The 11W Recruiting Mailbag is your one-stop shop for all things Ohio State recruiting. You have questions. We have answers.
Who does Ohio State finish out the class with? - Kareemabduljacobb
- California four-star wide receiver Chris Olave
- Maryland four-star offensive tackle Rasheed Walker
- Cincinnati Winton Woods four-star linebacker Christopher Oats
Olave is set to decide on Sunday among Ohio State, UCLA, Utah and USC. And while the Bruins were considered the favorite until a week ago, I've always believed he wanted to be a Buckeye. The staff signed three wide receivers last month, which appeared the close the door on Olave. But a renewed focus on simply taking the best player available instead of filling a position of need with a less-talented prospect has given the staff the room to fit him in.
Walker, meanwhile, is arguably the staff's most important remaining target because of the glaring need that remains at offensive tackle following the Early Signing Period. He's seemingly down to Ohio State and Penn State — though Virginia Tech is mentioned as a potential destination — and the Buckeyes made tremendous strides during his official visit last weekend. The opportunity for early playing time is there, and I think the chance to be developed and be set up for life after football seals the deal.
Oats, much like Olave, seemed to be on the outside looking in as Ohio State signed three very talented linebackers. He could have been a part of the class last summer if he was on track academically, but had to work extremely hard to be in the position he is now. Even with that, the staff kept in contact with him throughout the process, and so long as he is in good academic standing and takes his official visit next weekend, I expect him to be the final piece to Supreme '18.
Are they any recruits that you haven't really written about that you think could become a Buckeye? - NHBuckeye
In addition to the three aforementioned players, there's a small pool of talent that could eventually find its way into Ohio State's class. They are Tampa five-star offensive tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere, New Jersey four-star defensive end/linebacker Javontae Jean-Baptiste, Texas three-star athlete Maurice Washington III and Washington D.C. three-star cornerback D.J. Brown.
That's it.
The Buckeyes don't have any real needs to address beyond offensive tackle, though they'd seemingly like to add another pass-rusher this cycle. That's where Oats, who could be developed into a defensive end at the next level comes in, but more on that in a second.
Petit-Frere will take his official visit next month, but I don't think Ohio State can overcome the proximity of Alabama or Florida, despite a strong relationship through defensive coordinator and area recruiter Greg Schiano.
Washington has always wanted to be a Buckeye, but the cupboard is beyond full at running back and he's a project if you move him to defensive back. He also has some academic issues that need to be taken care of. That said, he's set to take his official visit this weekend. If those academic issues are cleared up and the staff believes he's simply too talented to pass up — specifically in the return game — he might find his way into the class late.
A lot hinges on whether or not the visit actually occurs, though.
Brown is probably the least likely, meanwhile. He's currently committed to Virginia, and though he's been open to looking at other schools, the earliest he'd be able to take an official visit is the final weekend of the recruiting cycle. Even if he is looking to flip, building a relationship with the staff in one weekend — when you don't even know who your position coach will be — makes it highly unlikely he'd choose the Buckeyes over programs he's known longer.
Does the new alignment of early and traditional signing days actually offer a bit of an advantage to top teams like Ohio State, who can not only reel in a strong class in December, but then also focus all resources on top uncommitted names in areas of need? - Brband64
I think another unintended consequence of the Early Signing Period will be the further separation between top programs and the rest of the college football world.
Ohio State, for example, signed 22 players last month, and can now focus all of its attention on the few players I mentioned above. Most of the Buckeyes' needs were addressed, and now it's about simply targeting the best players available.
Alabama, Clemson, Georgia and Miami are also doing the same right now, so the rich only get richer, while teams that are still piecing together their classes like Michigan, for example, are focused on a larger number of prospects to fill their many remaining needs. The Wolverines are also having to fight with the aforementioned programs for the top prospects on their boards and could very well miss out on an elite-level prospect because they're not giving as much attention as — let's say — the Bulldogs, who are doing all it can right now to flip Michigan's highest-rated commit.
Ohio State is also able to get a head start in recruiting next year's class. Those position coaches and area recruiters who aren't focused on the above-mentioned prospects are able to hit the road this month to meet with coaches at high schools across the country, evaluate film and build relationships with top prospects while other programs are still focused entirely on rounding out this year's class.
Does the potential addition of Cincinnati Winton Woods four-star linebacker Chris Oats affect whether the staff is still pursuing New Jersey four-star defensive end/linebacker Javontae Jean-Baptiste? - OSU2002Grad
As I mentioned in last night's edition of The Hurry Up, Jean-Baptiste is unlikely to end up at Ohio State because it appears not everyone in the program is sold on what he brings to the table. Though he has the ideal frame to add muscle, he's a bit undersized and his continued physical development would be crucial since the Buckeyes would have him earmarked for defensive end.
Moving on from Jean-Baptiste doesn't necesarrily open up a spot for Oats, but certainly makes his inclusion in the class that much more important.
Oats was always the type of player Ohio State had on the back burner as he worked toward improving his grades. If he was able to get them in order, the Buckeyes would accept his pledge late in the process. But when it comes to his on-field play, his versatility would more than make up for the staff moving on from Jean-Baptiste.
Oats is already bigger than Jean-Baptiste, though they play the same position in high school, and he has a similar ability to pack on the muscle and develop into a rush end. He may very well stay at linebacker, as well, but that versatility is a big reason why Ohio State kept on him even when it looked unlikely last summer he'd be in good academic standing by the time National Signing Day rolled around.
If the staff could have a "re-do" with any situation or any recruit in this recruiting cycle, what/who do you think it would be? - OH2MD
This was certainly my favorite question, and honestly not an easy one to answer.
Of course, I could choose quarterback Emory Jones, simply because both he and Ohio State handled his recruitment poorly. If Jones and/or his family didn't believe he'd be developed in Columbus, as some of my sources have told me, then he should have reopened his recruitment last summer instead holding onto a relationship that would be strained even further with every visit he took.
The Buckeyes, meanwhile, held out hope that he'd stop taking visits for far too long. If it weren't for Matt Baldwin, who I believe will develop in to a better quarterback than Jones — who regressed tremendously during his senior season thanks to a shoulder injury from which he never fully recovered — I'd go this route.
Instead, I'm going to say defensive end Andrew Chatfield.
Ohio State accepted Chatfield's pledge just a few days after defensive line coach Larry Johnson offered him a scholarship in the spring. His commitment was expected to open the floodgates at Fort Lauderdale American Heritage, which featured five-star cornerbacks Tyson Campbell and Patrick Surtain II and four-star defensive tackle Nesta Silvera.
The Buckeyes picked up several 247Sports Crystal Ball predictions for each one as a result, and American Heritage was quickly deemed the next pipeline to Columbus. Instead, it was just a pipe dream.
That domino effect never happened and the staff cooled on Chatfield as it chased several other highly rated defensive ends. Georgia five-star Brenton Cox committed shortly thereafter, and the staff chased Pennsylvania five-star Micah Parsons, Cleveland Heights four-star Tyreke Smith and New Jersey four-star Jayson Oweh over the next few months.
By the end of summer, Chatfield reopened his recruitment. The Buckeyes eventually struck out with everyone except Smith — and even that was quite the battle with Penn State — before adding New Jersey four-star Tyler Friday last month.
The staff shot for the stars at the position this cycle, and while I don't think that's a bad thing, it was clear Chatfield was looking forward to learning from Johnson. If the staff focused on retaining his pledge as much as they were determined to land four additional elite pass-rushers, I think he'd still be in the class.
Is 2019 a better year for Ohio recruits than 2018? - Hetuck
We've talked about Ohio State's national recruiting approach under head coach Urban Meyer quite a bit in recent years, as the Buckeyes continue to land fewer and fewer in-state prospects with each recruiting cycle. What was once 16 Ohioans signing up in 2012 has dipped to only five — so far — in this year's class.
A number of factors contribute to that, as Meyer mentioned academics playing a large role in why Ohio State didn't go after a number of players. At the same time, the level of local talent has also dipped in recent years. Only a few players have truly been worthy of an offer from the Buckeyes, and taking lower-ranked prospects for the sake of filling the roster with homegrown talent isn't going to help the Buckeyes compete for a national title year-in and year-out.
Next year's recruiting class is among the state's most talented in years, however. In fact, the following Ohioans already hold offers from Ohio State:
- Olentangy Orange five-star defensive end Zach Harrison
- Cincinnati Walnut Hills four-star defensive tackle Jowon Briggs
- Lexington four-star linebacker Cade Stover
- Mentor four-star defensive end Noah Potter
- Cincinnati Anderson four-star offensive guard Zeke Correll
- Mentor four-star offensive tackle Ryan Jacoby
There are many other in-state prospects, like Sidney four-star athlete Andre Gordon, Columbus St. Francis De Sales four-star defensive tackle Rodas Johnson, Reynoldsburg four-star athlete Mershawn Rice, Springfield four-star cornerback Moses Douglass, Massillon Washington four-star linebacker Jamir Thomas, Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller three-star offensive guard Zach Carpenter, Pickerington Central three-star defensive tackle DeWayne Carter Jr., Westerville Central three-star wide receiver Cameron Phillips, Columbus Northland three-star running back John Branham Jr., Springfield three-star defensive tackle Isaiah Gibson, Youngstown Cardinal Mooney three-star linebacker Luke Fulton and Reynoldsburg three-star linebacker Dezman Cooper who have been to campus several times and continue to build a strong relationship with the staff.
Of course, I'm not saying every one of them will end up at Ohio State. Only a handful of them will likely land an offer during their respective senior campaigns. However, there's no denying the overall amount of local talent is far greater than it has been in recent years, and I think that could go a long way toward the Buckeyes keeping more kids home.
