Better Know a Buckeye: Luke Farrell

Our "Better Know a Buckeye" series continues with its 15th installment. We profile Luke Farrell, a tight end prospect from Perry, Ohio.

Farrell arrived on the recruiting scene in the summer of 2014 when two strong camp showings at Michigan and Ohio State earned him back-to-back offers from the Big Ten powers. His recruitment centered on Ohio State, though Boston College, Michigan State, Notre Dame, and Penn State all made pushes through 2015 for his services. A quiet verbal since June 2015, he committed to Ohio State publicly at the Friday Night Lights event on July 24, 2015.

I profile Luke Farrell here, retelling his recruitment and the reasons for his commitment. Thereafter, I provide a scouting report for Farrell, who looks the part of the prototypical tight end. I close with a projection of a redshirt in 2016 and highlight film for the reviewer to watch at the end.

HIS RECRUITMENT

Luke Farrell's recruitment starts in earnest in the summer of 2014. He already had an offer from Illinois before his sophomore year ended, but that summer camp circuit gave him a higher profile for big programs in the region.

A two-day stretch through June 16 and June 17 saw Farrell camp at both Michigan and Ohio State. He earned offers on the spot at both camps. He expressed joy over the Michigan offer, noting he would not have believed he would be worthy of a Michigan offer just a few months earlier. He was even more elated about the Ohio State offer. He even noted Ohio State was his tentative favorite early into his recruitment.

It is difficult to reliably predict a final decision for a prospect that describes any program as a "favorite" after the sophomore year. However, describing the in-state Buckeyes as the "favorite" while holding an Ohio State verbal offer is a credible signal that prospect will eventually select Ohio State.

Farrell took his time, though. He returned to Ohio State for Friday Night Lights, but not before camping at Notre Dame. He even visited Ohio State for the games against Cincinnati at Michigan, but he also visited Michigan State and Notre Dame. The Michigan State offer interested him. He confessed to not knowing "too much" about Michigan State when it offered, but the Spartans did well to recruit him as 2014 gave way to 2015.

Farrell picked up several more offers after his junior season, including big ones from Alabama and Oregon, but he had narrowed his recruitment to a focus on just four schools: Boston College, Michigan State, Ohio State, and Penn State. A spring break trip through Boston College and Penn State affirmed that both programs stood as challengers to Ohio State. However, Ohio State still held the lead for his verbal commitment.

Notre Dame's offer on June 2, 2015 offered some pause about thinking of a verbal commitment to Ohio State as a fait accompli. Farrell had previously signaled interest in Notre Dame and made previous camp visits and an unofficial in-game visit to South Bend. A follow-up camp visit to Michigan State also suggested greater interest in the Spartans than recruiting analysts may have anticipated.

However, Farrell was just waiting for Friday Night Lights in 2015 to make his decision public. He had already made up his mind earlier in the summer of 2015.

HIS COMMITMENT

Luke Farrell committed to Ohio State at the Friday Night Lights event in Ohio Stadium as the 15th member of what would become its 2016 recruiting class. He chose Ohio State over Michigan State and Notre Dame.

I am proud to announce that I am committed to THE Ohio State University to continue my academic and athletic career pic.twitter.com/HkTc02MGjr

— Luke Farrell (@LukeFarrell88) July 24, 2015

In our community interview with Farrell, he noted he had already known for almost two months that he was going to give a public pledge to Ohio State. That stretch of early summer visits to Notre Dame and Michigan State affirmed that Ohio State is where he wanted to be.

I knew 100 percent I wanted to commit a couple days after I made my visits to Michigan State and Notre Dame. I sat down with my coach and went through the key things I wanted to look at for school. I had all the information I needed and knew that Ohio State is where I want to be.

Farrell also did an interview with reporters after Friday Night Lights to discuss his commitment.

WHERE HE EXCELS

Farrell is one of three tight ends Ohio State signed in its 2016 recruiting class. Farrell, like Jake Hausmann, is more a typical tight end while Kierre Hawkins is the kind of flex tight ends that spread offenses enjoy having on the roster.

I think Farrell is the best blocker right now of the three tight ends Ohio State signed. Watch his highlight film below to see it. He extends his hands well to engage defensive ends. He sets a great edge for running backs on run plays. He is also a willing blocker at the second and third levels too.

He is also a capable receiver. He thrives running down the seam. He gets a good release too. He also shows a good ability to catch with his hands outstretched too. He will curry favors with quarterbacks and play callers in the red zone accordingly, even if Ohio State fans know well that tight ends are not major receiving threats in Ohio State's offense.

Academics are typically tangential to these evaluations, but it's worth noting that Farrell is a bright student who was near the top of his class in high school. Coaches who can trust a player off the field are more likely to trust him on it.

MUST WORK ON

Farrell is a fine athlete as far as tight ends go, but no one will confuse athleticism as a superlative.

He is not particularly fast either though I suspect this will improve. His verified 40-yard-dash time on record is a 4.98. By comparison, Nick Vannett ran a 4.85 40-yard-dash at the NFL Combine. Jeff Heuerman ran a 4.8 40-yard-dash at the combine the year earlier.

Finally, Farrell has room to improve in the weight room. He knows this as well. It's why he's invested time this winter and spring in getting ready for Mickey Marotti's summer strength and conditioning program.

REDSHIRT?

I drew my line in the sand with Jake Hausmann's profile several months ago. My best guess is still that Kierre Hawkins redshirts in 2016 but either Hausmann or Farrell will play in 2016. I think Hausmann is the better tight end right now even if Farrell is the better blocker. I think Farrell redshirts in 2016.

HIGHLIGHTS

Here are senior-year highlights of Farrell.