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List cutting season
Some of the nation's top prospects are beginning to trim their lists and that should only continue over the next several weeks as this is the new time of the year for cuts. The new rules allowing for spring and summer official visits make this a convenient time for players to make these cuts as the ones who plan to take early officials are trying to get those plans together and even players who aren't are looking to make the number a little more manageable heading into their senior years.
Two prime Ohio State targets narrowed their lists over the weekend in five-star wide receiver Julian Fleming and four-star cornerback Henry Gray. With Fleming, there were no major surprises as Ohio State along with Penn State, Clemson, Georgia, Alabama, and Oregon all made the cut for the nation's No. 2 ranked receiver prospect.
While you can never count out programs like Alabama, Clemson, and Georgia on the recruiting trail, Ohio State's biggest competition here remains Penn State. The Nittany Lions have the geographical advantage and have used it well, getting Fleming on campus about a dozen times in the past year. Fleming also has a very strong relationship with PSU head coach James Franklin.
My stance with Fleming has always been that I'll need to see him go somewhere other than Penn State to believe it. It is not often that Penn State loses a kid from that part of the state. But, once or twice per cycle there are kids where my read on the situation can vary greatly from what my OSU contacts feel. Fleming right now is one of those kids. Ohio State's optimism with Fleming is surprisingly high. Not that there is a thought that he is definitely going to Ohio State, but there is definitely confidence on that end that the Buckeyes are right at the top for Julian.
Sometimes these recruitments go Ohio State's way and I end up being wrong, sometimes they don't. I'm as intrigued as anyone about the optimism here, but my pick remains on Penn State. One thing I will not dispute here is that Brian Hartline has done a fantastic job connecting with Fleming. That's as strong of an assistant coach relationship as Julian has right now so definitely kudos there to Hartline who is quickly becoming one hell of a recruiter.
As for Gray, the Buckeyes made the cut down to eight for the big-time corner prospect out of Miami (Fla.) Central. The big thing with Gray is that he needs to visit. He, much like Jordan Battle (too soon?) has always had an affinity for Ohio State growing up and watching guys like Marshon Lattimore and the general success the Buckeyes have had producing cornerbacks.
So it's not a surprise at all to see Ohio State on the list without a visit and most people I've talked to in that part of the country think the Buckeyes are probably one of his top 3 or 4 schools right now (some are even a bit more optimistic than that), but again, he has to visit. Clemson put forward a very good visit with Henry a few weeks ago and could be the team to beat right now.
One interesting thing about Gray's list is that it did not include Miami where he was previously committed. While that program is having its fair share of issues right now, I'm not sure I'd totally rule them out just yet as the new staff there gets its footing and has time to re-establish itself with some of these South Florida kids. But right now the Canes are on the outside looking in, which benefits out-of-state programs like Clemson, Ohio State, and Georgia for sure.
Cavazos set to return to Columbus
When Urban Meyer announced his retirement in early December, the Buckeyes promptly lost a pair of 2020 commits in offensive lineman Jake Wray and defensive back Lejond Cavazos. Cavazos has been the one that the Buckeyes have really worked hard to try and get back in the fold and all indications over the past two months have been that Lejond would give them every chance to do that.
Caught up with C.J. Cavazos, father of the four-star prospect, over the weekend and he confirmed that the crew will be back in Columbus on March 22nd for an unofficial visit. It will be the first trip back to Ohio State since the decommitment in December and further signifies that the player and his family intend to give Ohio State a close look under Ryan Day's leadership.
While I don't think anything would happen on this upcoming visit in terms of a recommitment, it's an extremely important trip. Urban Meyer was the single driving factor in Lejond's early pledge to Ohio State so that was all wiped out in December and now it's back to square one and building a relationship with Day and the rest of the staff where the Buckeyes have four new defensive assistants.
So while it's unreasonable to expect this visit to get Cavazos back in the fold, it will go a long way toward handicapping Ohio State's chances moving forward. This is almost like a first visit at this point. Certainly Cavazos is pretty comfortable with the surroundings and the players, but this is very much a getting to know each other type of visit with all of the changes that have taken place in the past two months.
Personally I think there's a decent chance that Ohio State could get Cavazos back in the fold at some point just from talking to him over the past couple of months but I think a slower approach this time around will be taken and there will be plenty of visits made to other programs in the mean time.
Saunders ready to take off
Back during the season we profiled class of 2022 Westerville (Ohio) South wide receiver Kaden Saunders as one of the next big-time Ohio prospects to watch. Saunders, who is also a big-time baseball talent, ran a 10.9 100-meter dash as an eighth grader (his freshman outdoor track season starting shortly), so he can absolutely fly.
Ohio State has shown some early interest here and being a Westerville South guy, there is no question that Jaelen Gill will be a resource here that Ohio State can use when the time comes as the Gill family and the Saunders family are friendly.
Saunders grabbed an offer from Michigan State yesterday so expect this one to now take off over the next few months. I suspect we'll be sitting here in July/August and Kaden will have most of the big ones in the Midwest, possibly even Ohio State.
As a player, Saunders is still working on becoming a more polished route-runner and pass-catcher and more importantly, getting stronger. He played his freshman season at South at about 155-pounds, but he is already making gains in that department. His speed is absolutely special. He is next level fast. Jaelen Gill was really fast as a freshman, Saunders is faster. He's going to have a Parris Campbell type of top gear when it is all said and done so if the receiver skills can round into form over the next few years, he has a chance to be a very heavily recruited prospect.
