what the Orlando cornerback can bring to the table.
Don't be surprised if Sevyn Banks' ascent up the rankings begins this week in Beaverton.
