There are two positions in the 2022 class where Ohio State is recruiting a fairly clear-cut trio of top targets – cornerback and running back.
Last week, we broke down where things stand with those three cornerback prospects that you can check out here:
Again, that’s not an exhaustive list as there are some other cornerbacks the Buckeyes are targeting, but at this point it’s probably those three that we’re looking at as the likely guy (or guys) to wind up in their class.
While we believe it's a Pride-Turner-Jordan order there, things are a bit more difficult when looking at the running back hierarchy.
Nicholas Singleton, Damari Alston and Dallan Hayden are the top three running back targets, but where they rank on that list is a bit harder to project.
It’s probably in that order listed above, but they’re so close together on the board that when I broke down the top-10 remaining targets in the class a couple weeks ago, I did a bit of a cop out and said any of the three could go in the slot we designated for one running back.
What we can better project is that once one of those guys does commit, it could lead to a bit of a domino effect at running back in a similar fashion to how the quarterback dominoes fell quickly over the past few weeks with Alabama, Clemson, Texas and Penn State all getting their guy in the 2022 cycle.
Singleton, Alston and Hayden are each grouped together as four-star prospects, and it’s making for an entertaining triumvirate recruitment in that each of them is being courted by some of the same schools.
Singleton recently released a top nine, and Ohio State and Penn State are right at the top of his list. Notre Dame is right in the mix as well. He already has an official visit with Penn State set up, he is eyeing an official visit to South Bend and he is likely to set one up with Ohio State after visiting most recently in the fall.
TOP 9!!! @AlabamaFTBL @AuburnFootball @UMichFootball @NUFBFamily @NDFootball @OhioStateFB @PennStateFball @AggieFootball @BadgerFootball @Hayesfawcett3 @SWiltfong247 @RivalsFriedman pic.twitter.com/xjyqe4ylA5
— Nicholas Singleton (@Nichola14110718) March 9, 2021
Alston has Ohio State, Notre Dame and Florida in his mix of schools. The Gators have emerged as the Buckeyes’ top competition, and he is likely to trim his list in the next few weeks with a commitment coming before August. He has told us multiple times he is planning on making Ohio State one of his first visits once the dead period is lifted, and he may wind up making a self-guided visit before then.
Hayden's top three, meanwhile, is down to Ohio State, Notre Dame and Tennessee with Penn State, Illinois and Utah coming on strong of late, which we broke down on Monday.
“I can’t really speak for the other two, but I know all three of us have similar schools who all want us,” Hayden said. “Singleton has Notre Dame, Penn State and Ohio State (for instance). It’s really interesting that the same schools are going after us.”
It Can Only Be 1...
— DA (@DamariAlston) February 1, 2021
Whats The Move? pic.twitter.com/XRuidljvc0
All three of these running backs have said they are essentially playing the waiting game. None of them wants to make a college decision until the NCAA makes a decision on the dead period. Each of them is hoping (like the rest of us) that the dead period is lifted with a quiet period implemented on June 1. That way, they can each at least make visits to schools, meet the coaches in person and get a better feel for the entire campus and school as a whole.
Hayden’s response when asked about his biggest factors in picking a school reflected the importance of visits being allowed this summer.
“Just a school that’s gonna give me the best opportunity to pursue my dreams of making it to the NFL,” Hayden said. “The schools I’m looking at all give me that opportunity. Great academic school so once I’m done playing I can rely back on that degree. And they do a good job with the campus life and have a good vibe with the students and the campus. Those are probably the main three things that can affect my decision.”
Blessed to be in this position. Happy New Year Everyone.. #Buckeyes#FightingIrish#Scoducks #GBO pic.twitter.com/wQ49F0godx
— Dallan Hayden1 (@DCH__2) January 1, 2021
Hayden has been to Tennessee multiple times (he is a Volunteers legacy with his dad having played running back in Knoxville), but he has yet to visit Notre Dame or Ohio State.
He said he's been very serious contemplating the possibility of making a self-guided visit himself instead of waiting on the NCAA’s decision.
“We haven’t set up a visit yet. Coach Alford and I have talked about setting up a visit,” Hayden said. “He’s asked me if I’d like to come up there on my own and look around and everything. We’ve talked about it before, but we don’t have an exact date.”
Either way, he knows a general timeline for when he wants to make his decision.
“The dead period definitely will have an effect (on when I make a decision) so I’m just waiting on that. I just know it’s gonna be before my senior season,” Hayden said. “So, hopefully, I’ll be able to take some official visits this summer and then I’ll go from there on a decision.”
Header photo: Nicholas Singleton (Mark Brennan/247Sports), Damari Alston (247Sports), Dallan Hayden (Joe Rondone/USA Today)
