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The Lackford Report:
2021 Updates
Things continue to bubble under the surface for the 2021 class. The first order of business to address is that the season being postponed hasn’t had any impact on the prospects I’ve spoken with nor their parents. Actually most of those I’ve spoken with have expressed concerns about whether they are going to get to play their senior seasons. One parent was actually expressing concerns over how high schools are going to protect against the spread of the virus. I would expect a lot of players to opt-out and focus on enrolling early. When I get confirmation, I’ll give the names.
The newest development with the 2021 class was the offer to Florida defensive end Justus Boone. Things are still early there but I am familiar with Boone because Louisville was recruiting him back from late 2019 until he committed to Florida. Coaches I’ve spoken with rave about his length and flexibility but say he is a bit raw. His commitment to Florida surprised some and one coach told me he expects him to still take visits when that option becomes available. I think he’s underrated as far as the rankings go and he has a ton of upside. Keep an eye on him going forward as a real target for Ohio State.
I’ve also heard things are going well in the pursuit of Tywone Malone as far as emphasizing his value on the gridiron. I don’t think that he has decided one sport is more important than the other but Ohio State is definitely making headway and they sit in a good spot for him. There is still a way to go here, however.
2022 Updates
Moving on to 2022, we all know that Georgia-based tight end Bennett Christian is down to the Buckeyes and Volunteers and he’s set to announce on September 1. A few future casts came in for him to Ohio State since he visited two weeks ago but I remained skeptical based on what I was told about his connection to Tennessee. His father played for the Vols. Today I reached out to a few sources out in Georgia and I went ahead and put my pick in for the Buckeyes. That's a long-winded way of saying I expect Christian to announce for Ohio State on the first of September.
Last week I spoke about Atlanta-based running back Damari Alston. This week I got word on another ’22 prospect who was recently offered by Ohio State by the name of Toriano Pride. Pride is a cornerback prospect from St. Louis who grew up idolizing Zeke Elliott and he’s an Ohio State fan. I expect the Buckeyes to be a major player going forward in his recruitment. Other early contenders for Pride are Notre Dame, Mizzou, Oregon, Tennessee.
Kenyatta Jackson is a 2022 Florida-based defensive end who Rob Cassidy got to see at a camp this weekend. Rob told me that he’s explosive and quick. Rob added that he needs to put on some weight but added, “He’s gonna be awesome.” I also received an audio clip of an interview he did with Rob and he said he speaks with Clemson the most but that Ohio State is also in the mix.
The Hastings Report
Updates on a pair of elite offensive targets
This week, I wrote a piece on Kyle McCord’s offseason training routine and his recruiting efforts on the trail. Two of the top targets his dad says are high on McCord’s radar are Emeka Egbuka and Tristan Leigh, which makes sense. Add Leigh to sure up his protection in the pocket and someone like Egbuka will be a difference-maker at wide receiver.
I reached out to a source to see if there’s been anything new in their recruitments. Here’s what I was told.
Egbuka: Once again, as we’ve been hearing, the five-star wideout continues to be viewed as an Ohio State lean. Clemson and Oklahoma are seen as the two programs behind the Buckeyes, followed by Washington.
Interestingly enough, Egbuka was slated to visit Norman for the Sooner Summit this past weekend, but a trip to the school never materialized. It was actually phrased to me that he “backed out late.” That’s excellent news for Ohio State as it was a great turnout with a lot of top targets, so who knows what would have happened if he actually made it out to the event.
My source was told, however, that Egbuka should be going to Oklahoma later this year for some type of visit. I’m guessing it would be an official visit, especially if it occurs after his senior season.
I still have my FutureCast prediction in favor of the Buckeyes for Egbuka, and this conversation reassured me of my confidence in that pick.
Leigh: Unlike with Egbuka, Ohio State still has some work to do in their pursuit of the Rivals100 offensive lineman. From what I was told, Oklahoma and LSU are the two programs viewed as the frontrunners for Leigh’s services, with Alabama, Clemon, and Ohio State trailing them.
Leigh was one of the many coveted prospects that ended up visiting Oklahoma this past weekend, which could have been a crucial trip in his recruitment. The Tigers were seen as the leader prior to Friday, so it remains to be seen what comes about of this visit.
I’m not putting a prediction in just yet for Leigh. There have been so many schools that have been rumored to be his top choice, and he’s not close to announcing a commitment. In fact, his brother even told me that Leigh seemingly has a new college he’s very interested in every single day. As a result, I’m not counting out Ohio State whatsoever, and they could easily make a strong push for him late near signing day.
That’s all for these two players, but we’ll obviously continue to keep tabs on them.
2022 TE names Ohio State his leader
Just a few hours ago, I had the opportunity to speak with Benjamin Gosnell, the fifth-ranked tight end in the Class of 2022. Gosnell, who is from Pilot Mountain, North Carolina, recently released a top three of Florida, North Carolina, and Ohio State.
He’s not quite ready to make a decision, but Gosnell did tell me that the Buckeyes are the leader for his services. Gosnell says they’re not leading by a huge gap, but Ohio State has been pressing all of the right buttons in his recruitment.
One thing that is really sticking out to Gosnell is Kevin Wilson and his history of success wherever he’s been. He’s also intrigued by the possibility of learning under the tutelage of Wilson based on the tight ends he has coached in the past and how they were developed.
Another key aspect of Gosnell’s interest in the Buckeyes is how long he has gotten to know the staff and become familiar with them. Gosnell actually initiated contact with the coaches before he was even offered by the program. The Rivals250 prospect jokingly said that he would speak with them so often that you would have thought he was committed to Ohio State.
It doesn’t sound like he’ll make a decision until he takes a visit to Columbus and Gainesville, but Gosnell told me he’s hoping to take those trips as soon as possible. I submitted a FutureCast prediction in favor of the Buckeyes, and I’m not expecting Christian’s decision to impact his interest in the program.
I'll have a story on Gosnell tomorrow afternoon.
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