Luke Farrell is the biggest target left in Ohio for the Buckeyes in the class of 2016 and things are going to start accelerating towards a close very soon, likely within the next six weeks, so I wanted to clear up some things on his recruitment.
First, and of most importance, he will be visiting Michigan State this week for a 7 on 7 tournament first and then a meeting with academics advisers at the school. He should be staying there tomorrow night with most of the visit and meetings going down June 10th. I covered this a bit in an update last month with Luke's coach.
Secondly, I know there was some concern over the Notre Dame offer he received last week after Luke said he would consider taking a visit there. After some discussions with people around the Irish and around Luke's recruitment, I don't believe that they will be a player here whatsoever. They were too late to the party to really affect this one.
This Michigan State visit should be the only thing that really scares Ohio State fans at this point. They've done a very good job recruiting him and selling the culture of the program and school to this point. If they can convince him of the physical therapy/kinesiology academic value at MSU, they'll have a chance in this one. These are the reasons I think Luke could lean away from Ohio State.
Why I don't? Luke is very invested in the state of Ohio and loves playing football in the Buckeye State. He has a brother at Ohio State that he's close with and he likes being near his family. He's elite academically and the Buckeyes have sold him on the quality of their physical therapy program. Ohio State has been recruiting longer than just about anybody in the country. When his check list goes academics, coaching staff, environment of practices, comfort on campus, and fit and comfort with the team and program, there are few who can match what Ohio State has to offer, if any.
Tomorrow's visit will tell the rest of the story, but as of now, I expect Luke Farrell to be a Buckeye by August 1st and close out tight end recruiting in this cycle for Ohio State.
There has been some misinformation circling about one of Ohio State's current 2016 commits, Kierre Hawkins in regards to positional uncertainty. It is true that it's still uncertain whether Kierre could end up at either tight end, wide receiver, or H-back when he gets to Columbus. However, what it is not true is that there is any realistic chance he plays defensive end. Some analysts have spouted this recently and it is just wildly off-based.
Kierre is an incredibly talented prospect, but most of his skills lie on the offensive side of the ball. He plays defensive end for his high school (and does well there) because he is the biggest, strongest, fastest athlete on the field in nearly every single game he plays and he can dominate physically. Kierre is my guy and I don't like to say negative things about a kid, but he has very little defensive instincts. He's an excellent offensive player and that is more than okay. Not every kid can be a two-way star in college. He doesn't know how to use his hands, flatten out around the edge, or shed a block when a lineman gets into him. Ohio State would not be passing up on defensive ends of the caliber of Josh King, Auston Robertson, et al in preference of Kierre at that position. It's just wild, inaccurate speculation and I have to assume that anybody who reinforces it has never watched him play football in person. Or probably on film for that matter.
First, and of most importance, he will be visiting Michigan State this week for a 7 on 7 tournament first and then a meeting with academics advisers at the school. He should be staying there tomorrow night with most of the visit and meetings going down June 10th. I covered this a bit in an update last month with Luke's coach.
Secondly, I know there was some concern over the Notre Dame offer he received last week after Luke said he would consider taking a visit there. After some discussions with people around the Irish and around Luke's recruitment, I don't believe that they will be a player here whatsoever. They were too late to the party to really affect this one.
This Michigan State visit should be the only thing that really scares Ohio State fans at this point. They've done a very good job recruiting him and selling the culture of the program and school to this point. If they can convince him of the physical therapy/kinesiology academic value at MSU, they'll have a chance in this one. These are the reasons I think Luke could lean away from Ohio State.
Why I don't? Luke is very invested in the state of Ohio and loves playing football in the Buckeye State. He has a brother at Ohio State that he's close with and he likes being near his family. He's elite academically and the Buckeyes have sold him on the quality of their physical therapy program. Ohio State has been recruiting longer than just about anybody in the country. When his check list goes academics, coaching staff, environment of practices, comfort on campus, and fit and comfort with the team and program, there are few who can match what Ohio State has to offer, if any.
Tomorrow's visit will tell the rest of the story, but as of now, I expect Luke Farrell to be a Buckeye by August 1st and close out tight end recruiting in this cycle for Ohio State.
There has been some misinformation circling about one of Ohio State's current 2016 commits, Kierre Hawkins in regards to positional uncertainty. It is true that it's still uncertain whether Kierre could end up at either tight end, wide receiver, or H-back when he gets to Columbus. However, what it is not true is that there is any realistic chance he plays defensive end. Some analysts have spouted this recently and it is just wildly off-based.
Kierre is an incredibly talented prospect, but most of his skills lie on the offensive side of the ball. He plays defensive end for his high school (and does well there) because he is the biggest, strongest, fastest athlete on the field in nearly every single game he plays and he can dominate physically. Kierre is my guy and I don't like to say negative things about a kid, but he has very little defensive instincts. He's an excellent offensive player and that is more than okay. Not every kid can be a two-way star in college. He doesn't know how to use his hands, flatten out around the edge, or shed a block when a lineman gets into him. Ohio State would not be passing up on defensive ends of the caliber of Josh King, Auston Robertson, et al in preference of Kierre at that position. It's just wild, inaccurate speculation and I have to assume that anybody who reinforces it has never watched him play football in person. Or probably on film for that matter.
