Ohio State Recruiting

OSU about to also get two 3 star corner flips. For as much praise as Walton has gotten this isn’t a very impressive group if/when Offord flips. The secondary has been a major struggle this season and OSU needs all the lock down cover guys they can get. Aaron Scott did not look at all impressive this season in his little time playing.
 
In a vacuum I’m not really concerned about either Mathis or Merritt leaving, especially since both want to be overpaid and have no real plan (Mathis) or will end up at Colorado (Merritt).

But unless Larry kills edge portal recruiting or has a big time last minute flip, his lack of edge recruiting success the last few years just isn’t up to OSU standards. Mickens, Houston (who is now playing and playing well at DT), and Grady are the only true edge rushers in the last 2 classes and the current class.
Then some tweeners like Eric Mensah and Dominic Kirks who haven’t shown theyre capable of playing at this level yet and may end up at DT anyway.
 
Justin Hill apparently isn’t happening, he’s all in on Alabama. I thought Damian Shanklin looked better than both Merritt and Mathis, OSU didn’t really push and he committed to LSU but he’s from Indy, he might be flippable.

There's also Chaz Coleman committed to PSU, Epi Sitanilei committed to UCLA. I believe both are visiting this weekend. Both 4 stars but due the lack of elite talent in the room you’d ideally be looking to add multiple top 10-15 edge guys.
 
Orin Swift said:
Justin Hill apparently isn’t happening, he’s all in on Alabama. I thought Damian Shanklin looked better than both Merritt and Mathis, OSU didn’t really push and he committed to LSU but he’s from Indy, he might be flippable.

There's also Chaz Coleman committed to PSU, Epi Sitanilei committed to UCLA. I believe both are visiting this weekend. Both 4 stars but due the lack of elite talent in the room you’d ideally be looking to add multiple top 10-15 edge guys.
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Getting the UCLA DE flip would be a major disappointment. Bill Kurelic is saying there’s a possibility Hill visits this month.

(nevermind it has been updated that Hill is not visiting) this is the wordy defensive end class ever at OSU. Larry Johnson should be fired for such atrocious recruiting because it’s not like he coaches well and the team can get pressure from just the DL.
 
Biggest thing right now with David Sanders is he needs to visit OSU this weekend again to really feel good about this recruitment. If he doesn't visit then he probably stays with Tennessee.
 
Spartacus1987 said:
Ryan Callahan believes that Tennessee holds on to Sanders. This past weekend was probably to get more NIL out of Tennessee.
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No idea who that is but truly a bummer. Better use all that NIL money to keep Offord in the fold and bring back Simmons next year. Putting the odds at 15% chance both happen.
 
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Orin Swift said:
No idea who that is but truly a bummer. Better use all that NIL money to keep Offord in the fold and bring back Simmons next year. Putting the odds at 15% chance both happen.
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It’s Ryan Day. He’s the worst closer I’ve ever seen as a coach in recruiting, I’ve come to expect it. This class went from being possibly one of the best OSU classes of all time to now being lucky to finish in the top 5. That is just disgraceful back end recruiting
 
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Orin Swift said:
No idea who that is but truly a bummer. Better use all that NIL money to keep Offord in the fold and bring back Simmons next year. Putting the odds at 15% chance both happen.
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I would rather have a player like Josh Simmons, Mclaughlin in the TP than spend a million dollars on a recruit. Alabama has 2 - 5* tackles and Oklahoma made them look H. S. players. IU went from 1- 8 league record 3-9 overall to a 1 loss team solely on transfers. Tx. starting QB is a transfer from OSU, recruiting is not nearly as important as it was before the TP.
 
Stirred not Shaken said:
I would rather have a player like Josh Simmons, Mclaughlin in the TP than spend a million dollars on a recruit. Alabama has 2 - 5* tackles and Oklahoma made them look H. S. players. IU went from 1- 8 league record 3-9 overall to a 1 loss team solely on transfers. Tx. starting QB is a transfer from OSU, recruiting is not nearly as important as it was before the TP.
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The issue is there’s no guarantees in the portal. Need a kid to be willing to leave. Take what HS kids you can and supplement with whoever enters the portal.
 
I used to follow recruiting closely, and there has always been some shadiness to it with bagmen and the like, but following recruiting now is a complete waste of time. These are pros now, just looking for the best contract. You can try to sell a kid to your program for years, only to watch them wave goodbye to you and hello to the bigger bag from a program that put very little into recruiting the player over the years.

And I’m already getting sick of watching games, even Ohio State games, and hearing about so and so…a transfer from (wherever)…every other play.
 
Stirred not Shaken said:
Corbyn Fordham a 4* TE from Fla. commits to OSU.
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Class of 2026 recruit. Lower rated 4* but has offers from everyone you want to see other than TE U, Iowa. Keenan Bailey has been pretty solid as a recruiter for a first time position coach. Would like to see some development out of the guys in the current room though.

Brady Edmunds, a top QB recruit in 2027, is expected to commit this weekend.
 
Orin Swift said:
No, I read it on Elevenwarriors.com like a week ago.

Hartline doesn’t take transfers. It’s part of his recruiting pitch. I’ll believe it when I see it, but I’m doubtful.
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I think he would make an exception for Williams. I will believe it when I see it (Williams transferring to OSU) but who thought at this time last year Downs would be a starting safety for OSU vs TTUN this year. Crazy times.
 
Chaz Coleman not visiting, going to Penn State instead. Apparently LJ has had minimal contact with Coleman for the last few weeks. Just an utter failure by LJ despite having the in state advantage, especially considering the decommitments and lack of edge recruiting the previous few years.

Need to flip the UCLA kid and hit the portal hard. Sounds like the Marshall edge that caused problems for OSU is going to the draft, he won’t be an option.

OSU probably needs to move on from Larry. Ideally he stays on as an analyst and continues to help on/off field coaching, but the recruiting game seems to have passed him by. Joyner at Ole Miss and SCs DL coach would be great replacements and OSU could give both significant pay raises.
 
On the positive side, it seems OSU has held off Miami for LB Tarvos Alford. He and Pettijohn are BIG time recruits. Add in instate Lee, that’s a hell of a class by Laurinitius
 
Larry Johnson needs fired but Ryan Day is too much of a beta coach to do it.

Looks like Naeem Offord didn’t make it either or else Bill Kurelic would have said something.

Kurelic is the absolute worst when it comes to giving out inside info. Huge narcissist as well
 
Orin Swift said:
OSU probably needs to move on from Larry. Ideally he stays on as an analyst and continues to help on/off field coaching, but the recruiting game seems to have passed him by. Joyner at Ole Miss and SCs DL coach would be great replacements and OSU could give both significant pay raises.
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It’s time to move on IMO. He’s lost a couple steps in recruiting, on top of the pissing match they’ve seemed to have on philosophy/ideology the last couple years between him and Knowles.

It’s time to get some fresh blood and to improve the program alignment on that side of the ball.
 
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