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2020 June 2019 - Ohio State's Most Important Recruiting Month Ever?

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June 2019 will be the most important month for football recruiting in Ohio State's long and storied history. Yes, that sounds like a lot of hyperbole, but some month has to be the most important, so why not June of 2019?

Recruiting in general has become more important in recent years, and much more difficult for football programs to navigate, with early signing, early enrollment, early departures for the NFL, grad transfers, the transfer portal, camps, combines, all-star games, and social media all complicating a process that was none too simple to begin with. However, the the biggest impact on teams - by far - has been the shift from local recruiting to national recruiting. It is no longer good enough for a college staff, in its never-ending quest for talent, to build relationships with players and coaches in its home state alone. Nowadays, the recruiting trail extends across the entire country, and the successful staffs have to build those relationships every step of the way. Because if they don't, someone else will. And when blue chip prospects are at stake, you can't let someone else have the advantage through your own inaction.

As recently as the Tressel era, Ohio State signed 60.4% (134 of 222) of its recruits from Ohio, and 73.4% (163 of 222) from Ohio plus the surrounding states of Pennsylvania, Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky, West Virginia, and the province of Ontario. In an effort to bring in top talent from around the country, Urban Meyer turned those numbers on their heads. Under Meyer, only 39.2% (73 of 186) of recruits came from Ohio; 47.8% (89 of 186) from Ohio plus the surrounding states; and a majority - 52.2% (97 of 186) from outside of the region, including places as remote as West Roxbury, Massachusetts; Tarboro, North Carolina; Pendleton, South Carolina; North Little Rock, Arkansas; La Grange, Texas; Owasso, Oklahoma; Windsor, Colorado; Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Pocatello, Idaho; and Kahuku, Hawaii (although Ryan Day gets most of the credit for the last one). Meyer's national recruiting strategy clearly worked, as his teams went 86-9 (.905 winning percentage), with a record of 8-3 in postseason play, 3 Big Ten titles, and the 2014 national championship.

While no Ohio State head coach will ever overlook the talent-rich Buckeye State, it's clear that the path to success on a national level requires one to recruit national talent. And to successfully recruit national talent, one has to compete (and beat) other national powers on the recruiting trail, top-tier programs such as Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Oklahoma, Notre Dame, Louisiana State, and a suddenly resurgent Oregon. Blue chip prospects seem more willing than ever to travel across the country to play college football, and as a result the competition to sign those prospects is more intense than ever. Ryan Day is continuing to push for those blue chippers to come to Columbus, Ohio. The question is this: Will he be successful?

The potentially epic month of June 2019 actually kicks off a day early, when the top national wide receiver prospect announces his college choice. Julian Fleming (Cataswissa PA Southern Columbia; #1 WR, #6 overall) is generally expected to select Ohio State over Penn State, the local favorite, and Clemson, who has been absolutely killing it on the recruiting trail recently. Ohio State recruiting has been in the doldrums for much of the year, and adding a consensus five-star talent to the class of 2020 would give the Buckeyes a much-needed boost of momentum to kick off the month of June.

While 5-star wide receiver Julian Fleming will be making his commitment, 5-star running back Kendall Milton (Clovis CA Buchanan, #3 RB, #21 overall) will be on Ohio State's campus for an official visit (following up a very positive unofficial visit on April 5th). With J.K. Dobbins entering his (presumably) final season, and with no heir apparent, Milton could quickly move up the Buckeyes' depth chart as a true freshman. Ohio State gets Milton's first official visit, and the staff will try to lock him up and shut down his recruitment before he leaves Columbus. If Milton does not issue a quick commitment to Ohio State, then look for him to make official visits to Alabama, Louisiana State, and Georgia.

Corey Wren (New Orleans LA John Curtis, #57 ATH, #790 overall) is an undersized (5-foot-9, 170 lbs) sleeper prospect with blazing speed (10.4 in the 100 meters). The Buckeyes recently extended Wren a conditional offer that could be firmed up based on his performance at Ohio State's camp on June 6th. If Wren makes the trip and balls out, then look for Ohio State to pursue him as an H-back/slot receiver or possibly a defensive back.

The recruiting intensity really picks up during the weekend of June 14th, when at least four top prospects will be making official visits to Ohio State. Five-star Bijan Robinson (Tucson AZ Salpointe Catholic, #5 RB, #25 overall) is the Buckeyes' other top choice at running back. It looks like the staff favors Milton ever so slightly, but Robison is definitely #1B on their list. UCLA looks like the main competition in this recruiting battle.

Also scheduled to visit that weekend are offensive lineman Reece Atteberry (Aurora CO Eaglecrest, #7 OC, #392 overall), linebacker Mitchell Melton (Olney MD Good Counsel, #46 OLB, #609 overall), and safety William Mohan (Brooklyn NY Erasmus Hall, #27 ATH, #406 overall). Although Atteberry, Melton, and Mohan are not your typical blue chip prospects (they are all 3-stars according to the 247 Composite rankings), each has a nice offer list (Notre Dame will be stiff competition for Atteberry and Melton, while Michigan currently leads for Mohan), and they all play positions of need for Ohio State.

The fifth possible official visitor for June 14th is defensive lineman Jacolbe Cowan (Charlotte NC Providence Day, #14 DT, #153 overall), whom the Buckeyes have been chasing for well over a year. If this visit happens, then look for Ohio State to be solidly in the mix for Cowan's services.

DeaMonte Trayanum (Akron OH Hoban, #24 RB, #317 overall) is the top running back prospect in Ohio, but he would clearly be RB2 to either Kendall Milton or Bijan Robinson. Moreover, Trayanum might actually be a better linebacker prospect at the college level. Trayanum makes a rare midweek official visit to Ohio State June 17th to June 19th, probably so that he can have more one-on-one time with a coaching staff that seems undecided on how to make best use of his football skills. If Trayanum hears the rights things during his visit, then look for him to be a Buckeye soon thereafter. Trayanum has already made an official visit to Arizona State (May 17th), and he is scheduled to make trips to Wisconsin (June 7th) and Penn State (June 21st).

Friday Night Lights will take place on June 21st, and no less than fourteen top prospects have already scheduled official visits for that weekend. First on the list is yet another blue chip running back prospect, Sam Adams II (Sammamish WA Eastside Catholic, #16 RB, #174 overall), a high school teammate of current Buckeye verbal, wide receiver Gee Scott, Jr. (Sammamish WA Eastside Catholic, #14 WR, #77 overall), who is also scheduled to attend FNL (possibly on his official visit). Adams is a burner (4.34 forty at The Opening on May 11th), so he would be a nice compliment to a power back like Kendall Milton.... Back to reality for a moment - home town Washington has a substantial lead here.

Ohio State will also be hosting four offensive line prospects for FNL, the most important of which is Paris Johnson, Jr. (Cincinnati OH Princeton, #1 OT, #7 overall), a current Buckeye verbal who is still looking around. Ryan Day's number one recruiting chore is to lock up Johnson during his official visit - no more flirting around with other schools. The top uncommitted OL prospect to visit that weekend would be Michael Carmody (Mars PA Area, #12 OT, #126 overall), who was leaning Ohio State's way until Notre Dame came through with an offer. Carmody's brother plays for the Fighting Irish basketball team, so Ohio State definitely has an uphill battle with him. A talented prospect who has been flying under Ohio State's radar is Chris Morris (Memphis TN Central, #3 OG, #79 overall). While Morris would seem to be a real reach for a northern school, he has apparently struck up a friendship with Paris Johnson, Jr., and such friendships can sometimes go a long way in recruiting. The final offensive lineman to visit for FNL is Josh Fryar (Beech Grove IN Beech Grove, #5 OC, #368 overall), who looks to be competing with Reece Atteberry (official visit June 14th; see above) for the offensive center spot in this class. Believe it or not, Oregon might be the school to beat.

The top uncommitted in-state prospects are defensive linemen Darrion Henry (Cincinnati OH Princeton, #11 DT, #106 overall) and Jaheim Thomas (Cincinnati OH Princeton, #20 OLB, #272 overall), who are teammates and close friends with the aforementioned Paris Johnson, Jr. Both Henry and Thomas will be visiting Ohio State for FNL, Henry as an official visitor, Thomas as a participant (by NCAA rule, he cannot make an official visit and also participate in the camp). Each is heavily favored to the Buckeyes, and it would not be surprising for one or both of them to issue commitments to Ohio State at or shortly after the weekend's festivities.

Another defensive lineman scheduled to make an official visit for FNL is Kedrick Bingley-Jones (Charlotte NC Providence Day, #15 DT, #155 overall), a high school teammate of Jacolbe Cowan (tentatively visiting on June 14th; see above). Bingley-Jones originally committed to Florida, then re-opened his recruitment so that he could check out schools like Ohio State. If the Buckeyes are going to make a good impression with him, then they will have to do so quickly, as Bingley-Jones has already set August 3rd as his new commitment date.

Kourt Williams II (Bellflower CA John Bosco, #23 OLB, #312 overall) and Cody Simon (Jersey City NJ St. Peters, #13 OLB, #184 overall) are two of the Buckeyes' top linebacker targets, and both are scheduled to make their official visits to Ohio State during the weekend of June 21st. At this point, Williams should be considered a Buckeye lean, while Simon is heavily favored to Notre Dame. Both would fit in nicely in the Buckeyes revamped defense, at the newly-created "bullet" (hybrid LB-DB) position.

Ohio State is set to host a pair of safety prospects for Friday Night Lights, Lathan Ransom (Tucson AZ Salpointe Catholic, #4 safety, #64 overall) and Makari Paige (West Bloomfield MI West Bloomfield, #20 safety, #239 overall). Ransom appears to be the staff's top safety target, and Ohio State should be a serious contender for his services. Ransom has already made official visits to Oklahoma (April 12th) and Louisiana State (April 26th), and he also has an official visit planned for Notre Dame (June 8th). Ransom's official visit to Ohio State will be one to watch closely, as it will likely make or break the Buckeyes' chances. Paige has been flying under the radar recently, and he hasn't published any list of favorites yet. However, Ohio State will get his first official visit, so that should tell you something about his interest level in the Buckeyes (as well as the Buckeyes' interest level in him). Michigan is presumed to be the top competition, and Penn State should be in the mix as well, but a good visit to Ohio State could end his recruitment early.

With all of the top talent coming to campus in June, the most important visitor might be Clark Phillips III (La Habra CA La Habra, #4 CB, #46 overall). The Buckeyes failed to land a cornerback in the class of 2019, and they have already struck out on most of their top targets for the class of 2020. Landing Phillips, a borderline 5-star prospect, would fill a huge hole in this class (and make most Buckeye fans feel a whole lot better about the staff' defensive recruiting in general). The Buckeyes' biggest challenger will be Notre Dame, with Oregon and Cal also heavily in the mix. However, if everything goes well on his official visit to Columbus, then this recruiting battle could be over before it ever really started.

The final official visitor for FNL (as of today) is Cameron Martinez (Muskegon MI Muskegon, #22 ATH, #375 overall), a high school quarterback who projects as an H-back or slot receiver or defensive back at the college level. Although Muskegon is generally all blue, Martinez seems to be favoring Ohio State over Michigan, and a solid visit to Columbus could seal the deal for the Buckeyes.

In addition to the official visitors mentioned above, Friday Night Lights will attract numerous other prospects, both seniors and underclassmen, as participants and spectators. As of today, two highly-ranked juniors will be attending FNL, wide receiver Lorenzo Styles, Jr. (Pickerington OH Central) and running back Donovan Edwards (West Bloomfield MI West Bloomfield).

So the month of June 2019 will be huge for Ohio State recruiting, maybe the hugest month ever. There will be at least two dozen blue chip recruits on campus during June, so the month will be huge for that reason alone. More importantly, June will give new head coach Ryan Day his first real chance to score some victories on the recruiting trail, and if he does so then that success will be even huger in the long run.

To date, Day can be credited with keeping the class of 2019 largely intact after the departure of Urban Meyer; solidifying 2019's top in-state prospect, Zachary Harrison, to Ohio State; securing highly-rated quarterback Justin Fields as a transfer; and landing a surprise last-minute commitment from 2019 Hawaiian offensive lineman Enokk Vimahi. So far in 2020, Day and his staff have been treading water, keeping the core recruits committed, cutting loose a couple of borderline prospects, and landing a pair of in-state offensive linemen who can variously be described as sleepers or projects or suspects depending on your point of view. June is when Ryan Day will make a name for himself, when he will shine as a recruiter, when he will land his signature prospects, when he will lock up a top-five recruiting class, when he will prove himself every bit the equal of his predecessor on the recruiting trail. Or not. So grab your popcorn and keep a close watch on Buckeye recruiting next month - there will some good, some bad, and some ugly, but it will be quite a show to see.

NOTE: All recruit rankings are 247 Composite, current as of 30 May 2019.
 
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June is now one week old. How is Ohio State's hugest recruiting month ever developing?

May 31st: As expected, the month started off with a BOOM as five-star wide receiver Julian Fleming (Catawissa PA Southern Columbia; 6'2" 199 lbs; #1 WR, #5 overall) committed to Ohio State over Penn State and Clemson. While Fleming was issuing his commitment, five-star running back Kendall Milton (Clovis CA Buchanan; 6'2" 220 lbs; #3 RB, #21 overall) was taking his official visit to Ohio State. By all accounts, Milton's visit went very well and the Buckeyes are presumed to be his leader. However, Milton is scheduled to make official visits to Louisiana State (June 7th), Georgia (June 14th), and Alabama (June 21st) before deciding sometime this summer.

June 2nd: As I said in the original post, this month will have some good, some bad, and some ugly. Well, the first bad news came on June 2nd, when top defensive line prospect Jaheim Thomas (Cincinnati OH Princeton; 6'5" 230 lbs; #21 OLB, #277 overall) released his top 7 list and omitted Ohio State. Apparently, the Buckeye staff is still unsure about Thomas, and they wanted him to "earn" his offer at camp sometime this month. Thomas wasn't interested and moved in a different direction. For what it's worth, his finalists are Cincinnati, Louisville, Kentucky, Tennessee, Louisiana State, Maryland, and Michigan State.

June 4th: While the commitment from Julian Fleming was generally expected in Buckeye Nation, the commitment of place kicker Jake Seibert (Cincinnati OH La Salle; 6'1" 190 lbs; unrated) was a bit of a surprise. The surprise wasn't in the commitment itself (Seibert was long rumored to favor the Buckeyes), but rather in the timing. Seibert was offered by Ohio State on May 20th, made an unofficial visit to Columbus on May 31st, and verballed to the Buckeyes (as a grayshirt) on June 4th. We thought that Seibert might look at a few other schools (Michigan State, for example) before making his college choice, but he knew what he wanted and didn't mess around.

June 6th: Ohio State's first football camp of the summer attracted a lot of blue chip talent to Columbus. Of course, the local stars showed up in force, including current Buckeye commitments offensive lineman Paris Johnson, Jr. (Cincinnati Princeton); offensive lineman Jakob James (Cincinnati Elder); and offensive lineman Trey Leroux (Norwalk). Also attending from the class of 2020 were defensive lineman Darrion Henry (Cincinnati Princeton); defensive lineman Ty Hamilton (Pickerington Central); defensive lineman Gage Keys (Hilliard Davidson); defensive back Rickey Hyatt, Jr. (Westerville Central); wide receiver Chris Scott (Pickerington North); and wide receiver Keegan Wilburn (Nelsonville). Class of 2021 attendees included wide receiver Jayden Ballard (Massillon Washington); defensive end Najee Story (Solon); defensive back A.J. Kirk (Dublin Coffman); linebacker Reid Carrico (Ironton); and defensive lineman Jamarius Dinkins (Columbus Walnut Ridge). Offensive lineman Ryan Baer (Eastlake North) represented the class of 2022.

The Ohio State camp was also attended by several out-of-state prospects - most notably 2021 wide receiver Gavin Blackwell (Monroe NC Sun Valley; 6'0" 164 lbs; unrated); 2021 offensive lineman Trey Zuhn (Fort Collins CO Fossil Ridge; 6'5" 260 lbs; unrated); and 2022 running back Emeka Megwa (Fort Worth TX Nolan Catholic; 6'0" 200 lbs; unrated) - as well as about thirty players who came all the way from Europe to show off their talents for an American audience.

A surprise camp visitor was 2020 defensive back Jaiden Francois (Homestead FL South Dade; 6'0" 184 lbs; #25 CB, #292 overall). Francois is currently pledged to the Miami Hurricanes, and it's unusual to see a committed player travel all the way from south Florida on his own dime to participate in a summer camp. With the Buckeyes having a serious need at cornerback, this has suddenly become a recruitment to watch closely.

The most intriguing battle of camp was between tight end prospects Luke Lachey (Columbus OH Grandview Heights; 6'6" 220 lbs; #20 TE; #678 overall) and Joe Royer (Cincinnati OH Elder; 6'5" 225 lbs; #38 TE, #907 overall), who were going head-to-head for a single Buckeye offer at their position. Royer won the competition, was offered the following day, and is now officially on commitment watch; Lachey quickly scheduled an official visit to Iowa.

Also earning offers at camp were 2021 defensive back prospect A.J. Kirk (Dublin OH Coffman; 6'0" 200 lbs; unrated) and 2021 tight end prospect Jordan Dingle (Bowling Green KY Bowling Green; 6'4" 230 lbs). Kirk is a local kid with deep Buckeye roots (he is the younger brother of Buckeye legend Michael Doss), so he is generally expected to become a member of Ohio State's class of 2021. Ohio State should be solidly in the mix for Dinkins, so long as the Buckeye offense can find a way to incorporate the tight end over the next two seasons.

There's a reason why prospects who have no realistic shot at earning a Buckeye offer still attend Ohio State's camp. Take the example of 2020 athlete Preston Zachman (Catawissa PA Southern Columbian; 6'2" 205 lbs; unrated). Although Zachman is a high school teammate of top-five overall prospect Julian Fleming, he has received little exposure himself, and as a result he was looking primarily at FCS schools such as Fordham, Colgate, and Cornell. At Ohio State's camp, Zachman posted a 4.44 forty and was promptly offered by Kent State. Expect more MAC-level offers to come Zachman's way in the near future.

Throughout the week, several more top prospects scheduled official visits to Ohio State. The new official visitors for the June 14th weekend are running back Blake Corum (Baltimore MD St. Francis; 5'9" 180 lbs; #17 RB, #197 overall); wide receiver KeAndre Lambert (Norfolk VA Maury; 6'1" 172 lbs; #44 WR, #248 overall); defensive lineman Vernon Broughton (Houston TX Cy Ridge; 6'5" 286 lbs; #6 DT, #71 overall); and defensive lineman Ty Hamilton (Pickerington OH Central; 6'3" 250 lbs; #42 SDE #874 overall), who is the younger brother of current Buckeye defensive tackle Davon Hamilton. New official visitors for the weekend of June 21st are running back Jaylan Knighton (Deerfield Beach FL Deerfield Beach; 5'9" 185 lbs; #3 APB, #106 overall) and tight end Cameron Large (Dedham MA Noble & Greenough; 6'5" 232 lbs; #14 TE, #523 overall).
 
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June 9th: The second week of June got off to a huge start, namely the verbal commitment of 6-foot-7, 320-pound offensive lineman Grant Toutant (Warren MI De La Salle; #27 OT, #324 overall). Toutant was barely on our radar, partly because the Buckeye staff seemed intent on chasing other offensive line prospects (Reece Atteberry, Michael Carmody, Josh Fryar, Chris Morris, Roger Rosengarten), and partly because Toutant had long been a Penn State verbal (he committed to the Nittany Lions on November 24, 2018). It turns out that while Toutant was openly making visits to Happy Valley (at least four during calendar year 2019), he was secretly making trips to Columbus to get an up close look at Ohio State. With his massive frame, Toutant seems to be a classic offensive tackle, and he should make a nice bookend to Paris Johnson, Jr. Toutant will make his official visit to Ohio State during the weekend of June 21st.

June 10th: Tight end Joe Royer (Cincinnati OH Elder; 6'5" 225 lbs; #41 TE, #943 overall), who was offered after his camp performance earlier this month, scheduled an official visit to Ohio State for the weekend of June 21st. Royer released a top-6 list (Ohio State, Michigan, Wisconsin, Penn State, Louisiana State, Arizona State), but the Buckeyes are generally considered to be his leader, and it would surprise absolutely no one if Royer committed to Ohio State during or shortly after his official visit.

Another tight end prospect, Jalin Conyers (Gruver TX Gruver; 6'4" 220 lbs; #3 TE, #240 overall), will also visit Ohio State that weekend. Conyers has Ohio State in his final three along with Oklahoma and Georgia, with the Sooners presumably enjoying a solid lead for his services.

June 11th: Longtime Ohio State verbal Luke Wypler (Montvale NJ St. Joseph; 6'4" 285 lbs; #1 OC, #61 overall) announced that he will make his official visit to Ohio State during the weekend of June 14th. Also confirming his official visit for that weekend is defensive line prospect Jacolbe Cowan (Charlotte NC Providence Day; 6'5" 277 lbs; #12 DT, #153 overall) (more on Cowan, below).

June 15th: Several underclassmen prospects attended Ohio State's camp and earned themselves Buckeye offers, including: 2021 wide receiver Dekel Crowdus (Lexington KY Frederick Douglas; 5'10" 170 lbs; #49 WR, #316 overall); 2021 tight end Bennett Pitcher (Deerfield MA Deerfield Academy; 6'9" 270 lbs; unrated); 2021 defensive back Bryce Steele (Alexandria VA Episcopal; 6'1" 195 lbs; unrated); 2021 DB Jaylen Johnson (Cincinnati OH La Salle; 6'1" 205 lbs; #16 safety, #342 overall); and 2022 QB Steve Angeli (Oradell NJ Bergen Catholic; 6'2" 170 lbs; unrated). Also attending were several previously offered class of 2021 prospects, most notably defensive lineman Rocco Spindler (Clarkston MI Clarkston; 6'5" 285 lbs; #2 DT, #33 overall); defensive back Tony Grimes (Virginia Beach VA Princess Anne; 6'0" 180 lbs; #3 CB, #27 overall); running back Evan Pryor (Cornelius NC William Amos Hough; 5'11" 175 lbs; #6 RB, #115 overall); and current Buckeye verbal Jack Sawyer (Pickerington OH North; 6'5" 220 lbs; #1 SDE, #2 overall).

2020 defensive lineman Brandon Taylor (Lima OH Senior; 6'3" 250 lbs; #25 SDE, #546 overall) had a strong showing at camp, but he was not extended a Buckeye offer. Supposedly, Coach Johnson is going to evaluate Taylor over the next two weeks before coming to a final decision, but it looks like Taylor might be squeezed out of this class by Ty Hamilton (see below). Taylor claims offers from Michigan and Penn State, and those two schools will likely be battling for his services going forward.

A surprise visitor at camp was 2020 safety prospect Chris Thompson Jr. (Duncanville TX Duncanville; 6'2" 180 lbs; #7 safety, #130 overall). Thompson is heavily crystal balled to Texas and he wasn't really on the Buckeye radar, so was his (unofficial) visit to Columbus a first step in forming a relationship with Ohio State, or was it just for fun?

Another surprise visitor from Texas was 2020 quarterback Austin "Kade" Renfro (Stephenville TX Stephenville; 6'4" 189 lbs; unrated). Renfro is currently committed to North Texas, but Ohio State might be interested in taking a second quarterback in this class. If current Buckeye verbal Jack Miller (Scottsdale AZ Chapparal; 6'4" 210 lbs; #2 PRO, #71 overall) is okay with some competition, then the Buckeye staff might take a serious look at Renfro (think Kenny Guiton).

June 16th: A few hours after the end of his official visit, defensive lineman Ty Hamilton (Pickerington OH Central; 6'3" 250 lbs; #47 SDE, #920 overall), the younger brother of current Buckeye Davon Hamilton, cancelled his official visit to Michigan and committed to Ohio State.

The biggest official visitor of the weekend was five-star running back Bijan Robinson (Tucson AZ Salpointe Catholic; 6'0" 200 lbs; #4 RB, #22 overall). His official visit was his first trip to Ohio State, and by all accounts he had an amazing time. With fellow five-star running back Kendall Milton likely headed to the SEC, Robinson now becomes 1A on the Buckeyes' board.

With depth running low, the Buckeyes would like to add a second running back in the class of 2020, and Blake Corum (Baltimore MD St. Frances; 5'9" 180 lbs; #17 RB, #201 overall) might be that guy. Corum was impressed with his official visit to Ohio State, and he would be a nice change-of-pace back to someone like Bijan Robinson, but Michigan likely remains his leader.

William "Apache" Mohan (Brookyln NY Erasmus Hall; 6'1" 195 lbs; #28 ATH, #418 overall) made an unofficial visit to Ohio State and came away impressed. He says that Ohio State is in his top three, and that he plans to return to Columbus (for an official visit this fall, perhaps?). Michigan should still be considered his leader, and quite frankly the Buckeye staff probably has some similar prospects higher on their big board.

Defensive lineman Vernon Broughton (Houston TX Cy Ridge; 6'5" 286 lbs; #6 DT, #70 overall) also made an official visit to Ohio State last weekend. Broughton tweeted out the obligatory pictures of himself wearing Buckeye gear standing in the Horseshoe, but before the weekend was over two crystal balls were cast against Ohio State - one for Texas, and one for Arkansas. Better scratch Vernon off of your list.

We are still waiting to hear from official visitor Mitchell Melton (Olney MD Good Counsel; 6'4" 225 lbs; #44 OLB, #654 overall). Melton took an official visit to Notre Dame for the weekend of June 7th, and he is scheduled to make an official visit to Michigan next weekend. Melton has set July 3rd as his commitment date, and it's really anybody's guess who leads at this point.

And last but not least, the Buckeyes hit a "home run" with defensive lineman Jacolbe Cowan (Charlotte NC Providence Day; 6'5" 277 lbs; #12 DT, #153 overall) on his official visit. Cowan has been strongly (but quietly) considering Ohio State for well over a year, and his recent trip to Columbus might have sealed the deal for the Buckeyes.
Toutant's commitment really changes the look of the 2020 offensive line class - a third true OT to go along with Paris Johnson, Jr. and Trey Leroux. And the Buckeyes are still very much in the mix for Reece Atteberry, Josh Fryar, Chris Morris, and maybe even Michael Carmody, all of whom are scheduled to make official visits to Ohio State later this month. I wonder if any of the aforementioned will cancel his visit....
Reece Atteberry (Aurora CO Eaglecrest) did cancel his official visit scheduled for last weekend (Duke is trending for him), and it looks as though Michael Carmody (Mars PA Area) will cancel his official visit for this weekend as he just committed to Notre Dame. We think that the Buckeyes are still looking for a sixth offensive lineman in the class of 2020, and as of now Chris Morris (Memphis TN Central) and Josh Fryar (Beech Grove IN Beech Grove) are still scheduled to visit this weekend. I note in passing that local offensive lineman Sam Rengert (Milford Center OH Fairbanks; 6'7" 285 lbs; #85 OT, #959 overall) just received a huge bump in the 247 Internal rankings, and he is now their #13 overall prospect in the State of Ohio.
 
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Guys I have on commitment watch this weekend:

Kourt Williams
Clark Phillips
Joe Royer
Cody Simon
Darrion Henry
And Paris Johnson reaffirming things.

And there could be a few others out of the blue.
Adding those five would move Ohio State's class to #4 in the country (in 247 Composite) with 270.92 points, and #5 in average per recruit with a rating of 92.37

I would also add Cameron Martinez and Makari Paige as possible commitments.
 
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June 19th: DeaMonte Trayanum (Akron OH Hoban, #24 RB, #317 overall) wrapped up his official visit to Ohio State. As I stated in the initial post in this thread: "Trayanum makes a rare midweek official visit to Ohio State June 17th to June 19th, probably so that he can have more one-on-one time with a coaching staff that seems undecided on how to make best use of his football skills [running back or linebacker]. If Trayanum hears the rights things during his visit, then look for him to be a Buckeye soon thereafter." Apparently, Trayanum did not hear what he wanted to hear, namely that he could be RB1 at Ohio State, so don't expect to see him wearing scarlet and gray next year. More like maroon and gold, the colors of Arizona State.

June 21st: Ohio State's huge recruiting weekend (formerly Friday Night Lights, now known as Buckeye BBQ Bash Bonanza or some such thing) got off to a huge start as 2020 cornerback Clark Phillips III (La Habra CA La Habra; 5'10" 178 lbs; ) and 2021 wide receiver Jayden Ballard (Massillon OH Washington; 6'2" 164 lbs; #22 WR, #125 overall) committed within minutes of each other. Phillips fills a fairly large void at cornerback, while Ballard adds to the embarrassment of riches at the wide receiver position.

June 22nd: After the BBQ closed down Friday afternoon, the official visits began in earnest. At least fifteen of the seventeen scheduled official visitors made it to campus, with the one known absentee being offensive lineman Chris Morris (Memphis TN Central; 6'4" 287 lbs; #2 OG; #87 overall), who apparently made a visit to Tennessee instead. Morris always seemed like a bit of a long shot, and with the recent commitment of Grant Toutant, offensive line is no longer a need for this class. It seems likely that Morris will be off the Buckeyes' board going forward, but if the staff can find room for a sixth offensive lineman, then Morris would be a great candidate for that slot.

Offensive lineman Josh Fryar (Beech Grove IN Beach Grove; 6'5" 295 lbs; #7 OC, #373 overall) was scheduled to make an official visit to Columbus, but we have not heard if he actually made that trip. The Buckeye have five offensive linemen in the fold already, and they might be done recruiting that position for the class of 2020. If Ohio State is "out", then Penn State and Indiana should be considered the front runners, with Oregon also being in the mix.

The best news of the weekend is that the Buckeye staff made the biggest impression on the more important uncommitted visitor, namely defensive back Lathan Ransom (Tucson AZ Salpointe Catholic; 6'0" 200 lbs; #2 safety, #76 overall). Since Ransom's visit ended, Ohio State has racked up eight crystal balls in its favor, including from heavyweight national experts Steve Wiltfong and Greg Biggins. Not only is Ransom an excellent player in his own right, he is also high school teammates with priority running back target Bijan Robinson (official visit June 14th), and a commitment from one could only help in the pursuit of the other.

Another important visitor from the West Coast was Kourt Williams II (Bellflower CA St. John Bosco; 6'1" 216 lbs; #12 OLB, #170 overall), who seems destined to play the new "bullet" position at Ohio State. All of the recent crystal ball action favors Ohio State (over UCLA), and Steve Wiltfong cast his for the Buckeyes on the eve of Kourt's official visit.

As an aside, I have to say that a safety combination of Lathan Ransom and Kourt Williams has a real nice ring to it. A bit medieval sounding ... in a Marcellus Wallace kind of way.

Linebacker Cody Simon (Jersey City NJ St. Peters Prep; 6'1" 218 lbs; #10 OLB, #154 overall) was off the Buckeyes' radar until a few weeks ago, and when Ohio State offered Simon he was generally considered to be a Notre Dame lock. Now the tables have turned, and Ohio State is the crystal ball leader for Simon, with local experts Bill Greene, Bill Kurelic, and Andrew Ellis in the Buckeye camp; even Notre Dame insider Tom Loy has conceded this recruiting battle to Ohio State.

Another safety prospect who visited was Makari Paige (West Bloomfield MI West Bloomfield; 6'3" 180 lbs; #19 safety, #246 overall). Although Ohio State has the recent crystal momentum (over Michigan), with the probable commitments of Lathan Ransom and Kourt Williams, there might not be any room in this class for Paige. Maybe Kentucky blue would look better on him....

Darrion Henry (Cincinnati OH Princeton; 6'5" 255 lbs; #11 DT, #121 overall) has long been considered a Buckeye lock, and his official visit last weekend was supposed to seal the deal. To date, we have heard no word from Henry - nothing positive, nothing negative, nothing at all - so we are going to keep him on commitment watch until we learn something new. By the way, Henry is scheduled to announce his college choice on June 29th, so we won't have long to wait.

The final official visitor on the defensive side of the ball was Kedrick Bingley-Jones (Charlotte NC Providence Day; 6'5" 266 lbs; #16 DT, #167 overall), who is a high school teammate of defensive lineman Jacolbe Cowan (visited June 14th). Bingley-Jones is planning to announce his commitment on August 3rd, with his finalists apparently being Ohio State, North Carolina, and Duke. If the Buckeyes seriously pursues Bingley-Jones, then I like their chances to land him.

The problem with Darrion Henry, Jacolbe Cowan, and Kendrick Bingley-Jones is that they are all virtually carbon copies of each other: each is about 6-foot-5, 270-pounds, and a three-tech defensive tackle. None seems massive enough to play the nose, nor athletic enough to play end on a consistent basis. For those reasons, I can't really see Ohio State taking all three recruits, although one could argue that Ohio State leads for each of them. My best guess would be Henry and Bingley-Jones are "in" if they want to be (and I think that they do).

Cameron Martinez (Muskegon MI Muskegon; 6'0" 195 lbs; #22 ATH, #381 overall) is an interesting prospect. Martinez is one of the best overall athletes in the class of 2020, but he is without a position. A high school quarterback, Martinez is destined to switch positions in college, possibly to cornerback, wide receiver, or all-purpose back. The Buckeye staff just wants to get him on campus next year and worry about the details later.

Two running back prospects made official visits to Ohio State over the weekend, namely Sam Adams II (Sammamish WA Eastside Catholic; 6'0" 200 lbs; #16 RB, #176 overall) and Jaylan Knighton (Deerfield Beach FL Deerfield Beach; 5'9" 185 lbs; #3 APB, #108 overall). So far, we have heard very little (if any) feedback from either prospect. If Bijan Robinson ends up committing to Ohio State (as seems more likely each day), then Adams would probably be out of the mix. Knighton, however, is more of an all-purpose back (or H-back at Ohio State), and he could be the next Curtis Samuel if he selected the Buckeyes.

Three tight ends made official visits last weekend: Joe Royer (Cincinnati OH Elder; 6'5" 225 lbs; #14 TE, #507 overall); Cameron Large (Dedham MA Noble and Greenough School; 6'5" 232 lbs; #16 TE, #544 overall); and Jalin Conyers (Gruver TX Gruver; 6'4" 220 lbs; #3 TE, #240 overall). The conventional wisdom says that Ohio State wants a pair of tight ends in this class, but quite frankly I don't see room for two, especially with the position being de-emphasized under Ryan Day's offense (and honestly, when was tight end ever really emphasized at Ohio State). Royer seems to be as close to an Ohio State "lock" at they come, and the same could be said about Conyers and Oklahoma. That leaves Cameron Large as the possible second Buckeye tight end for the class of 2020 - I'd say that he ends up elsewhere, maybe Wisconsin.

Two previously committed prospects made their official visits last weekend: offensive lineman Paris Johnson Jr. (Cincinnati Princeton; 6'7" 300 lbs; #1 OT, #8 overall); and offensive lineman Grant Toutant (Warren MI De La Salle; 6'7" 320 lbs; #32 OT, #394 overall). Toutant is a new commitment (June 9, 2019) and likely solid, while Johnson has been committed to Ohio State (albeit rather softly) for almost exactly one year (June 28, 2018). The hope is that Johnson will reaffirm his long-standing commitment and end his recruitment. His high teammate Darrion Henry announces his college selection on June 29th. That seems like a good date for Paris Johnson Jr. to solidify his pledge to Ohio State.

Several committed recruits made unofficial visits to Columbus, primarily to help sell Ohio State to uncommitted prospects. Leading the charge (as usual) was Lejond Cavazos (Bradenton FL IMG Academy; 6'0" 185 lbs; #20 safety, #253 overall), who would make an ace recruiting coordinator when his playing days are done. Joining Cavazos were the 2020 WR triumvirate of Julian Fleming (Catawissa PA Southern Columbia; 6'2" 199 lbs; #1 WR, #5 overall); Gee Scott Jr. (Sammamish WA Eastside Catholic; 6'3" 207 lbs; #13 WR, #66 overall); and Jaxon Smith-Njigba (Rockwall TX Rockwall; 6'1" 185 lbs; #18 WR, #89 overall), along with 2021 Buckeye verbals Kyle McCord (Philadelphia PA St. Josephs Prep; 6'3" 204 lbs; #5 PRO, #52 overall) and Jack Sawyer (Pickerington OH North; 6'5" 220 lbs; #1 SDE, #2 overall).
 
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As of today, Ohio State has 13 commitments. The Buckeyes' class 247 Composite score of 237.06, which is the sixth best class in CFB. The average rating per recruit is 92.38 points, which is fifth best for classes that have ten or more commitments.

After the June official visits, Ohio State is now the crystal ball favorites for the following:

DB Lathan Ransom (96.25 rating)
DL Darrion Henry (94.59 rating)
LB Cody Simon (93.74 rating)
LB Kourt Williams II (93.32 rating)
ATH Cameron Martinez (88.84 rating)
TE Joe Royer (87.65 rating)

If those six prospects all verbal to Ohio State, then the class score increases to 282.46 (third best class in CFB), with an average per recruit of 92.39 (an increase of .01 points per recruit - how does that happen?).

If Ohio State adds five-star running back Bijan Robinson, then the class score increases to 291.58 (second overall), with an average per recruit of 92.72 (fourth best).

If Ohio State also adds four-star wide receiver Mookie Cooper, then the class score increases to 297.24, which would be only 0.68 points behind #1 Clemson, with an average per recruit of 92.90 (third best).

That would give Ohio State 21 commitments:

QB Jack Miller
RB Bijan Robinson
WR Julian Fleming
WR Gee Scott Jr.
WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba
WR Mookie Cooper
TE Joe Royer
OL Paris Johnson Jr.
OL Luke Wypler
OL Grant Toutant
OL Jakob James
OL Trey Leroux
DL Ty Hamilton
DL Darrion Henry
LB Kourt Williams II
LB Cody Simon
DB Lejond Cavazos
DB Clark Phillips III
DB Lathan Ransom
ATH Cameron Martinez
PK Jake Seibert

Ohio State would still have four or five scholarships available for a second running back (Jaylan Knighton), a defensive lineman or two (Jacolbe Cowan, Kedrick Bingley-Jones), and a second tight end (Cameron Large) ... and then swing for the fences with five-star cornerback Elias Ricks (visiting in November).
 
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June 26th: The first post-BBQ commitment is in the books, and it's not anyone from the class of 2020. Instead, 2021 offensive lineman Ben Christman (Richfield OH Revere; 6'6" 295 lbs; #9 OT, #44 overall) pledged to Ohio State just days after attending the weekend Bash. Christman is ranked as the second-best prospect in the State of Ohio for the Class of 2021 (fellow Buckeye verbal, DE Jack Sawyer, being the top-ranked prospect), and his commitment keeps Ohio State rolling on the recruiting trail.

In other recruiting news, it appears that 2020 offensive lineman Josh Fryar (Beech Grove IN Beech Grove; 6'5" 295 lbs; #7 OC, #372 overall) did in fact make his official visit to Columbus last weekend. After maintaining Twitter silence for several days since his visit, which many interpreted negatively for Ohio State, Fryar gave a very positive interview to recruiting guru Steve Wiltfong. Within minutes, the crystal balls started rolling in for the Buckeyes. Fryar is expected to announce his college selection sometime in July, and his choice is expected to be Ohio State.
 
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