The 11W Recruiting Mailbag is your one-stop shop for all things Ohio State recruiting. You have questions. We have answers.
What five-star recruits do we still have a legitimate shot with? - Buckinpa
These rankings will fluctuate by the time the Early Signing Period and National Signing Day roll around, so it’s probable a player who is considered a high four-star prospect right now — Georgia center Harry Miller, for example — is bumped up in the coming months.
But as things currently standing in the 247Sports Composite Rankings, there are 34 prospects listed as five-star recruits. Ohio State has already landed a commitment from one of them in wide receiver Garrett Wilson, and has offers out to 23 others. Of those, 11 have already pledged their services elsewhere. That certainly doesn’t mean the Buckeyes are out of the running just yet — as you’ll see below — but it definitely makes it less likely they’ll end up in Columbus.
With that said, Ohio State is among the top choices for seven five-star prospects this cycle. That includes:
West Virginia offensive tackle Darnell Wright
The 6-foot-6, 314-pound Wright has long been considered an Ohio State lean, but Alabama and Tennessee have made a push in his recruitment following unofficial visits to both schools last month. He’s a long way from a decision, though.
Olentangy Orange defensive end Zach Harrison
Without a doubt Ohio State’s top target — regardless of position — the 6-foot-6, 240-pound Harrison is set to take an official visit in June. You can read more on him below.
IMG Academy defensive end Nolan Smith II
Though he’s been committed to Georgia for nearly a year and a half, Ohio State is pushing hard for the 6-foot-3, 232-pound Smith to take an official visit. In fact, the Buckeyes are the only other program he’s discussed that with.
Michigan offensive tackle Devontae Dobbs
The 6-foot-4, 270-pound Dobbs is considered a Michigan State lean, but he’s nowhere close to making a decision on his future. He talks with Ohio State offensive line coach Greg Studrawa daily, which is why the Buckeyes will make the cut when he trims his list to 10 or so this summer.
Hawaii defensive tackle Faatui Tuitele
The fact that the 6-foot-4, 299-pound Tuitele paid his own way to Columbus for an unofficial visit early last month shows that he’s extremely interested. And though the Buckeyes don’t have a significant need at defensive tackle, they’ll try to get him on campus for an official visit this fall.
Virginia linebacker Brandon Smith
Penn State is the odds-on favorite to land a commitment from the 6-foot-5, 224-pound Smith, but Ohio State rolled out the red carpet for him during an unofficial visit last month. He has a strong relationship with head coach Urban Meyer and linebackers coach Bill Davis, and the Buckeyes are set to receive an official visit from him next season.
Oklahoma safety Daxton Hill
The 6-foot-1, 190-pound Hill listed Ohio State in his Top 6 on Friday, but it’ll be hard to gauge his true interest in the program until he visits campus for the first time. Until then, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State — where his old brother played — should be considered more likely destinations.
What more does Harrison need to see that he hasn’t seen in 17 years? - Niblick
As you all should know by now, Harrison is not a flashy kid. He doesn’t take to social media to share his every move and — honestly — couldn’t care less when it comes to the attention he deserves as arguably the best prospect in the entire country.
On top of his overall athletic abilities and superb academic standing, his humility is a big reason why he’s one of the most sought-after prospects in his class. But of course, those on the outside take that as an opportunity to speculate on what he’s thinking and/or where he’ll end up.
Every mention of Harrison’s name is unfairly followed up by comparisons to a five-star offensive tackle who didn’t end up at Ohio State last cycle. And worry that he’ll end up spurning the Buckeyes for an out-of-state program ensues.
To answer your question, there’s nothing more that Harrison needs to see from Ohio State. Having grown up just 20 minutes away, he’s been to campus more times than any other school. But he’s not looking at it from the same perspective as you.
Harrison knows what the Buckeyes offer. He’s close with Meyer and defensive line coach Larry Johnson, and knows that he’ll be developed on and off the field by the program and university. Yet — as I would hope any young man in his situation would — he’s using his recruitment to see what other programs have to offer, as well.
Being in his position gives him the opportunity to visit schools like Alabama, Clemson, Michigan, Notre Dame and Penn State. And he’s wise to take advantage of that.
Ultimately, I don’t think Harrison’s recruitment drags past the summer. He’s coming off an official visit with the Nittany Lions last month and is scheduled to see the Wolverines in an official capacity next month.
Ohio State will receive an official visit in June, as well, meaning Harrison’s commitment could soon follow. He’s not going to release a list of top schools, but rather just make the call when he feels the time is right. And everyone should respect the way he’s going about it rather than worry.
How large will this class be, and what is the biggest need left? - Seattle Linga
To follow up what my colleague Andrew Ellis said in his Heat Check on Tuesday afternoon, we’ll quite possibly look back at the month of April as the most important month of the entire recruiting cycle. Spring practice and the annual Spring Game brought dozens of prospects to campus, with six announcing their commitment to the program within the last three weeks alone.
Ohio State’s Dynasty ’19 recruiting class now sits at nine commitments, and the staff’s plan at each position is becoming clearer with each pledge. But with that said, the overall size of the class is difficult to project because of unexpected attrition that will occur late in the cycle.
Instead, I’m going to take this opportunity to give a breakdown of needs remaining at each position.
QUARTERBACK - 0/1
COMMITS: None
TARGETS: Houston four-star Grant Gunnell
RUNNING BACK - 2/2
COMMITS: Indiana four-star Sampson James, Georgia four-star Steele Chambers
TARGETS: IMG Academy four-star Noah Cain
WIDE RECEIVER - 1/4-5
COMMITS: Wilson
TARGETS: Arizona four-star Jake Smith, Georgia four-star Zion Puckett, Indiana four-star David Bell, St. Louis four-star Marcus Washington, St. Louis four-star Jameson Williams, Tennessee four-star Trey Knox, Texas four-star Jalen “Boobie” Curry, Texas four-star Elijah Higgins, Indiana three-star Craig Young
OFFENSIVE LINE - 2/5-6
COMMITS: West Virginia four-star Doug Nester, Mentor four-star Ryan Jacoby
TARGETS: Dobbs, Miller, Wright, Cincinnati Anderson four-star guard Zeke Correll, Illinois four-star tackle Trevor Keegan, Rhode Island four-star tackle Xavier Truss
DEFENSIVE LINE - 1/3
COMMITS: Mentor four-star end Noah Potter
TARGETS: Harrison, Smith, Cincinnati Walnut Hills four-star tackle Jowon Briggs, Kansas four-star end Marcus Hicks, North Carolina four-star end Terrell Dawkins
LINEBACKER - 1/3
COMMITS: Lexington four-star Cade Stover
TARGETS: Smith, Florida four-star Rian Davis, Tennessee four-star Kane Patterson, Florida three-star Marcus Tillman Jr.
CORNERBACK - 0/2
COMMITS: None
TARGETS: Florida four-star John Dixon, Tennessee four-star Woodi Washington, Texas four-star Erick Young, Texas four-star Jeffery “Scooby” Carter, Pennsylvania three-star M.J. Devonshire
SAFETY - 2/2
COMMITS: New Jersey four-star “Rocket” Ronnie Hickman, Maryland three-star Bryson Shaw
TARGETS: Hill, Florida four-star Jordan Battle, Maryland four-star Nick Cross
