Holmes recruitment continues to evolve
The recruitment of five-star defensive back Darnay Holmes has continued to trend away from Stanford probably since the spring. At one point it looked like Holmes was destined to end up with the Pac-12 program, but the past few months have seen a steady trend in the other direction.
"I think both sides are starting to realize that there is a high probability he won't get through admissions (at Stanford)," said one source close to Holmes' recruitment.
UCLA is the team that has really benefitted from this. Holmes has good relationships with both the players and coaches at UCLA and I'm told that staying close to home and playing in the LA market is becoming more appealing. UCLA is selling being a star in a big-time market, much how Josh Rosen is currently being marketed by the program.
Ohio State and Michigan seem to be in a battle for second right now with Nebraska behind those two programs. His last visit to Michigan was definitely a good one and has put the Wolverines a bit more into the picture than they were previously.
Ohio State has done a good job of hanging around here. This is going on about 18 months now that the Buckeyes have been in that upper tier for Holmes and he has been very impressed by how many players have gone on to the NFL out of Columbus the past couple of years.
I think the smart bet is that UCLA is going to prevail here, but it can't be ignored that Ohio State has had some staying power in this recruitment and that they are in this one enough to keep at it heading into official visits.
Interesting perspective on 2018 Ohioans
Had a chance to speak with class of 2018 Dayton (Ohio) Dunbar linebacker Antwuan Johnson yesterday evening after his team's scrimmage. Johnson gave an early verbal pledge to Michigan and I asked him to throw out some names of guys he was trying to recruit to join him.
The list was mostly Ohioans, but I found it somewhat interesting what he said about a couple of 2018 Ohio prospects.
On Jack Carman - "I'm still contacting Jackson Carman, trying to get him interested. I think he's pretty sold on Ohio State, but it's a worth a shot."
On Jaelen Gill - "Gill is probably going there (to Ohio State) as well, or maybe out West, but like I said, it's worth a shot."
It has not been a secret around here that I feel that Gill and Carman are both very, very likely to end up in Columbus but I did find it interesting to hear similar thoughts from a 2018 classmate that is actively trying to recruit them to Ohio State's rival.
Buckeyes continuing to work the Peach State
Last week we discussed some Georgia prospects that 2018 QB commit Emory Jones had his sights on. But it's a 2019 Peach State prospect that already has the attention of Urban Meyer. Frederica Academy wide receiver/athlete Jashawn Sheffield was recently offered by the Buckeyes, getting the news from Meyer himself.
"I talked to coach Meyer and a few of the other coaches," Sheffield told me. "He was just excited to talk to me, he called me 'Five-Star Sheff'."
I've been told by a few people down that way that Ohio State is one of the programs that Sheffield is intrigued by early on. He is hoping to visit for a game this fall.
"I really like the history," he said. "I want to learn more (about the program) though. I'm ready to visit."
Emory Jones will undoubtedly be on the case at some point for the Buckeyes. The two don't know each other very well yet, but did meet on Jones' Clemson visit in June. Sheffield was impressed with what he saw out of the future Buckeye signal caller.
"I met him and caught some balls from him at Clemson," Sheffield recalled. "He can ball."
One interesting thing to note is that Sheffield is the cousin of Rivals100 safety Richard LeCounte who is headed to Georgia, though he may visit Ohio State this fall.
The recruitment of five-star defensive back Darnay Holmes has continued to trend away from Stanford probably since the spring. At one point it looked like Holmes was destined to end up with the Pac-12 program, but the past few months have seen a steady trend in the other direction.
"I think both sides are starting to realize that there is a high probability he won't get through admissions (at Stanford)," said one source close to Holmes' recruitment.
UCLA is the team that has really benefitted from this. Holmes has good relationships with both the players and coaches at UCLA and I'm told that staying close to home and playing in the LA market is becoming more appealing. UCLA is selling being a star in a big-time market, much how Josh Rosen is currently being marketed by the program.
Ohio State and Michigan seem to be in a battle for second right now with Nebraska behind those two programs. His last visit to Michigan was definitely a good one and has put the Wolverines a bit more into the picture than they were previously.
Ohio State has done a good job of hanging around here. This is going on about 18 months now that the Buckeyes have been in that upper tier for Holmes and he has been very impressed by how many players have gone on to the NFL out of Columbus the past couple of years.
I think the smart bet is that UCLA is going to prevail here, but it can't be ignored that Ohio State has had some staying power in this recruitment and that they are in this one enough to keep at it heading into official visits.
Interesting perspective on 2018 Ohioans
Had a chance to speak with class of 2018 Dayton (Ohio) Dunbar linebacker Antwuan Johnson yesterday evening after his team's scrimmage. Johnson gave an early verbal pledge to Michigan and I asked him to throw out some names of guys he was trying to recruit to join him.
The list was mostly Ohioans, but I found it somewhat interesting what he said about a couple of 2018 Ohio prospects.
On Jack Carman - "I'm still contacting Jackson Carman, trying to get him interested. I think he's pretty sold on Ohio State, but it's a worth a shot."
On Jaelen Gill - "Gill is probably going there (to Ohio State) as well, or maybe out West, but like I said, it's worth a shot."
It has not been a secret around here that I feel that Gill and Carman are both very, very likely to end up in Columbus but I did find it interesting to hear similar thoughts from a 2018 classmate that is actively trying to recruit them to Ohio State's rival.
Buckeyes continuing to work the Peach State
Last week we discussed some Georgia prospects that 2018 QB commit Emory Jones had his sights on. But it's a 2019 Peach State prospect that already has the attention of Urban Meyer. Frederica Academy wide receiver/athlete Jashawn Sheffield was recently offered by the Buckeyes, getting the news from Meyer himself.
"I talked to coach Meyer and a few of the other coaches," Sheffield told me. "He was just excited to talk to me, he called me 'Five-Star Sheff'."
I've been told by a few people down that way that Ohio State is one of the programs that Sheffield is intrigued by early on. He is hoping to visit for a game this fall.
"I really like the history," he said. "I want to learn more (about the program) though. I'm ready to visit."
Emory Jones will undoubtedly be on the case at some point for the Buckeyes. The two don't know each other very well yet, but did meet on Jones' Clemson visit in June. Sheffield was impressed with what he saw out of the future Buckeye signal caller.
"I met him and caught some balls from him at Clemson," Sheffield recalled. "He can ball."
One interesting thing to note is that Sheffield is the cousin of Rivals100 safety Richard LeCounte who is headed to Georgia, though he may visit Ohio State this fall.
