Ohio State's 2019 recruiting class is slowly coming together, and at this point the general thought is that the Buckeyes will look to add another 13-15 in addition to the nine they've already got in the fold.
Lexington's Cade Stover hopped on board one month ago to the day, and he's accompanied by two other in-state stars in the Mentor duo of Ryan Jacoby and Noah Potter. Five-star defensive end Zach Harrison continues to be the biggest name on Ohio State's board, and the Buckeyes are battling Penn State for the Lewis Center defender. Harrison will continue his official visits in June and a decision should come before the season starts.
This next month will be a big one on the trail. The camp circuit continues as prospects from around the country look to expand their offer lists. Ohio State's first one-day camp will be held on June 8th with two others to follow in the middle of the month. Further, official visits are permissible through the month of June, and the Buckeyes will have none bigger than for the aforementioned Harrison.
There have been plenty of twists and turns of late, and some fans may actually be questioning Ohio State's strategies; especially as it pertains to quarterback recruiting. Signing day is still eight months away, however, and there's still a full season of football for the staff to evaluate prospects and extend new offers.
Within the state of Ohio, there are several players to keep a close eye on. Don't be surprised if one – or more – of these three-star prospects earn offers over the summer or in the months to follow.
Erick All • Tight End • Fairfield • Pos. Rank: 26 • Nat. Rank: 654
Ohio State's tight end recruiting has been one of the enigmas of the 2019 cycle. After signing Jeremy Ruckert last December, it's been tricky to keep up with the position, and at this point we aren't even 100 percent sure the Buckeyes will sign a tight end for the current class.
Arizona's Braydon Liebrock committed to Texas earlier this month, and he was one of the few known targets at the position. The Buckeyes don't appear to be in great shape with anyone else they've offered, so it wouldn't be a surprise if they were to look inside the state of Ohio.
Erick All checks in at 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds, and his recruitment has been blossoming of late. In the last three weeks, the Fairfield native has received offers from Wisconsin, Michigan, Florida State, and Notre Dame. The Irish have missed out on several top targets, and I'd look for them to prioritize All in the coming weeks and months.
As for the Buckeyes, if they're definitely looking for a tight end in this class, then it could be All or nothing at this point.
Connor Bazelak • Quarterback • Dayton • Pos. Rank: 22 • Nat. Rank: 660
If tight end recruiting has been a mystery, then it would be difficult to even categorize what's going on at quarterback. We've said it a thousand times, but the 2019 class just isn't very talented at the position. That makes things tricky for the Buckeyes since they really need to take one this cycle.
Grant Gunnell appears to be trending toward Arizona, but I don't think anyone can fully predict what will happen with the Houston native. Ohio State entered the Dwan Mathis sweepstakes late in the process, and right now he seems pretty solid to Michigan State. Outside of attempting to flip a few prospects, the outlook isn't exactly promising.
Dayton's Connor Bazelak (Archbishop Alter) has been a hot topic of late on the 11W message boards, and the three-star is putting together a pretty impressive offer list. Georgia extended an offer a few weeks back, but many are questioning whether or not it's of the committable variety at this point. Missouri, Iowa, Purdue, and Kentucky have also thrown their hats into the ring.
At 6-foot-4 and 200 pounds, he clearly has the size to play the position. In a down year for quarterbacks, Bazelak is a player who could absolutely earn an Ohio State offer. The good news for the three-star is that right now the Buckeyes don't appear to be rushing through the process at quarterback.
Zach Carpenter • Guard • Cincinnati • Pos. Rank: 20 • Nat. Rank: 487
Cincinnati Moeller's Zach Carpenter has put together quite an offer list. Programs like Clemson, Michigan, Oregon, and Ole Miss are all in pursuit of the state's No. 18 prospect. Right now Clemson looks like the team to beat and it does appear that the 6-foot-5, 310-pounder is a take for the Fighting Dabos.
Ohio State has two offensive linemen in the fold already, and both Doug Nester and Ryan Jacoby should bring some versatility to the trenches. The Buckeyes continue to chase fellow Cincinnatian Zeke Correll, but Notre Dame seems to be in the driver's seat. Ohio State could elect to offer Carpenter, but right now the need is more so at offensive tackle.
Jamir Thomas • Linebacker • Massillon • Pos. Rank: 15 • Nat. Rank: 375
Jamir Thomas burst onto the scene as a freshman at Massillon Washington, and he's been Ohio State's radar ever since. The Buckeyes already have a commitment from Cade Stover and Ronnie Hickman is a player who could grow into a linebacker. Thomas, however, is a different kind of prospect and is likely a guy who will end up manning the inside.
The nation's No. 15 inside backer checks in at 6-foot-1 and 215 pounds. Thomas holds offers from the likes of Cincinnati, Minnesota, Pittsburgh, and Kentucky. A solid camp performance could go a long way for the state's No. 10 prospect.
Dezman Cooper • Linebacker • Reynoldsburg • Pos. Rank: 69 • Nat. Rank: 945
The nephew of former Ohio State linebacker Joe Cooper is actually the lowest-rated player on our list, but Dezman Cooper is another prospect the Buckeyes have been keeping tabs on. A three-star from Reynoldsburg, it's no surprise that the 6-foot-2, 215-pounder has been to Ohio State's campus numerous times.
Cooper has had an extremely quiet recruitment, and thus far his lone offer is from Miami (Ohio). But he's another player who could see his stock rise this summer and into his senior season. The Buckeyes don't have a glaring need at linebacker, but the 2019 board is still a bit unclear. Dezman Cooper could be another player who benefits from the summer circuit.
