Tag: ohio state football recruiting

Ohio State head coach Ryan Day visits Cameron Martinez

There’s one big fish still out there for the Ohio State football 2020 recruiting class, and Ryan Day was in to pay a visit this weekend.

The official and traditional signing day for college football is quickly approaching, and although Ohio State has signed almost its entire class already during the early signing period, there’s still one big fish still out there that head coach Ryan Day and staff would love to land.

Four-star athlete Cameron Martinez verbally committed to the Buckeyes back in early July, but he decided to delay his signing until February to keep his options open.

It can all be traced to former Ohio State co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach Jeff Hafley’s departure from the program. He was the lead recruiter that had established a relationship with Martinez, and the news of Hafley taking the head coaching job at Boston College gave the MLive’s two-time Michigan high-school player of the year pause.

Since that time, it’s been a busy, flurry of activity for head coach Ryan Day and Ohio State. There was the whole lead up to Fiesta Bowl and the College Football Playoff to deal with that took everyone’s focus and time.

But now, it’s time to get back on the trail and try to let Martinez know he made the right decision in the first place. On that note, Day and special teams coordinator and assistant secondary backs coach Matt Barnes were on the recruiting trail, battling bad weather and travel to watch Martinez play in a high school basketball game over the weekend.

There are reliable sources pointing towards former Ohio State defensive backs coach Kerry Coombs coming back to Columbus to fill the spot left vacant by Hafley’s departure, and that would be a great hire to fill the void. Either way, Day’s selling of the program would likely revolve around him bringing in one of the best defensive backs coaches in America, and the virtues of what the program can offer.

According to a story by MLive, the visit did indeed strike a chord with Martinez.

“It meant a lot to me and also showed a lot,” Martinez said in a text to MLive.com. “They had a busy day and for them to come to the game and then come over (to the house) with the weather being bad, I really appreciated it. I haven’t seen them in a while, so it was good to catch up with them as well.”

So we’ll keep a watch on this and any news regarding a pending hire of sorts. With all the unknowns at the defensive back position, and the need that will be there after this year, getting Martinez, an athlete that could factor in there or at another position down the road will be key.

Four-star 2020 running back Jahmyr Gibbs no longer set to visit Ohio state

According to a report from 247Sports, four-star 2020 running back Jahmyr Gibbs is no longer going to visit Ohio State this weekend.

Ohio State football has locked down almost its entire recruiting class for 2020, but there were still a couple of targets the Buckeyes were thought to be looking to nail down on the conventional National Signing Day. The biggest target is defensive back Cameron Martinez who committed verbally to OSU but held off signing during the early signing period — presumably to see who replaces Jeff Hafley. There’s no doubt Martinez remains the Buckeyes’ biggest priority.

Another one OSU seemed to get on late in the game was four-star running back Jahmyr Gibbs out of Dalton, Georgia. He had been committed to Georgia Tech but has started to garner interest from other schools as the perception of his abilities continues to rise in recruiting circles.

Earlier reports had Gibbs heading to Columbus for an official visit this coming weekend, but according to 247Sports recruiting director Steve Wiltfong (subscription required), that no longer appears to be the case. This is an excerpt from the news.

“247Sports has learned that Ohio State will no longer host Top247 running back Jahmyr Gibbs on an official visit this weekend.

It’s a numbers thing for the Buckeyes who already have 24 signed and Cameron Martinez also committed making 25 for this 2020 class.

Gibbs is currently committed to Georgia Tech and also keeping an eye on Florida and LSU as well. The Gators are scheduled to get an official next weekend with the Yellow Jackets slated for the last one the weekend of Jan. 31.”

https://twitter.com/SWiltfong247/status/1217884435976261639?s=20

So, it looks like the Buckeyes’ efforts will center around keeping Martinez in the fold. With the flip of Clark Phillips to Utah during the early signing period, he’s a talent Ryan Day and staff would love to add to the 2020 class. Defensive back is one of the biggest areas of need right now, and will continue to be in the next recruiting cycle as well.

Michigan recruiting “not the same” as Ohio State says 247Sports’ Director of Recruiting

Director of Recruiting Steve Wiltfong of 247Sports, compared Michigan football recruiting efforts unfavorably against Ohio State.

There are guys that know college football recruiting, and then there are guys that live it. As the Director of Recruiting for 247Sports, Steve Wiltfong would be the latter. So, when he says something about the state of recruiting efforts, folks should perk up and take note.

It’s interesting then that he had some criticism of Michigan recruiting efforts under Jim Harbaugh. According to Allen Trieu’s Notorious B1G Podcast on 247Sports, the recruiting guru believes Michigan is behind Ohio State and Penn State in the way that it goes about identifying and selling players to the program.

He was first concerned with the loss of a key recruiter on staff, assistant coach Chris Partridge.

“They haven’t filled (Patridge’s) role, and we’ll see who they fill it with because Michigan is one of those schools where assistant coach recruiters are incredibly important because they don’t recruit in the same traditional way that almost every other program that we cover does,” Wiltfong said. “There’s not recruiting meetings. There’s just a lot on the assistant coaches’ plates to go out in their territories or in their position rooms and find guys they think are good enough to help Michigan win championships.”

“Chris Partridge was a guy that wasn’t afraid to go into SEC country with his winged helmet logo on his golf shirt and go toe-to-toe for big-time guys and try to get them to come to Michigan. He had some big wins. He also had some close losses. I mean, Willie Gay was a guy who had Michigan in his top two. Otis Reese is a guy who had Michigan in his top two. He really got after it and worked.”

Wiltfong then gave his opinion on where the Wolverine program is in terms of recruiting compared to a couple of other teams he believes are doing it the right way.

“I just don’t think, collectively, this staff is recruiting at a level to win a national championship across the board,” Wiltfong said. “It’s a blow losing a guy in Partridge, who I feel like is one of your best recruiters when the emphasis on recruiting at Michigan isn’t the same as it is at Ohio State and Penn State right now. We’re starting to see it on the field.”

To be fair, we’ve seen it on the field for quite a while now, but we get Wiltfong’s point. The gap may be widening after two blowout losses in The Game by Michigan and all.

 

WATCH: Trio of Ohio State early enrollees show off their new digs

Three of Ohio State football’s 2020 early enrollees took to Twitter to show off their new rooms.

By now, all fourteen of the Ohio State football team’s early enrollees for the 2020 recruiting class have arrived on campus and have found their way to the new housing for the start of college. It’s where they’ll be for the beginning of the next step on their football journey.

If you’ve ever wondered what the living quarters of a big-time college football player looks like, then you are in luck. (Hint: It looks a lot like other students’ rooms do). Three of Ohio State’s more prominent freshman that enrolled early took some time to show off their new digs by way of a video shared by the official Twitter feed of the Ohio State Football.

Get a look at roommates Kourt Williams and C.J. Stroud show off their “west-coast” room, while receiver Julian Fleming shows you what his place looks like. Just click on the below and enjoy.

All we got to say is that one looks much more put together and homely than the other. Someone has got some catching up to do.

Boom! Four star Offensive lineman Donovan Jackson picks Ohio State

Texas 4-star offensive lineman Donovan Jackson has verbally committed to Ohio State for the 2021 class.

It all went as expected.

Four-star offensive guard Donovan Jackson from the 2021 class has announced his verbal commitment to Ohio State. He was thought to be a heavy lean as of late for the Buckeyes, and he let the world know today via a live stream at his high school.

According to 247Sports, Jackson is the No. 11 rated offensive guard in the class and 57th overall target. He is listed as the No. 11 rated recruit in the state of Texas. He chose the Buckeyes over the likes of Alabama, Georgia, and Texas.

For Ohio State, it’s another big one. Jackson makes the ninth commitment already for a top-rated 2021 recruiting class.

Four-star 2020 running back Jahmyr Gibbs to visit Ohio State

Ohio State may not be done with its running back efforts for 2020. Four-star RB Jahmyr Gibbs will visit Columbus on January 17.

Ohio State has put together a consensus top five 2020 recruiting class, but it’s hoping to gain the interest of a kid that would add even more talent at the running back position, a group that didn’t quite pan out like it would have wanted during the early signing period.

Four-star Jahmyr Gibbs is all set to visit Ohio State despite being verbally committed to Georgia Tech as it stands right now. Gibbs has been rising in the running back ratings and beginning to garner more and more attention from big-time programs.

And he is apparently listening.

Gibbs spoke with Eleven Warriors about his recruitment and appears to be open to listening to what Ohio State has to offer. He’s from Georgia, but says that he’ll go where he feels the best fit is.

“(I’m) just gonna go wherever best fits me,” Gibbs told Eleven Warriors. “It’s not (just) the South. It’s wherever fits me.”

So here we go. The Buckeyes lost out on a couple of very high profile running back commits that were thought to be very heavy leans — and even silent commits — when the No. 2 and No. 10 backs (Bijan Robinson and Jaylan Knighton) in the class according to 247Sports went elsewhere and surprised everyone.

Now the Buckeyes are hoping to get in on Gibbs before the February 5 official signing date. There are plans to visit LSU, Georgia Tech and Florida. But first, the No. 16 rated running back in the class will kick the scarlet and gray tires around on January 17.

Ohio State gets 2021 commitment from 3-star safety

The Ohio State football program got a commitment from 3-star Ohio defensive back Jaylen Johnson for the 2021 class Tuesday.

Ryan Day and the Ohio State football program got its eighth commitment for the class of 2021 today. Three-star safety Jaylen Johnson announced on Twitter today that he will be playing his college football for the Buckeyes.

From La Salle High School in the Cincinnati area, the 6-1, 205 lb. Johnson is the No. 18 rated safety in the class, and the eleventh overall recruit from Ohio according to 247Sports. With the losses to graduation, and the flip and uncertainty of a couple of defensive backs for the 2020 class, Johnson’s commitment could be a big one for the future.

The news bolsters a class that’s already off to some great momentum, and ranks as the top in the country to date.

As a reminder, Ohio State will be watching a commitment decision coming from four-star offensive lineman Donovan Jackson coming tomorrow.

Ohio State WR commit Gee Scott, Jr looking forward to competing

The Ohio State Buckeyes will boast of the best receiving corps in the nation, and incoming freshman Gee Scott is ready to compete.

The Ohio State football team is losing a good bit of top-end talent.

Defenders like Jeff Okudah and Chase Young will enter the draft. And, to go with three starters from secondary, the team’s wide receiver core will be going through a bit of a makeover as well.

Seniors K.J. Hill, Binjimen Victor, and Austin Mack will all be looking forward to the draft.

Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave will be the top threats next season, but the Buckeyes will also welcome a loaded class full of elite receivers. Those receivers include Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Julian Fleming and Mookie Cooper.

Gee Scott, the No. 12-ranked receiver in the Class of 2020, will also be taking his talents to Columbus. In what will be a talented incoming class, Scott is ready to work and compete on a daily basis.

“For starters, with myself being a competitor, I just like having so many guys in the room who are so competitive. We will come in and compete every day and it will be great. Not only will we push each other, but we will push other people on the team,” Scott told 247 Sports’ Steve Helwagen.

This is what fans should like hearing from the Washington native who signed with Ohio State over Arizona.

Scott will be primed and ready to make an impact, but he’ll have to prove himself, like all the freshmen, before being given that on-the-field trust from head man Ryan Day.

WATCH: Ohio State football head coach Ryan Day welcomes the 2020 early enrollees

Ohio State head coach Ryan Day spoke to the class of 2020 early enrollees. Watch what he said here.

There’s still the latter and customary official signing day that’s still to take place in February, but for all intents and purposes, the Ohio State football program has the guys its bringing in for the 2020 class already signed and committed.

An unprecedented fourteen players reported to Columbus over this past weekend as early enrollees looking to get a jump on their college career, and the red carpet was figuratively rolled out to welcome the new crop of recruits. Of course, the main man looking to welcome new members of Buckeye Nation was none other than head coach Ryan Day.

“This is the beginning of a journey for you guys,” said Day. “A lot of stars have to align for you guys to be in the situations you’re in right here. So as you guys come in, you step into this situation — you chose Ohio State for a reason. And so with that come great expectations. You’re part of a special family of coaches, you’re part of a special family of the whole entire staff, and a campus that really cares about you. And that’s what makes this place great, are the people. The culture is as good as it’s ever been here before. This right here — this class — you guys are the foundation of what we are moving forward. And so with that, come high expectations.”

Watch as he talks to the group of fantastic football players and people that made it to campus to start class and begin workouts on the banks of the Olentangy. The video is courtesy of the official Twitter feed of Ohio State Football.

Go get ’em class of 2020. It’s sure to be an XXclusive one.

 

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Clark Phillips III speaks out on why he flipped to Utah from Ohio State

Former Ohio State football commit Clark Phillips III flipped to Utah on signing day. Here him provide insight on why he made the choice.

It was one of the most surprising moments of the early signing period. Four-star defensive back Clark Phillips III had been committed to Ohio State and considered a lock to come play in Columbus. But then rumors started circulating, and Phillips took a visit to Utah.

Still, many considered the class’ No. 4 rated cornerback and 47th overall recruit according to 247Sports to still choose the Buckeyes when it was all said and done.

And then he didn’t — opting to make a flip at the last moment to Utah. It left the OSU coaches and fans with a missed opportunity to land one one of the commits they were looking forward to bringing in to round out the class. It could have been another big-time talent for a secondary losing experience and skill.

So what changed?

Phillips sat down with Jeremiah Jensen at NBC affiliate KSL TV in Salt Lake City to discuss the change of heart. When asked why he shifted gears, and why Utah was the place for him, Phillips shed a little light on the situation.

“Honestly, I can speak a long time about the things throughout the process that I was looking for the things that changed,” Phillips said. “But it was about a two-week span I had a change in heart, and the family with a lot of conversations and a lot of prayer definitely led me and allowed me to have the discernment to choose Utah over Ohio State.”

When asked if there was a moment when the decision became clear to him, Phillips said it happened just prior to signing day.

“About a couple of days before signing day I was talking to coach (Kyle) Whittingham,” said Phillips. “And a couple of things happened with the other university I was committed to (Ohio State) that allowed me to see that door open for Utah and really just made me feel really really comfortable with the staff and realize that the guys that are at Utah and the staff and everything that’s in place — I felt really really comfortable with the stability, the players, and then the opportunity that’s at hand.”

You can listen to the entire exchange thanks to the video of the sit-down shared to Jeremiah Jensen’s Twitter feed below.

Phillips seems like a very good kid that took a lot of time to make the decision that was right for him. Ohio State is not right for everyone and he and his family have decided to go another route, and that’s okay.

Good luck young man.