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Decision coming for Rogers
It would appear that class of 2020 Rivals100 offensive lineman Justin Rogers is close to making a commitment, a commitment that would be about a year and a half earlier than anticipated (Reason No. 289358903 why I don't like speculating about time frames and why questions about them are my very least favorite thing).
The high four-star prospect is an elite offensive lineman and a top priority for the Ohio State coaching staff. But the timing of this does not look great for the Buckeyes. Georgia started to move into the picture during the spring and since that time, Rogers has walked things back a little bit in terms of Ohio State being his clear cut leader.
Josh Helmholdt posted yesterday that he's hearing a decision could come on September 12th, Rogers' birthday. That would certainly be better for Ohio State than something going down in the coming days. By September 12th, Urban Meyer's fate will be known, and maybe that can impact things on this front.
Otherwise, I can tell you that Ohio State is a bit concerned about the timing of this. Nobody has thrown in the towel as I don't think anyone actually knows for sure yet what Justin is going to do but just reading tea leaves here, if he decides in the next few weeks I would be inclined to pick UGA.
But Rogers has also been a little bit all over the place with a decision and has hinted in the past about upcoming decisions that never materialized. This one doesn't appear to be a false alarm, it looks like the real deal, but we'll see and we'll continue gathering information in the coming days.
But again, I don't really like the timing here for Ohio State. Seems odd he would be set on a decision for a school that technically does not have a permanent head football coach at the moment.
Rouse staying patient
If I have to type 'wait-and-see attitude' one more time about this Urban Meyer situation I might vomit. But that really is the best way to describe the pulse of the recruits out there both committed to Ohio State and considering Ohio State.
Washington (DC) Sidwell Friends School offensive tackle Walter Rouse has emerged as a fairly important recruit in recent months. As he has improved his game, OSU has also seen some targets at offensive tackle fall by the wayside and the Buckeyes are certainly hoping to take at least one more tackle body in the 2019 class.
Rouse visited Ohio State on July 25th, right as this whole saga was starting to take off. That visit put the Buckeyes in pretty good shape to get one of Rouse's five official visits this fall, which was all they could hope for given that it was just his first trip to Columbus and that Walter is a pretty thorough kid who doesn't make snap emotional decisions.
So it should not surprise anyone that Rouse is going to take the same approach to the Meyer situation. When the facts are out, he'll react.
"I'm just waiting to see how it turns out," Rouse told me. "Truly just been focusing on getting ready for my pre-season."
It's a sentiment that I'm sure people are bored of reading and I'm certainly bored of reporting it, but it just is what it is right now. Everyone is in limbo until a decision is handed down on Meyer's future.
"I have still been in touch with the coaches (during Meyer's leave of absence)," Rouse added. "I've been talking mostly to coach Stud and coach Johnson."
In talking to Walter a few times in recent weeks, I tend to think Ohio State can get this one back in a good place if Meyer is reinstated.
Johnson getting reacquainted
When the Zach Smith news initially broke and he was fired, the one class of 2020 wide receiver that I stated it might have an impact on was St. Louis (Mo.) De Smet product Jordan Johnson. Because of Smith's role not only as wide receivers coach, but also as the St. Louis area recruiter as well as someone who personally spent a lot of time with Johnson during his Friday Night Lights visit, there was going to be some patching up to do here.
Johnson is an outstanding prospect with the size to impose his will on defensive backs in those one-on-one battles but also the speed to be a threat after the catch and in the vertical passing game. While Brian Hartline and the offensive staff have a lot of work to do in terms of trying to form a pecking order in 2020, Johnson is undoubtedly a guy that will be discussed heavily and that they'll recruit hard.
Johnson told me that he has been in touch with Hartline since the changed was made and likes what he sees from the former NFL standout, though of course a phone call or two doesn't just square things away.
"Talking to him, I thought he was cool," Johnson stated. "I've just got to build a better relationship with him."
The early Rivals100 talent followed that up by saying Ohio State is still a school of high interest for him. The Buckeyes were in pretty good shape coming out of that June visit, though there is no question that the recent drama around the program has halted some momentum there. Still, there is time to mend fences with just about all of the 2020 guys who might be uneasy about all of this.
"I'm for sure still interested in Ohio State," Johnson added.
The Buckeyes will try to get Johnson up for a game this fall. On his last visit he had a chance to connect with freshman defensive back Cam Brown and Jordan has certainly taken notice of Ohio State's success in the St. Louis area.
