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Running Back rumblings
There has been no shortage of buzz around the running back position in recent weeks and it's getting even crazier this weekend with so many different irons in the fire and so many targets making official visits either to Ohio State or to the Buckeyes' competition. Ohio State's primary targets have been Kendall Milton and Bijan Robinson, currently ranked No. 3 and No. 4 in the nation respectively.
I wanted to give this weekend a chance to play out before making any changes to some of the picks I had out there but it is looking very good for UGA to land Milton following that official visit last weekend. I've never felt Alabama was a huge threat just because the Crimson Tide seem pretty locked in on Zach Evans and I just haven't felt Alabama was a top 2 choice for Milton in quite some time. I don't think this weekend's visit to Tuscaloosa changed anything. While there is probably some time here for things to change as the Milton's take a little bit to digest everything, all signs are pointing to UGA right now.
As for Robinson, I am selling the rumors that he committed to Texas this weekend. I do not believe that to be the case and think Ohio State is still very much in that race. As I posted earlier, Robinson has been in communication with at least one Ohio State commit today and I'm just not buying this rumor at all right now. Texas is absolutely a major player for Bijan, but think everyone needs to pump the brakes on those commitment rumors, still have Ohio State very much in this one.
But there is plenty more going on with running back recruiting as there just continues to be drama all over the board. Like with Milton, I wanted to let the visits play out with DeaMonte Trayanum before deciding what I wanted to do on my Ohio State pick. It is looking good right now for Arizona State to steal the Akron Hoban standout. Path to the field and not having any questions about being moved to the defensive side of the ball down the road seem to be winning here.
Then there is Zach Evans who no-showed this weekend for what was supposed to be an unofficial visit. I have to report things when I hear them, but this is another reminder from me to not put much thought into the idea of Evans and Ohio State being a match. This is also another reminder to not completely rule out Evans ending up Texas even though the Longhorns did not make his recent top five, Evans was in Austin on Thursday. Despite Ohio State's inclusion in Evans' top five, there just hasn't been a ton of communication there. All of the signs point to Ohio State just adding some nice fluff to his list.
That still leaves three more targets, Maryland's Blake Corum, Florida's Jaylan Knighton, and Washington's Sam Adams II. Corum made his official visit to Ohio State last weekend and was at Michigan this weekend. Corum's head coach at St. Frances is Biff Poggi who has a long-standing relationship with Jim Harbaugh and plenty of ties to the Michigan program where his son, Henry, played. I made a comment the other day that I'd have to see a Biff Poggi coached player commit to Ohio State to believe it and I stand by that. I think OSU has done a pretty good job there but would be a bit surprised if he ended up in the class.
Knighton has been the guy that is kind of the next man up if things go sideways with Milton and Robinson. With things probably going sideways with Milton and Trayanum, this now becomes interesting because if Trayanum isn't taking that No. 2 running back spot, it's very plausible that the Buckeyes could take both Robinson and Knighton now if they can get them.
Going to catch up more with Jaylan tomorrow when he arrives in Atlanta for the Rivals Challenge, but he did text me this morning after his visit.
"It went great," Knighton shared. "I loved what I saw. I loved all of the coaches and the players."
Again, Knighton has quietly been at the top of the non-Robinson/Milton wish list in recent months. For most of this time, however, it appeared that Trayanum would grab one of the running back spots, potentially making it a tight squeeze for a guy like Jaylan, that may not be the case anymore.
As for Adams, he has kind of been on the back burner but with all of the shuffling around going on right now, I wouldn't totally rule him out, which is actually a significant change from where I've had things. Sam told me it was a great visit and we'll be speaking more later when he gets home. Again, not sure how things are going to fall here but wouldn't have put much stock into this two or three months ago and now think it's at least a possibility.
I have not forgotten about Don Bosco (NJ) star Jalen Berger, but right now Berger isn't planning to decide until December/January. If he sticks to that timeline, there is a chance the dominoes could fall in such a way for Ohio State to end up landing him. If he moves things up, it will probably be Michigan unless the Wolverines fill up. Berger is behind Robinson and Knighton in the pecking order right now.
More official visitor notes
- Have been hearing very good things about four-star safety Lathan Ransom coming out of the visit this weekend. As I posted yesterday, I had a really good source tell me they believed it was actually a Texas vs. Ohio State battle and that Notre Dame and LSU had slipped recently. That was going into this weekend's visit. From talking to people who were on campus this weekend, there is a belief that Ohio State has a real shot here. About a month ago I felt Ohio State had a lot of work to do here and at least a couple of teams to leap frog but they have propelled themselves right toward the top of the list, to the point that I've put in a pick for the Buckeyes.
The Salpointe Catholic package deal is a real possibility.
- Another safety that Ohio State is hoping to land is Michigan standout Makari Paige. Paige has been to Ohio State countless times and the Buckeyes have managed to stay at the forefront of his recruitment through all of the coaching changes on defense.
"The visit went well," Paige told me today. "We watched the team workout and the energy they all bring with them on the field and in the weight room is amazing."
Regardless of the staff changes, there has been a consistent focus on Paige from whomever was in charge of the defense. Paige seems to be getting very comfortable with the current group.
"The conversations (with the coaches) were good," he said. "They keep it real."
I've now made a pick for the Buckeyes here as well.
- With the three tight ends, Cam Large is still wrapping things up as I'm typing this so we'll get an update from him tomorrow at the latest as he reports for the Rivals Challenge in Atlanta. No change in my thoughts on Joe Royer or Jalin Conyers. I think they'll get Royer and I think despite some really impressive work on Conyers, that he'll stay closer to home and go to Oklahoma. Nothing I've heard coming out of these two visits has swayed my stance on those two guys.
- I posted a story on Cody Simon on the front page and we'll go more in-depth with him tomorrow at the Rivals Challenge but I think the Buckeyes are BIG favorites here coming out of the weekend. They've really made him a priority since offering in early May and with them not taking many linebackers in this class, it's an appealing path to the field for Simon.
Conversely, I think the safe bet right now is that Mitchell Melton ends up at Michigan and I have put that in the FutureCast system. It was essentially down to OSU and Michigan as Notre Dame sources were not very confident there but Michigan had him on campus over the weekend and I think they are going to win this one. OSU contacts have been less confident in Melton in recent weeks.
- I also continue to feel great about my pick of Kourt Williams to Ohio State. That kid seems born to play the bullet position, he loves the idea of it, and Ohio State has made him one of their top defensive targets the past three months, regardless of position. Should decide in the next few weeks. Jeff Hafley doing more work in California and Ryan Day has been very personally involved here as well.
- Don't think there's much reason for concern with Darrion Henry. There is a host of Cincinnati guys announcing commitments the first week of July. I could see Darrion doing that. Either way, I don't think this one has much longer to go and think he'll be a Buckeye within the next two weeks.
