Apopka, Florida, four-star offensive tackle William Barnes included Ohio State in his Top 7 on Thursday night alongside Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Georgia and North Carolina.
TOP 7 pic.twitter.com/ffdPdoEFdP
— (@barneswilliam7) July 28, 2017
The 6-foot-4, 312-pound Barnes is considered the fifth-best offensive tackle and No. 45 prospect overall in the Class of 2018. He participated in Nike Football's The Opening Finals earlier this month and has been invited to both the U.S. Army and Under Armour All-American games.
Though his list would indicate the Buckeyes would be hard-pressed to pull him from the south, Barnes previously told Eleven Warriors he has no reservations about playing far from home or in colder weather. He made his first and only trip to Columbus for a spring practice in early April, and it's clear that visit resonated with him and his family.
Ohio State already holds a commitment from Tennessee four-star Max Wray and remains the favorite to land Fairfield five-star Jackson Carman. But if the latter were to pick Clemson this December, the staff is in a great position to make a late push for Barnes.
The Gators, meanwhile, are the odds-on favorite to land his pledge.
