Richmond Rumblings
Spent the day Saturday at the Richmond Rivals Camp stop and upon leaving, I couldn't help but feel that I had just left the one regional camp, outside of probably Cleveland, that will ultimately have the most future Buckeyes in attendance.
Will start with 2016 linebacker Aaron Hansford. I was most concerned with sizing Hansford up to see if it would be a stretch for him to play linebacker. It won't be a stretch.
Every bit of 6-foot-2, maybe 6-foot-2.5 and has a pretty broad frame. He's not going to be a guy that plays at 250-pounds but that is not what the OSU staff is looking for at that Darron Lee patrolled SAM position. He'll play in the 235-pound range and I was impressed with the way he was able to turn and run with some pretty good backs at the camp. I haven't really done a full film review of Hansford yet but the size/athleticism questions were answered for me on Saturday. He is definitely a good-looking prospect.
As I posted yesterday, Hansford intends to visit Ohio State again April 16-17. He's coming in for a two-day trip before the Spring Game due to a scheduling conflict as he is set to take the ACT on the 18th.
Assuming he makes it to campus, I think this could be THE visit. Such a quick turn around from his last trip and checking out a lot of the things that prospects don't get the chance to see on game days. Now neither Aaron or his family have come right out and told me that he's coming with the intention of committing but these are the types of visits that lead to commitments so I absolutely think there's a chance it could get done if all goes well. Either way, Ohio State is in great shape right now and I absolutely believe Hansford is a take for the staff.
Staying in the 2016 class, I heard nothing but good things on Saturday about Ohio State's chances with Norfolk (Va.) Lake Taylor cornerback Wayne Davis. I posted a story on Davis this afternoon but also had a good discussion with him off-the-record and it feels to me that Ohio State is in the driver's seat right now heading into his visit this coming weekend.
In fact, I spoke with someone with good knowledge of Davis' recruitment and they were a little more bold about things than I just was.
"I think he's definitely going to Ohio State," the source said. "Anything can happen in recruiting but right now I would be really surprised if he didn't end up there. He talks about Ohio State all the time. Jalyn Holmes is such a big deal at Lake Taylor. They had good players before but not at the national level like Jalyn. The neighborhood around Lake Taylor is kind of rough and Jalyn has made it out and kids want to be like him. Ohio State is the 'it' college program there right now."
While we have discussed at length how fluid the DB boards are right now for OSU, I am told Davis is one of the takes so definitely a priority guy for the Buckeyes.
In way-too-early Lake Taylor recruiting news, I was also told by this source to keep tabs on 2017 OG/C Darnell Ewell who was extremely impressive on Saturday. The Buckeyes are thought to be a team that has his attention early and that could really be in this race long term. I'll have a story on Ewell this week.
Staying in Virginia, Woodbridge defensive tackle Kyree Campbell has put on a lot of weight over the past year, about 50-pounds to be exact. Campbell looked to be carrying it well out there and was one of the better D-line performers at the camp. Campbell's transformation from strong side DE to three-technique to a likely nose tackle is probably a good thing for the Buckeyes who don't need much help with DE recruiting or three-technique recruiting at the moment.
Campbell lists Ohio State as a school that would definitely be in his top five right now and his connection to Larry Johnson (coached Kyree's Dad in high school) is going to be a major trump card for the Buckeyes in this race. I don't get the sense that Kyree is too close to making a decision but if he had to pick today, I'd roll with OSU here.
Ohio State also continues to be a major player in the Jauan Williams sweepstakes. The four-star tackle is up to nearly 310-pounds now and really looks the part of a future franchise left tackle. Williams had a solid day on Saturday, losing some reps to Shane Simmons that sort of put a spotlight on where he needs to improve (lunges too much, needs to stay on balance) but also had some of the most impressive reps of the day and packs a devastating punch.
Williams is still in the very early stages of his recruiting process, telling me that he will narrow it to 10 schools on November 1st. He did, however, continue to say good things about the Buckeyes and that they would absolutely make the first (and likely second) round of cuts. This one is tough to handicap because of all of the schools involved but I'd venture to guess Ohio State makes the critical cuts here and gets an official visit barring an unforeseen change of circumstances over the summer.
Quick Guarantano Update
Wish I had more to report here but Rivals100 QB Jarrett Guarantano has went completely underground since his Ohio State visit. I wouldn't read too much into that beyond the idea that this was probably his last visit of the process and he's ready to decide and doesn't want to speak with the media until his announcement.
I did trade a few texts with his father, Jim, who told me that the visit 'went very well' and basically confirming the above suspicions that there is simply a lot to digest now and that time will be focused on coming to a decision and not doing interviews with reporters.
This isn't an OSU thing either, our Tennessee and Rutgers sites (both very good at what they do) have said communication has dropped off on their end too and with their contacts at those schools (read as: the UT and Rutgers coaching staffs are just as in the dark as everyone else at this point) so this is truly being kept very close to the vest right now by the Guarantano's.
I felt that Tennessee was probably in the best shape heading into the OSU visit and without anything really concrete in either direction coming out of that visit I'd have to stick with that theory at this point but this one has been volatile enough that I'm not ruling out a surprise this week either.
If I hear more in the days leading up to the announcement I will be sure to post it ASAP, we aren't sitting on anything here, there just isn't much to report at this time.
Weekend visitors and commitment prediction update
There was no commitment this weekend as I hinted at on Friday, but it is coming. I spoke with the prospect in question and I assure you, it is coming. Don't want to get too much into why it didn't go down as planned this weekend (when the time is right you'll all know) but it wasn't a change of heart on the side of either the prospect or OSU so everything will be good to go in the near future. Bear with me on this one and still expecting at least one the weekend of the Spring Game, so just a little more patience here before some good news comes out.
I know that Miles and Ryan are steadily bringing in the updates on this weekend's visitors but I continue to hear good things about Auston Robertson possibly on the outside looking in, there is certainly a hint of concern about Mack following suit but the people that I have spoken to in the past about Mack have remained confident throughout all of this and this weekend's visit just continues to strengthen that relationship that Austin has built with the coaching staff.
Also caught up briefly with Marcus Williamson who told me he really enjoyed the Student Appreciation Day and was blown away with the intensity of practice.
"It was pretty hyped man," Williamson said. "Those guys really get after it."
Marcus has quite the sense of humor so I sort of joked with him about needing to put on his big boy pants when he arrives at his major Division I program of choice and he laughed in agreement, saying he 'doesn't want to get bullied' out there in practice settings,
Buckeyes still in tremendous shape here for what it's worth.
Quick hitter on Ferns
I know that people are beginning to question their faith on this one but I still have Ohio State in the driver's seat for four-star linebacker Brendan Ferns. I have a long-standing relationship with the family here from older brother Mike's recruitment and they have always been very straightforward with me.
I was told point blank very early on in Mike's recruitment that Ohio State wasn't going to be the place for him and have no reason to feel I wouldn't be told the same thing in Brendan's case. I am still being told that the Buckeyes are in very good shape, that Ferns, his family, and Chris Ash are all on the same page, and that while WVU has become more enticing with Mike there, that Ohio State is still the favorite at this point.
Can that change if this drags on? Sure. Feelings can change on Brendan's end, that's what sometimes happens when visits are made, and maybe OSU hits on Hansford and Tuf Borland and things change on that end too but for now, I do not feel that OSU's chances are in serious jeopardy.
More than Mike's arrival at WVU, his early commitment to Michigan is what I believe to be the driving force behind this recruitment slowing down. Mike committed so early in the process that by the time he actually got to Michigan, things changed pretty drastically for him just a few months in. I simply get the sense that the family would prefer there not be a near two-year gap between a commitment and reporting to campus (as there was with Mike) and that, if for nothing else than peace of mind, they let the process play out just a little more.
This post was edited on 4/13 9:55 AM by Kevin_N
Spent the day Saturday at the Richmond Rivals Camp stop and upon leaving, I couldn't help but feel that I had just left the one regional camp, outside of probably Cleveland, that will ultimately have the most future Buckeyes in attendance.
Will start with 2016 linebacker Aaron Hansford. I was most concerned with sizing Hansford up to see if it would be a stretch for him to play linebacker. It won't be a stretch.
Every bit of 6-foot-2, maybe 6-foot-2.5 and has a pretty broad frame. He's not going to be a guy that plays at 250-pounds but that is not what the OSU staff is looking for at that Darron Lee patrolled SAM position. He'll play in the 235-pound range and I was impressed with the way he was able to turn and run with some pretty good backs at the camp. I haven't really done a full film review of Hansford yet but the size/athleticism questions were answered for me on Saturday. He is definitely a good-looking prospect.
As I posted yesterday, Hansford intends to visit Ohio State again April 16-17. He's coming in for a two-day trip before the Spring Game due to a scheduling conflict as he is set to take the ACT on the 18th.
Assuming he makes it to campus, I think this could be THE visit. Such a quick turn around from his last trip and checking out a lot of the things that prospects don't get the chance to see on game days. Now neither Aaron or his family have come right out and told me that he's coming with the intention of committing but these are the types of visits that lead to commitments so I absolutely think there's a chance it could get done if all goes well. Either way, Ohio State is in great shape right now and I absolutely believe Hansford is a take for the staff.
Staying in the 2016 class, I heard nothing but good things on Saturday about Ohio State's chances with Norfolk (Va.) Lake Taylor cornerback Wayne Davis. I posted a story on Davis this afternoon but also had a good discussion with him off-the-record and it feels to me that Ohio State is in the driver's seat right now heading into his visit this coming weekend.
In fact, I spoke with someone with good knowledge of Davis' recruitment and they were a little more bold about things than I just was.
"I think he's definitely going to Ohio State," the source said. "Anything can happen in recruiting but right now I would be really surprised if he didn't end up there. He talks about Ohio State all the time. Jalyn Holmes is such a big deal at Lake Taylor. They had good players before but not at the national level like Jalyn. The neighborhood around Lake Taylor is kind of rough and Jalyn has made it out and kids want to be like him. Ohio State is the 'it' college program there right now."
While we have discussed at length how fluid the DB boards are right now for OSU, I am told Davis is one of the takes so definitely a priority guy for the Buckeyes.
In way-too-early Lake Taylor recruiting news, I was also told by this source to keep tabs on 2017 OG/C Darnell Ewell who was extremely impressive on Saturday. The Buckeyes are thought to be a team that has his attention early and that could really be in this race long term. I'll have a story on Ewell this week.
Staying in Virginia, Woodbridge defensive tackle Kyree Campbell has put on a lot of weight over the past year, about 50-pounds to be exact. Campbell looked to be carrying it well out there and was one of the better D-line performers at the camp. Campbell's transformation from strong side DE to three-technique to a likely nose tackle is probably a good thing for the Buckeyes who don't need much help with DE recruiting or three-technique recruiting at the moment.
Campbell lists Ohio State as a school that would definitely be in his top five right now and his connection to Larry Johnson (coached Kyree's Dad in high school) is going to be a major trump card for the Buckeyes in this race. I don't get the sense that Kyree is too close to making a decision but if he had to pick today, I'd roll with OSU here.
Ohio State also continues to be a major player in the Jauan Williams sweepstakes. The four-star tackle is up to nearly 310-pounds now and really looks the part of a future franchise left tackle. Williams had a solid day on Saturday, losing some reps to Shane Simmons that sort of put a spotlight on where he needs to improve (lunges too much, needs to stay on balance) but also had some of the most impressive reps of the day and packs a devastating punch.
Williams is still in the very early stages of his recruiting process, telling me that he will narrow it to 10 schools on November 1st. He did, however, continue to say good things about the Buckeyes and that they would absolutely make the first (and likely second) round of cuts. This one is tough to handicap because of all of the schools involved but I'd venture to guess Ohio State makes the critical cuts here and gets an official visit barring an unforeseen change of circumstances over the summer.
Quick Guarantano Update
Wish I had more to report here but Rivals100 QB Jarrett Guarantano has went completely underground since his Ohio State visit. I wouldn't read too much into that beyond the idea that this was probably his last visit of the process and he's ready to decide and doesn't want to speak with the media until his announcement.
I did trade a few texts with his father, Jim, who told me that the visit 'went very well' and basically confirming the above suspicions that there is simply a lot to digest now and that time will be focused on coming to a decision and not doing interviews with reporters.
This isn't an OSU thing either, our Tennessee and Rutgers sites (both very good at what they do) have said communication has dropped off on their end too and with their contacts at those schools (read as: the UT and Rutgers coaching staffs are just as in the dark as everyone else at this point) so this is truly being kept very close to the vest right now by the Guarantano's.
I felt that Tennessee was probably in the best shape heading into the OSU visit and without anything really concrete in either direction coming out of that visit I'd have to stick with that theory at this point but this one has been volatile enough that I'm not ruling out a surprise this week either.
If I hear more in the days leading up to the announcement I will be sure to post it ASAP, we aren't sitting on anything here, there just isn't much to report at this time.
Weekend visitors and commitment prediction update
There was no commitment this weekend as I hinted at on Friday, but it is coming. I spoke with the prospect in question and I assure you, it is coming. Don't want to get too much into why it didn't go down as planned this weekend (when the time is right you'll all know) but it wasn't a change of heart on the side of either the prospect or OSU so everything will be good to go in the near future. Bear with me on this one and still expecting at least one the weekend of the Spring Game, so just a little more patience here before some good news comes out.
I know that Miles and Ryan are steadily bringing in the updates on this weekend's visitors but I continue to hear good things about Auston Robertson possibly on the outside looking in, there is certainly a hint of concern about Mack following suit but the people that I have spoken to in the past about Mack have remained confident throughout all of this and this weekend's visit just continues to strengthen that relationship that Austin has built with the coaching staff.
Also caught up briefly with Marcus Williamson who told me he really enjoyed the Student Appreciation Day and was blown away with the intensity of practice.
"It was pretty hyped man," Williamson said. "Those guys really get after it."
Marcus has quite the sense of humor so I sort of joked with him about needing to put on his big boy pants when he arrives at his major Division I program of choice and he laughed in agreement, saying he 'doesn't want to get bullied' out there in practice settings,
Buckeyes still in tremendous shape here for what it's worth.
Quick hitter on Ferns
I know that people are beginning to question their faith on this one but I still have Ohio State in the driver's seat for four-star linebacker Brendan Ferns. I have a long-standing relationship with the family here from older brother Mike's recruitment and they have always been very straightforward with me.
I was told point blank very early on in Mike's recruitment that Ohio State wasn't going to be the place for him and have no reason to feel I wouldn't be told the same thing in Brendan's case. I am still being told that the Buckeyes are in very good shape, that Ferns, his family, and Chris Ash are all on the same page, and that while WVU has become more enticing with Mike there, that Ohio State is still the favorite at this point.
Can that change if this drags on? Sure. Feelings can change on Brendan's end, that's what sometimes happens when visits are made, and maybe OSU hits on Hansford and Tuf Borland and things change on that end too but for now, I do not feel that OSU's chances are in serious jeopardy.
More than Mike's arrival at WVU, his early commitment to Michigan is what I believe to be the driving force behind this recruitment slowing down. Mike committed so early in the process that by the time he actually got to Michigan, things changed pretty drastically for him just a few months in. I simply get the sense that the family would prefer there not be a near two-year gap between a commitment and reporting to campus (as there was with Mike) and that, if for nothing else than peace of mind, they let the process play out just a little more.
This post was edited on 4/13 9:55 AM by Kevin_N
