At this point, Ohio State has almost 150 offers on the table, only a relatively small portion of which are OFFERS. Most of the threads in our data base consist of the obligatory "BLESSED / HONORED" tweet and nothing more, and there will be nothing more because there is no mutual interest between Ohio State and the alleged offeree. What I have done is weed out all those kids who have little or no interest in Ohio State (and vice versa) and focus on the handful of prospects who might really become Buckeyes this December, along with a few five star pipe dream types whom everyone in the country is chasing.
QUARTERBACKS
Grant Tisdale (Allen TX; 6'1" 190 lbs; #7 dual threat; #281 overall)
Tisdale is the current front runner to be the Buckeyes' quarterback signee for the recruiting class of 2019. However, Tisdale is a dual threat quarterback (think J.T. Barrett) and Ohio State seems to be transitioning to a more traditional passing attack with Dwayne Haskins under center and Kevin Wilson and Ryan Day at the controls. At the present time, Tisdale is 100% crystal balled to Ohio State (3 predictions) but he might not be a good fit in Ohio State's new look offense.
RUNNING BACKS
Sampson James (Avon IN; 6'1" 205 lbs; #8 running back; #126 overall)
Sampson James just had a very good week. First, Urban Meyer made a visit to see Sampson (January 25th), which is a very good sign that Ohio State is very interested. Then Sampson received a huge bump in the 247 composite rankings, from the #18 running back to #8, and from the #229 overall prospect to #126. Although Ohio State will continue to pursue some other highly-rated running backs such as Noah Cain and Devyn Ford (see below), there is a very good chance that Sampson James will be a member of the Buckeyes' class of 2019. There are currently three crystal ball predictions for Sampson, and all are to Ohio State.
Noah Cain (Bradenton FL IMG Academy; 5'11" 200 lbs; #3 running back; #26 overall)
Blue chip running back Noah Cain is high on Ohio State's wish list, and Ohio State is high on Noah Cain's. With that being said, it's always difficult to land a five-star recruit, especially one from down south. Currently, Ohio State is the crystal ball leader with a thin 38% to 31% edge over Texas, and with Miami, Oklahoma, and Louisiana State also garnering some early predictions. When five teams each have some action, it really means that all the crystal balls are cloudy. Don't expect an early decision here.
Devyn Ford (Stafford VA; 5'11" 185 lbs; #7 running back; #78 overall)
Devyn Ford is the third running back whom the Buckeyes are chasing early. At 185 pounds (and quite possibly less), Ford might be best suited for the Curtis Samuel role in Ohio State's offense. At the present time, the Buckeyes have no crystal balls in their favor, but Ohio State is listed as a "warmer" school in 247 Sport's data base along with Penn State (no crystal balls) and Virginia Tech (86% of crystal balls), with Clemson (14% of crystal balls), Oklahoma, and North Carolina also being in the mix.
WIDE RECEIVERS
Theo Wease, Jr. (Allen TX; 6'2" 180 lbs; #3 wide receiver; #29 overall)
Theo Wease, Jr. is one of those five-star talents that the Buckeye staff will pursue right to the bitter end. Although Ohio State had some early momentum (27% of crystal balls), all of the recent action has been on Texas A+M (55% of crystal balls), with Oklahoma also getting some consideration (18% of crystal balls). The success (or lack thereof) of Ohio State's new look passing attack should be a major factor here, as will the (presumed) official visit.
Garrett Wilson (Austin TX Lake Travis; 6'0" 178 lbs; #18 wide receiver; #91 overall)
Garrett Wilson is a high school teammate of 2018 Ohio State quarterback signee Matthew Baldwin, and he is also a native of Dublin, Ohio. Those two factors give Ohio State an early edge in what will likely be a difficult recruiting battle with the Texas Longhorns. The two schools have evenly split the ten current crystal balls, but Ohio State owns all of the most recent action. Wilson also has serious skills at cornerback.
David Bell (Indianapolis IN Warren Central; 6'2" 185 lbs; #12 wide receiver; #71 overall)
The Hoosier State rarely produces top-100 talent and most of those top prospects end up leaving the state. That's good news for the Buckeyes, who are pursuing the top two prospects in Indiana in wide receiver David Bell and running back Sampson James (see above). Ohio State currently holds seven of the eight crystal balls, with Steve Wiltfong casting his lot with Michigan. A few other Big Ten schools (Iowa, Nebraska, Penn State) might also end up being players, but things look good for the scarlet and grey so far.
Milton Wright (Louisville KY Christian Academy; 6'3" 190 lbs; #14 athlete; #134 overall)
Since the dynamic duo of Devin Smith and Michael Thomas led Ohio State to a national championship in 2014, the Buckeye coaching staff has been perpetually searching for the "next big thing" at wide receiver. Add Milton Wright to that ever-expanding list. Although listed as an "athlete" on 247 Sports, Wright will likely play wide receiver in college, and with a big frame and blazing speed he will likely succeed in that role. 247 Sports recruiting guru Steve Wiltfong just placed his crystal ball prediction on Ohio State, so you can probably put Milton Wright on commitment watch.
Jameson Williams (St. Louis MO Cardinal Ritter; 6'2" 160 lbs; #41 WR; #241 overall)
For the class of 2018, Ohio State signed two wide receivers from St. Louis (Kamryn Babb and Cameron Brown), so why not head back to the Gateway City for another one for the class of 2019? Four recent crystal balls have been cast for Jameson, and all four have him ending up at Ohio State. If things don't work out with the Buckeyes, then Sparty looks like a major player in this recruitment.
Trey Knox (Mufreesoboro TN Blackman; 6'4" 190 lbs; #33 wide receiver; #179 overall)
Knox is a high school teammate of 2018 Ohio State running back signee Master Teague and the Buckeyes are Trey's dream team, and these two factors make Ohio State the early crystal ball frontrunner (83%). However, there are a lot of very talented wide receivers on Ohio State's early board so it remains to be seen how seriously the staff will pursue Knox. Home state school Tennessee is also in the mix (17% crystal balls) along with Clemson ("warmer" status) and Notre Dame (recent Junior Day visit).
Lance Wilhoite (Nashville TN Franklin Road Academy; 6'2" 165 lbs; #21 wide receiver; #117 overall)
During the Great Tennessee Tire Fire of 2017, Ohio State swooped into Rocky Top territory and signed offensive tackle Max Wray and running back Master Teague for the Class of 2018 and made serious progress with several 2019 recruits including Lance Wilhoite. Although Lance is 100% crystal balled to Tennessee (four predictions so far), Ohio State is the only school listed as "warmer" on his 247 Sports profile. If the Volunteers can regain some stability in 2018, then Wilhoite will probably end up in Knoxville. If the tires continue to smolder, then Columbus will be a very strong possibility.
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN
Doug Nester (Huntington WV Spring Valley; 6'6" 290 lbs; #8 offensive tackle; #52 overall)
Doug Nester was the Buckeyes' first verbal commitment for the class of 2019 and he fills one of the team's few positions of need. Nester is just the second top-100 recruit (247 Composite) to hail from the State of West Virginia since wide receiver Brandon Barrett in the class of 2004.
Darnell Wright (Huntington WV Huntington; 6'6" 275 lbs; #3 offensive tackle; #19 overall)
The only other top-100 recruit (247 Composite) from West Virginia since 2004 is Doug Nester's fellow Huntington offensive tackle, Darnell Wright. In addition, Wright is the only five-star recruit from the Mountaineer State in the history of the 247 Composite that goes back to the year 2000. All five current crystal balls have Wright signing with Ohio State, although Alabama will probably be a player as well.
Devontae Dobbs (Belleville MI; 6'4" 270 lbs; #1 offensive tackle; #9 overall)
Devontae Dobbs is the top offensive tackle in the country, and at this early stage all of the crystal ball action is on Michigan State (91%, with 9% cloudy). Although the home state school is currently the overwhelming favorite, the reality is this - Michigan State rarely signs five-star recruits, home state or not. In fact, Michigan State has signed only four five-star recruits in the 20-year history of the 247 Composite, and the Spartans will have a difficult time landing Dobbs once the powerhouse programs start turning up the heat. And the current turmoil in East Lansing will not help Sparty's cause. The usual suspects - Ohio State, Alabama, and Clemson - will all make Dobbs a top priority.
Ryan Jacoby (Mentor OH; 6'5" 265 lbs; unranked in 247 Composite)
Ryan Jacoby is a "sleeper" prospect at this early stage. He is a four-star according to 247 Sports (#30 offensive tackle, #234 overall, #8 in Ohio), but just a three-star according to Rivals (unranked at offensive tackle and overall, #21 in Ohio). All eleven crystal balls are currently on Ohio State, and Jacoby openly admits that Ohio State is at the top of his short list (a list that probably has just one school on it). If Jacoby has an OFFER, then he's in this class.
Michael Tarquin (Belleview FL; 6'5" 290 lbs; #30 offensive tackle; #263 overall)
With Doug Nester in the fold, Darnell Wright on the cusp, Ryan Jacoby being a local kid, and Devontae Dobbs worth chasing until Signing Day, Michael Tarquin might end up being the odd man out in the class of 2019. Right now, the Buckeyes are the favorite to land Tarquin (56% of the crystal balls), with Oklahoma ("warmer" status, recent Junior Day, recent in-home, but no crystal balls) being the other top choice.
Xavier Truss (Warwick RI Bishop Hendricken; 6'7" 325 lbs; unranked in 247 Composite)
Xavier Truss is a perfect example of Rivals southern bias. While 247 Sports has Truss as a four-star prospect, the #10 offensive tackle, and the #63 recruit overall, Rivals has the kid un-starred and un-ranked. Needless to say, Rivals is way out of line, as Penn State, Ohio State, Michigan, and Oklahoma are all in hot pursuit of this massive tackle prospect. Since January 5th, Penn State has gained nine crystal balls and they are the unanimous favorite, which probably means that this recruiting battle will be over rather soon.
Harry Miller (Buford GA; 6'4 310 lbs; #11 offensive tackle; #64 overall)
Here's a new name that you need to know - Harry Miller, a huge offensive lineman from the State of Georgia. Although Miller is listed as a tackle prospect, with his size he might be better suited for the interior of the offensive line. Miller made an unofficial visit to Ohio State during the MLK long weekend (January 13th-15th), and since that visit Ohio State has garnered three crystal balls, including one from a UGa insider.
Zeke Correll (Cincinnati OH Anderson; 6'3" 270 lbs; #10 offensive guard; #286 overall)
Zeke Corell is one of the few interior offensive linemen that Ohio State is pursuing in the class of 2019. The Buckeyes currently have 88% of the crystal balls in their favor, and if the staff pushes for Correll they should get a commitment from him. If there is no room at the Buckeye Inn, then Notre Dame (the remaining 12% of crystal balls), Kentucky (family ties), Michigan State, and Penn State should be strong contenders for his services.
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN
Zach Harrison (Lewis Center OH Olentangy; 6'5" 225 lbs; #2 weakside defensive end; #4 overall)
I've followed recruiting since the class of 1984, Chris Spielman's recruiting class. In fact, I began following recruiting because of Chris Spielman, the definition of a "can't miss" prospect - All American, national player of the year, Wheaties box, etc. Since 1984, there have been only a handful of "can't miss" prospects from Ohio - Robert Smith, Orlando Pace, Charles Woodson, Andy Katzenmoyer, Ted Ginn, Beanie Wells. It looks like defensive end Zach Harrison is the next "can't miss" prospect to hail from the Buckeye State. Harrison is a consensus 5-star prospect who already looks NFL ready. Ohio State is the early leader with all nine crystal balls going the Buckeyes' way so far.
Noah Potter (Mentor OH; 6'5" 250 lbs; #20 strongside defensive end; #232 overall)
Like his high school teammate Ryan Jacoby (see above), Noah Potter is all Buckeye. Right now, Ohio State has all fourteen crystal balls going its way and that's not likely to change any time soon. If Potter has an OFFER, then he's in this class. If not, then Penn State is probably a distant second on Potter's list of schools.
Ani Izuchukwu (Nashville TN Davidson Academy; 6'4" 230 lbs; #13 weakside end; #219 overall)
Ani Izuchukwu is another kid from Tennessee who is apparently avoiding the Knoxville Tire Fire and giving the Buckeyes a serious look. Alabama owns the lone crystal ball (from way back in June of 2017), and the Tide just received an unofficial visit from Izuchukwu on February 3rd. Izuchukwu has already been to Ohio State at least twice (FNL, Maryland game), and the Buckeyes will be very much in the mix if the staff makes a push for his services. And they very well might, as there has not been much buzz at the defensive end position so far in the class of 2019. EDIT: The day after Ani's unofficial visit to Alabama (February 4th), another crystal ball came in for The Tide. Maybe it's about time to scratch this name off the list....
Brandon Smith (Mineral VA Louisa County; 6'5" 215 lbs; #4 weakside defensive end; #35 overall)
Brandon Smith is a recruit whom the Buckeyes will chase until the bitter end, and they are definitely in chase mode right now. Penn State is the clear leader with 80% of the crystal balls, with Florida State earning the remaining 20% of the predictions. Ohio State (unofficial visit for Maryland game) is still in the mix, along with Notre Dame, Alabama, and just about everybody else in the country. One to watch, but not to get excited about at this point.
Jowon Briggs (Cincinnati OH Walnut Hills; 6'3" 275 lbs; #5 defensive tackle; #75 overall)
Jowon Briggs appears to be the Buckeyes' top target at defensive tackle for the class of 2019, but Notre Dame is the early front runner (80% of crystal balls, including all of the most recent). It's still very early, of course, and if the Irish lose steam then Ohio State (20% of crystal balls), Michigan, Michigan State, Penn State, and Alabama will be in hot pursuit.
Tyler Davis (Apopka FL Wekiva; 6'2" 261 lbs; #16 defensive tackle; #260 overall)
A name that you probably haven't heard much of is Tyler Davis, a defensive tackle prospect from Florida. Davis has already made two unofficial visits to Ohio State (FNL, MSU game) and his lone crystal ball (from December of 2017) is on Ohio State. Florida is also a school of interest, and Miami recently entered the ring with an offer (January 18th). With Ohio State having made very few defensive tackle offers to date, Davis might have a real shot to end up in the Buckeyes' class of 2019.
LINEBACKERS
Cade Stover (Mansfield OH Lexington; 6'4" 215 lbs; #8 outside linebacker; #112 overall)
I'm actually kind of surprised that Cade Stover hasn't committed to Ohio State yet (and in fact he may very be a longtime silent verbal). Stover is at the top of the Buckeyes' wish list and I fully expect him to be part of Ohio State's class of 2019. Thirteen crystal balls have been cast, and all of them are in favor of Ohio State. It's only a matter of time....
Kane Patterson (Nashville TN Christ Presbyterian Academy; 6'1" 212 lbs; #15 outside linebacker; #273 overall)
Kane Patterson is a fast-rising prospect from a small school (about a hundred kids per class) who has received four major offers in the past two weeks (Ohio State, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Missouri). Although Kane's 247 Composite rankings are rather low, 247 Sport's own rankings place him as the #7 outside linebacker and #105 overall prospect in the country. If Patterson can somehow maintain his sleeper status for the next eleven months, then Ohio State looks to be in a good position to sign him. If as expected his recruitment continues to blow up, then a lot of southern schools will undoubtedly get involved. This could be one of the more interesting recruiting battles for the class of 2019.
Lance Dixon (West Bloomfield MI; 6'2" 195 lbs; #25 outside linebacker; #430 overall)
This looks to be a classic Big Ten East battle, with Michigan State (83% of crystal balls), Michigan (17% of crystal balls), Ohio State, and Penn State all being early favorites. Urban Meyer just made a visit to West Bloomfield (January 31st) and personally delivered an offer, so the Buckeyes are definitely interested. All of the crystal ball action occurred before the Buckeyes became involved, so it will be interesting to see if we get any "flips" to Ohio State in the upcoming weeks.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
Daxton Hill (Tulsa OK Booker T. Washington; 6'1" 190 lbs; #2 safety; #24 overall)
Ohio State snagged a top-100 safety prospect from the State of Oklahoma in 2018 (Josh Proctor), and can they do it again in 2019? Normally, five-star prospects from Oklahoma end up signing with the Sooners, the Cowboys, or maybe the Longhorns, but the Buckeyes are a real player here. The OSU and the other OSU each own one crystal ball. The good news is that the Buckeyes' crystal ball was cast more recently (January 22nd) by the ultra-accurate (and BP alum) Greg Powers. There's obviously a long way to go, but Ohio State is in a very good position early on.
Lewis Cine (Everett MA; 6'2" 180 lbs; #3 safety; #36 overall)
Because Ohio State is #DBU, the Buckeyes will always get a look from top defensive back prospects. Lewis Cine is one of those guys. Right now, Ohio State is high on Cine's list, but Penn State (89% of crystal balls) is the prohibitive favorite with Michigan also hanging around (11% of crystal balls). Probably not much to see here for Buckeye fans.
Jaylen McCollough (Powder Springs GA Hillgrove; 6'1" 190 lbs; #4 safety; #73 overall)
Jaylen McCollough has Ohio State in his top-6, but that's largely just for show. Florida State owns all the early crystal balls (58%), while Alabama has all the most recent ones (42%). Unless something changes over the next few months (like a Spring Game visit), this recruiting battle is probably over so far as Ohio State is concerned.
Cam'Ron Kelly (Chesapeake VA Oscar Smith; 6'1" 190 lbs; #18 cornerback; #180 overall)
There's not a lot of recruiting buzz concerning Cam'Ron Kelly, and there have been just two crystal balls cast for him, one going to Clemson and the other going to Virginia. But Kelly is obviously interested in Ohio State, as he made an unofficial visit for the Penn State game (October 28th) and followed that up with another trip to Columbus this weekend (February 3rd). The Buckeyes like recruiting cornerbacks with size, so keep an eye on this kid going forward.
Marlin "MJ" Devonshire (Aliquippa PA; 5'11" 170 lbs; #43 cornerback; #480 overall)
MJ Devonshire does not possess ideal size for a cornerback and he's just a three-star prospect, so it's difficult to say whether he has an Ohio State offer or OFFER. The Buckeyes have some interest to be sure, and Devonshire made an unofficial visit to Ohio State in November. All three crystal balls are currently on West Virginia, and the Mountaineers will be in good shape if the Buckeyes slow play this recruit.
ATHLETES
Ronnie Hickman (Wayne NJ DePaul; 6'1" 209 lbs; #11 athlete; #107 overall)
Ronnie "The Rocket" Hickman is a true two-way player who may end up as a wide receiver or defensive back in college. At 209 pounds and likely still growing, I'll put my money on "safety". Hickman made an unofficial visit to Ohio State over the weekend (February 3rd), which was at least his fourth trip to Columbus. That's a very good sign. It's also a very good sign that four recruiting experts have cast crystal ball predictions for Hickman, and all four have him ending up at Ohio State. Penn State will also be a serious player, with Michigan and Notre Dame also somewhere in the mix.
Jashawn Sheffield (St. Simons Island GA Frederica Academy; 6'1" 178 lbs; #10 athlete; #56 overall)
When you are Ohio State, you get mentioned in just about every top-whatever recruit's top-whatever list. Jashawn Sheffield is no exception to that rule. Ohio State will get some love, some positive tweets, and probably a visit or two, but Florida State is Sheffield's "dream school" and all fifteen crystal balls are pointing toward Tallahassee. You do the math....
Jaylin Simpson (St. Simons Island GA Frederica Academy; 5'11" 165 lbs; #18 athlete; #228 overall)
Jaylin Simpson is a high school teammate of Jashawn Sheffield (see above) and there's a pretty good chance that he follows his buddy to Tallahassee. The crystal balls break down as follows: Florida State 44%; Ohio State 33%; Clemson 22%; with a 1% rounding error. For what it's worth, Simpson is generally being recruited as a cornerback but with his shiftiness he might be a good fit in Ohio State's H-back role.
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To follow is a plausible Ohio State recruiting class of 2019, based on current crystal ball projections (along with an occasional bit of inside information). This is not necessarily who I think will end up at Ohio State, and it is definitely not my "dream team". There is a heavy emphasis on offensive linemen due to depth issues, and wide receivers due to performance issues.
As always, things change quickly in recruiting, and in recent years we've seen more and more strange recruitments with top prospects flipping and flopping all over the place (Emory Jones, Jaiden Woodbey, Brenton Cox) ... with look-at-me types "shocking the world!!!!" (Jackson Carman) ... with recruits emerging out of nowhere in the eleventh hour (Matthew Baldwin, Chris Olave) ... and with some kids actually sticking with unexpected commitments for months and months (Josh Proctor). Enjoy the ride!
QUARTERBACKS
Grant Tisdale (Allen TX; 6'1" 190 lbs; #7 dual threat; #281 overall)
Tisdale is the current front runner to be the Buckeyes' quarterback signee for the recruiting class of 2019. However, Tisdale is a dual threat quarterback (think J.T. Barrett) and Ohio State seems to be transitioning to a more traditional passing attack with Dwayne Haskins under center and Kevin Wilson and Ryan Day at the controls. At the present time, Tisdale is 100% crystal balled to Ohio State (3 predictions) but he might not be a good fit in Ohio State's new look offense.
RUNNING BACKS
Sampson James (Avon IN; 6'1" 205 lbs; #8 running back; #126 overall)
Sampson James just had a very good week. First, Urban Meyer made a visit to see Sampson (January 25th), which is a very good sign that Ohio State is very interested. Then Sampson received a huge bump in the 247 composite rankings, from the #18 running back to #8, and from the #229 overall prospect to #126. Although Ohio State will continue to pursue some other highly-rated running backs such as Noah Cain and Devyn Ford (see below), there is a very good chance that Sampson James will be a member of the Buckeyes' class of 2019. There are currently three crystal ball predictions for Sampson, and all are to Ohio State.
Noah Cain (Bradenton FL IMG Academy; 5'11" 200 lbs; #3 running back; #26 overall)
Blue chip running back Noah Cain is high on Ohio State's wish list, and Ohio State is high on Noah Cain's. With that being said, it's always difficult to land a five-star recruit, especially one from down south. Currently, Ohio State is the crystal ball leader with a thin 38% to 31% edge over Texas, and with Miami, Oklahoma, and Louisiana State also garnering some early predictions. When five teams each have some action, it really means that all the crystal balls are cloudy. Don't expect an early decision here.
Devyn Ford (Stafford VA; 5'11" 185 lbs; #7 running back; #78 overall)
Devyn Ford is the third running back whom the Buckeyes are chasing early. At 185 pounds (and quite possibly less), Ford might be best suited for the Curtis Samuel role in Ohio State's offense. At the present time, the Buckeyes have no crystal balls in their favor, but Ohio State is listed as a "warmer" school in 247 Sport's data base along with Penn State (no crystal balls) and Virginia Tech (86% of crystal balls), with Clemson (14% of crystal balls), Oklahoma, and North Carolina also being in the mix.
WIDE RECEIVERS
Theo Wease, Jr. (Allen TX; 6'2" 180 lbs; #3 wide receiver; #29 overall)
Theo Wease, Jr. is one of those five-star talents that the Buckeye staff will pursue right to the bitter end. Although Ohio State had some early momentum (27% of crystal balls), all of the recent action has been on Texas A+M (55% of crystal balls), with Oklahoma also getting some consideration (18% of crystal balls). The success (or lack thereof) of Ohio State's new look passing attack should be a major factor here, as will the (presumed) official visit.
Garrett Wilson (Austin TX Lake Travis; 6'0" 178 lbs; #18 wide receiver; #91 overall)
Garrett Wilson is a high school teammate of 2018 Ohio State quarterback signee Matthew Baldwin, and he is also a native of Dublin, Ohio. Those two factors give Ohio State an early edge in what will likely be a difficult recruiting battle with the Texas Longhorns. The two schools have evenly split the ten current crystal balls, but Ohio State owns all of the most recent action. Wilson also has serious skills at cornerback.
David Bell (Indianapolis IN Warren Central; 6'2" 185 lbs; #12 wide receiver; #71 overall)
The Hoosier State rarely produces top-100 talent and most of those top prospects end up leaving the state. That's good news for the Buckeyes, who are pursuing the top two prospects in Indiana in wide receiver David Bell and running back Sampson James (see above). Ohio State currently holds seven of the eight crystal balls, with Steve Wiltfong casting his lot with Michigan. A few other Big Ten schools (Iowa, Nebraska, Penn State) might also end up being players, but things look good for the scarlet and grey so far.
Milton Wright (Louisville KY Christian Academy; 6'3" 190 lbs; #14 athlete; #134 overall)
Since the dynamic duo of Devin Smith and Michael Thomas led Ohio State to a national championship in 2014, the Buckeye coaching staff has been perpetually searching for the "next big thing" at wide receiver. Add Milton Wright to that ever-expanding list. Although listed as an "athlete" on 247 Sports, Wright will likely play wide receiver in college, and with a big frame and blazing speed he will likely succeed in that role. 247 Sports recruiting guru Steve Wiltfong just placed his crystal ball prediction on Ohio State, so you can probably put Milton Wright on commitment watch.
Jameson Williams (St. Louis MO Cardinal Ritter; 6'2" 160 lbs; #41 WR; #241 overall)
For the class of 2018, Ohio State signed two wide receivers from St. Louis (Kamryn Babb and Cameron Brown), so why not head back to the Gateway City for another one for the class of 2019? Four recent crystal balls have been cast for Jameson, and all four have him ending up at Ohio State. If things don't work out with the Buckeyes, then Sparty looks like a major player in this recruitment.
Trey Knox (Mufreesoboro TN Blackman; 6'4" 190 lbs; #33 wide receiver; #179 overall)
Knox is a high school teammate of 2018 Ohio State running back signee Master Teague and the Buckeyes are Trey's dream team, and these two factors make Ohio State the early crystal ball frontrunner (83%). However, there are a lot of very talented wide receivers on Ohio State's early board so it remains to be seen how seriously the staff will pursue Knox. Home state school Tennessee is also in the mix (17% crystal balls) along with Clemson ("warmer" status) and Notre Dame (recent Junior Day visit).
Lance Wilhoite (Nashville TN Franklin Road Academy; 6'2" 165 lbs; #21 wide receiver; #117 overall)
During the Great Tennessee Tire Fire of 2017, Ohio State swooped into Rocky Top territory and signed offensive tackle Max Wray and running back Master Teague for the Class of 2018 and made serious progress with several 2019 recruits including Lance Wilhoite. Although Lance is 100% crystal balled to Tennessee (four predictions so far), Ohio State is the only school listed as "warmer" on his 247 Sports profile. If the Volunteers can regain some stability in 2018, then Wilhoite will probably end up in Knoxville. If the tires continue to smolder, then Columbus will be a very strong possibility.
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN
Doug Nester (Huntington WV Spring Valley; 6'6" 290 lbs; #8 offensive tackle; #52 overall)
Doug Nester was the Buckeyes' first verbal commitment for the class of 2019 and he fills one of the team's few positions of need. Nester is just the second top-100 recruit (247 Composite) to hail from the State of West Virginia since wide receiver Brandon Barrett in the class of 2004.
Darnell Wright (Huntington WV Huntington; 6'6" 275 lbs; #3 offensive tackle; #19 overall)
The only other top-100 recruit (247 Composite) from West Virginia since 2004 is Doug Nester's fellow Huntington offensive tackle, Darnell Wright. In addition, Wright is the only five-star recruit from the Mountaineer State in the history of the 247 Composite that goes back to the year 2000. All five current crystal balls have Wright signing with Ohio State, although Alabama will probably be a player as well.
Devontae Dobbs (Belleville MI; 6'4" 270 lbs; #1 offensive tackle; #9 overall)
Devontae Dobbs is the top offensive tackle in the country, and at this early stage all of the crystal ball action is on Michigan State (91%, with 9% cloudy). Although the home state school is currently the overwhelming favorite, the reality is this - Michigan State rarely signs five-star recruits, home state or not. In fact, Michigan State has signed only four five-star recruits in the 20-year history of the 247 Composite, and the Spartans will have a difficult time landing Dobbs once the powerhouse programs start turning up the heat. And the current turmoil in East Lansing will not help Sparty's cause. The usual suspects - Ohio State, Alabama, and Clemson - will all make Dobbs a top priority.
Ryan Jacoby (Mentor OH; 6'5" 265 lbs; unranked in 247 Composite)
Ryan Jacoby is a "sleeper" prospect at this early stage. He is a four-star according to 247 Sports (#30 offensive tackle, #234 overall, #8 in Ohio), but just a three-star according to Rivals (unranked at offensive tackle and overall, #21 in Ohio). All eleven crystal balls are currently on Ohio State, and Jacoby openly admits that Ohio State is at the top of his short list (a list that probably has just one school on it). If Jacoby has an OFFER, then he's in this class.
Michael Tarquin (Belleview FL; 6'5" 290 lbs; #30 offensive tackle; #263 overall)
With Doug Nester in the fold, Darnell Wright on the cusp, Ryan Jacoby being a local kid, and Devontae Dobbs worth chasing until Signing Day, Michael Tarquin might end up being the odd man out in the class of 2019. Right now, the Buckeyes are the favorite to land Tarquin (56% of the crystal balls), with Oklahoma ("warmer" status, recent Junior Day, recent in-home, but no crystal balls) being the other top choice.
Xavier Truss (Warwick RI Bishop Hendricken; 6'7" 325 lbs; unranked in 247 Composite)
Xavier Truss is a perfect example of Rivals southern bias. While 247 Sports has Truss as a four-star prospect, the #10 offensive tackle, and the #63 recruit overall, Rivals has the kid un-starred and un-ranked. Needless to say, Rivals is way out of line, as Penn State, Ohio State, Michigan, and Oklahoma are all in hot pursuit of this massive tackle prospect. Since January 5th, Penn State has gained nine crystal balls and they are the unanimous favorite, which probably means that this recruiting battle will be over rather soon.
Harry Miller (Buford GA; 6'4 310 lbs; #11 offensive tackle; #64 overall)
Here's a new name that you need to know - Harry Miller, a huge offensive lineman from the State of Georgia. Although Miller is listed as a tackle prospect, with his size he might be better suited for the interior of the offensive line. Miller made an unofficial visit to Ohio State during the MLK long weekend (January 13th-15th), and since that visit Ohio State has garnered three crystal balls, including one from a UGa insider.
Zeke Correll (Cincinnati OH Anderson; 6'3" 270 lbs; #10 offensive guard; #286 overall)
Zeke Corell is one of the few interior offensive linemen that Ohio State is pursuing in the class of 2019. The Buckeyes currently have 88% of the crystal balls in their favor, and if the staff pushes for Correll they should get a commitment from him. If there is no room at the Buckeye Inn, then Notre Dame (the remaining 12% of crystal balls), Kentucky (family ties), Michigan State, and Penn State should be strong contenders for his services.
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN
Zach Harrison (Lewis Center OH Olentangy; 6'5" 225 lbs; #2 weakside defensive end; #4 overall)
I've followed recruiting since the class of 1984, Chris Spielman's recruiting class. In fact, I began following recruiting because of Chris Spielman, the definition of a "can't miss" prospect - All American, national player of the year, Wheaties box, etc. Since 1984, there have been only a handful of "can't miss" prospects from Ohio - Robert Smith, Orlando Pace, Charles Woodson, Andy Katzenmoyer, Ted Ginn, Beanie Wells. It looks like defensive end Zach Harrison is the next "can't miss" prospect to hail from the Buckeye State. Harrison is a consensus 5-star prospect who already looks NFL ready. Ohio State is the early leader with all nine crystal balls going the Buckeyes' way so far.
Noah Potter (Mentor OH; 6'5" 250 lbs; #20 strongside defensive end; #232 overall)
Like his high school teammate Ryan Jacoby (see above), Noah Potter is all Buckeye. Right now, Ohio State has all fourteen crystal balls going its way and that's not likely to change any time soon. If Potter has an OFFER, then he's in this class. If not, then Penn State is probably a distant second on Potter's list of schools.
Ani Izuchukwu (Nashville TN Davidson Academy; 6'4" 230 lbs; #13 weakside end; #219 overall)
Ani Izuchukwu is another kid from Tennessee who is apparently avoiding the Knoxville Tire Fire and giving the Buckeyes a serious look. Alabama owns the lone crystal ball (from way back in June of 2017), and the Tide just received an unofficial visit from Izuchukwu on February 3rd. Izuchukwu has already been to Ohio State at least twice (FNL, Maryland game), and the Buckeyes will be very much in the mix if the staff makes a push for his services. And they very well might, as there has not been much buzz at the defensive end position so far in the class of 2019. EDIT: The day after Ani's unofficial visit to Alabama (February 4th), another crystal ball came in for The Tide. Maybe it's about time to scratch this name off the list....
Brandon Smith (Mineral VA Louisa County; 6'5" 215 lbs; #4 weakside defensive end; #35 overall)
Brandon Smith is a recruit whom the Buckeyes will chase until the bitter end, and they are definitely in chase mode right now. Penn State is the clear leader with 80% of the crystal balls, with Florida State earning the remaining 20% of the predictions. Ohio State (unofficial visit for Maryland game) is still in the mix, along with Notre Dame, Alabama, and just about everybody else in the country. One to watch, but not to get excited about at this point.
Jowon Briggs (Cincinnati OH Walnut Hills; 6'3" 275 lbs; #5 defensive tackle; #75 overall)
Jowon Briggs appears to be the Buckeyes' top target at defensive tackle for the class of 2019, but Notre Dame is the early front runner (80% of crystal balls, including all of the most recent). It's still very early, of course, and if the Irish lose steam then Ohio State (20% of crystal balls), Michigan, Michigan State, Penn State, and Alabama will be in hot pursuit.
Tyler Davis (Apopka FL Wekiva; 6'2" 261 lbs; #16 defensive tackle; #260 overall)
A name that you probably haven't heard much of is Tyler Davis, a defensive tackle prospect from Florida. Davis has already made two unofficial visits to Ohio State (FNL, MSU game) and his lone crystal ball (from December of 2017) is on Ohio State. Florida is also a school of interest, and Miami recently entered the ring with an offer (January 18th). With Ohio State having made very few defensive tackle offers to date, Davis might have a real shot to end up in the Buckeyes' class of 2019.
LINEBACKERS
Cade Stover (Mansfield OH Lexington; 6'4" 215 lbs; #8 outside linebacker; #112 overall)
I'm actually kind of surprised that Cade Stover hasn't committed to Ohio State yet (and in fact he may very be a longtime silent verbal). Stover is at the top of the Buckeyes' wish list and I fully expect him to be part of Ohio State's class of 2019. Thirteen crystal balls have been cast, and all of them are in favor of Ohio State. It's only a matter of time....
Kane Patterson (Nashville TN Christ Presbyterian Academy; 6'1" 212 lbs; #15 outside linebacker; #273 overall)
Kane Patterson is a fast-rising prospect from a small school (about a hundred kids per class) who has received four major offers in the past two weeks (Ohio State, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Missouri). Although Kane's 247 Composite rankings are rather low, 247 Sport's own rankings place him as the #7 outside linebacker and #105 overall prospect in the country. If Patterson can somehow maintain his sleeper status for the next eleven months, then Ohio State looks to be in a good position to sign him. If as expected his recruitment continues to blow up, then a lot of southern schools will undoubtedly get involved. This could be one of the more interesting recruiting battles for the class of 2019.
Lance Dixon (West Bloomfield MI; 6'2" 195 lbs; #25 outside linebacker; #430 overall)
This looks to be a classic Big Ten East battle, with Michigan State (83% of crystal balls), Michigan (17% of crystal balls), Ohio State, and Penn State all being early favorites. Urban Meyer just made a visit to West Bloomfield (January 31st) and personally delivered an offer, so the Buckeyes are definitely interested. All of the crystal ball action occurred before the Buckeyes became involved, so it will be interesting to see if we get any "flips" to Ohio State in the upcoming weeks.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
Daxton Hill (Tulsa OK Booker T. Washington; 6'1" 190 lbs; #2 safety; #24 overall)
Ohio State snagged a top-100 safety prospect from the State of Oklahoma in 2018 (Josh Proctor), and can they do it again in 2019? Normally, five-star prospects from Oklahoma end up signing with the Sooners, the Cowboys, or maybe the Longhorns, but the Buckeyes are a real player here. The OSU and the other OSU each own one crystal ball. The good news is that the Buckeyes' crystal ball was cast more recently (January 22nd) by the ultra-accurate (and BP alum) Greg Powers. There's obviously a long way to go, but Ohio State is in a very good position early on.
Lewis Cine (Everett MA; 6'2" 180 lbs; #3 safety; #36 overall)
Because Ohio State is #DBU, the Buckeyes will always get a look from top defensive back prospects. Lewis Cine is one of those guys. Right now, Ohio State is high on Cine's list, but Penn State (89% of crystal balls) is the prohibitive favorite with Michigan also hanging around (11% of crystal balls). Probably not much to see here for Buckeye fans.
Jaylen McCollough (Powder Springs GA Hillgrove; 6'1" 190 lbs; #4 safety; #73 overall)
Jaylen McCollough has Ohio State in his top-6, but that's largely just for show. Florida State owns all the early crystal balls (58%), while Alabama has all the most recent ones (42%). Unless something changes over the next few months (like a Spring Game visit), this recruiting battle is probably over so far as Ohio State is concerned.
Cam'Ron Kelly (Chesapeake VA Oscar Smith; 6'1" 190 lbs; #18 cornerback; #180 overall)
There's not a lot of recruiting buzz concerning Cam'Ron Kelly, and there have been just two crystal balls cast for him, one going to Clemson and the other going to Virginia. But Kelly is obviously interested in Ohio State, as he made an unofficial visit for the Penn State game (October 28th) and followed that up with another trip to Columbus this weekend (February 3rd). The Buckeyes like recruiting cornerbacks with size, so keep an eye on this kid going forward.
Marlin "MJ" Devonshire (Aliquippa PA; 5'11" 170 lbs; #43 cornerback; #480 overall)
MJ Devonshire does not possess ideal size for a cornerback and he's just a three-star prospect, so it's difficult to say whether he has an Ohio State offer or OFFER. The Buckeyes have some interest to be sure, and Devonshire made an unofficial visit to Ohio State in November. All three crystal balls are currently on West Virginia, and the Mountaineers will be in good shape if the Buckeyes slow play this recruit.
ATHLETES
Ronnie Hickman (Wayne NJ DePaul; 6'1" 209 lbs; #11 athlete; #107 overall)
Ronnie "The Rocket" Hickman is a true two-way player who may end up as a wide receiver or defensive back in college. At 209 pounds and likely still growing, I'll put my money on "safety". Hickman made an unofficial visit to Ohio State over the weekend (February 3rd), which was at least his fourth trip to Columbus. That's a very good sign. It's also a very good sign that four recruiting experts have cast crystal ball predictions for Hickman, and all four have him ending up at Ohio State. Penn State will also be a serious player, with Michigan and Notre Dame also somewhere in the mix.
Jashawn Sheffield (St. Simons Island GA Frederica Academy; 6'1" 178 lbs; #10 athlete; #56 overall)
When you are Ohio State, you get mentioned in just about every top-whatever recruit's top-whatever list. Jashawn Sheffield is no exception to that rule. Ohio State will get some love, some positive tweets, and probably a visit or two, but Florida State is Sheffield's "dream school" and all fifteen crystal balls are pointing toward Tallahassee. You do the math....
Jaylin Simpson (St. Simons Island GA Frederica Academy; 5'11" 165 lbs; #18 athlete; #228 overall)
Jaylin Simpson is a high school teammate of Jashawn Sheffield (see above) and there's a pretty good chance that he follows his buddy to Tallahassee. The crystal balls break down as follows: Florida State 44%; Ohio State 33%; Clemson 22%; with a 1% rounding error. For what it's worth, Simpson is generally being recruited as a cornerback but with his shiftiness he might be a good fit in Ohio State's H-back role.
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To follow is a plausible Ohio State recruiting class of 2019, based on current crystal ball projections (along with an occasional bit of inside information). This is not necessarily who I think will end up at Ohio State, and it is definitely not my "dream team". There is a heavy emphasis on offensive linemen due to depth issues, and wide receivers due to performance issues.
As always, things change quickly in recruiting, and in recent years we've seen more and more strange recruitments with top prospects flipping and flopping all over the place (Emory Jones, Jaiden Woodbey, Brenton Cox) ... with look-at-me types "shocking the world!!!!" (Jackson Carman) ... with recruits emerging out of nowhere in the eleventh hour (Matthew Baldwin, Chris Olave) ... and with some kids actually sticking with unexpected commitments for months and months (Josh Proctor). Enjoy the ride!
| Prospect's Name | Prospect's Hometown | Position | 247 Stars | 247 Rank | 247 Score | Ohio St CB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zach Harrison | Lewis Center, Ohio | WDE | 5* | #4 | .9982 | 100% |
| Darnell Wright | Huntington, West Virginia | OT | 5* | #19 | .9875 | 100% |
| Daxton Hill | Tulsa, Oklahoma | DB | 5* | #24 | .9843 | 50% |
| Doug Nester | Huntington, West Virginia | OT | 4* | #57 | .9696 | verbal |
| Harry Miller | Buford, Georgia | OT | 4* | #64 | .9693 | 60% |
| David Bell | Indianapolis, Indiana | WR | 4* | #71 | .9673 | 88% |
| Garrett Wilson | Austin, Texas | WR | 4* | #91 | .9611 | 50% |
| Ronnie Hickman | Wayne, New Jersey | ATH | 4* | #107 | .9533 | 100% |
| Cade Stover | Mansfield, Ohio | OLB | 4* | #112 | .9513 | 100% |
| Sampson James | Avon, Indiana | RB | 4* | #142 | .9422 | verbal |
| Milton Wright | Louisville, Kentucky | ATH | 4* | #134 | .9454 | 50% |
| Trey Knox | Murfreesboro, Tennessee | WR | 4* | #179 | .9308 | 83% |
| Cam'Ron Kelly | Chesapeake, Virginia | CB | 4* | #180 | .9304 | 0% |
| Noah Potter | Mentor, Ohio | SDE | 4* | #232 | .9176 | 100% |
| Jameson Williams | St. Louis, Missouri | WR | 4* | #241 | .9147 | 100% |
| Michael Tarquin | Belleview, Florida | OT | 4* | #263 | .9095 | 56% |
| Zeke Correll | Cincinnati, Ohio | OG | 4* | #286 | .9062 | 88% |
| Kane Patterson | Nashville, Tennessee | OLB | 4* | #273 | .9069 | No CBs |
| Grant Tisdale | Allen, Texas | QB | 4* | #281 | .9063 | 100% |
| Ryan Jacoby | Mentor, Ohio | OT | 3* | #382 | .8895 | verbal |
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Always enjoy reading your summaries and it certainly saves me great deal of time. Like muffler_dragon, I am also interested in what Greg Powers was when he was on BP..
