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Welcome back for another edition of “A-Deck” at BuckeyeGrove.com, presented by Infinit Nutrition, where I’ll bring you thoughts, what I’m hearing, inside scoop, tidbits, and more for Ohio State recruiting and team coverage, every Wednesday.
Last week’s A-Deck looked at the latest 2021 linebacker recruiting, a pair of key defensive back targets, and a newly-offered offensive lineman.
This week, we discuss Ohio State’s chances with a West Coast top 75 defensive back and the hot-and-cold recruitment of a top 20 linebacker.
IS JAYLIN DAVIES A REALISTIC POSSIBILITY FOR OHIO STATE?
When talking about finishing out defensive back recruiting, the names normally thrown out are Kamar Wilcoxson, Jantzen Dunn, Tony Grimes, and Jordan Hancock. But one prospect who the Buckeyes have been recruiting fairly hard and says the program is one of his top choices is Jaylin Davies of Santa Ana (Ca.) Mater Dei.
Marc did a front page story with Davies a little over a week ago, as the nation’s 70th overall talent put the Bucks in his top seven, along with USC, Washington, Alabama, Texas, UCLA, and Arizona State.
Not that it can’t happen, but it’s not common for kids at Mater Dei to leave the West Coast, and when they do, Ohio State hasn’t been able to strike gold of late. That said, in talking to Davies this week, it does seem his interest in the Scarlet and Gray is sincere.
“I’ve been talking to Coach [Kerry] Coombs twice a week and Coach [Corey] Dennis as well,” Davies said. “We’ve just been building a strong relationship since we’re so far away and waiting for this virus to pass so that I can get out there for a visit. I’m going to get out there the first weekend visits are allowed. I was going to visit in April, but had to cancel.”
Davies also shared what he likes about the Buckeyes that has them in his top group right now.
“The reputation they have for players at my position,” he stated. “They develop DBs well. Coach Coombs has a solid resume and I feel like it would be a good fit. Also, CJ [Stroud] is the homie. We’re from the same town (Rancho Cucamonga) so that means a lot.”
While Davies doesn’t have a decision timeline set, he does know what is most important to him in picking a school.
“Playing early and being developed for the next level both on and off the field,” he responded when asked.
In my opinion, I still see this as an uphill battle for Ohio State, but this does seem like a real option for the staff, especially with the relationship with Stroud helping out here. I want to see the visit happen and then see how it goes before I pump any more positivity into this one, but Davies’ name is absolutely one that should be on the board when we talk about defensive backs.
LATEST ON TERRENCE LEWIS
If you haven’t yet, you need to listen to this week’s BIA Podcast, where Kevin had me on to discuss all things Ohio State recruiting.
One topic we discussed was linebacker recruiting, which was also touched on in last week’s A-Deck, specifically what is going on with a target everyone was getting excited about in Terrence Lewis.
Things were heating up between Ohio State and the nation’s No. 19 overall player (No. 1 OLB), as he was talking to Al Washington, Ryan Day, and Kerry Coombs almost daily for two weeks. The Bucks hadn’t offered yet, but it seemed like it was coming soon, and a call between the parties was supposed to happen early last week, where said offer was likely going to be extended.
That call/conversation never happened, though, and when Lewis told me that it didn’t and that nothing had been rescheduled, I started to think something was up here. In checking with a few sources, it seems OSU has “pressed pause” on their pursuit of Lewis, due to some questions that need to be answered and have nothing to do with his on-field talent.
That is why I put out a warning post on the board that the Bucks would not be in the top six that Lewis said he was dropping late last week (LSU, Alabama, Penn State, Tennessee, Nebraska, and Texas A&M made that cut), and that as of now, I don’t see him as a possibility for OSU’s 2021 class.
I will say things could change very quickly in this recruitment, though, and this is definitely one to monitor. I don’t see a decision happening anytime soon, and even if it does, I’m not considering anything solid with a South Florida kid until they sign a letter of intent. If the Buckeyes get some of those questioned answered in the way they’d like, I could see them getting back in the mix and bringing in Lewis for a visit at some point. Right now that doesn’t seem like a probable scenario, but it’s not completely off the table either.
