Recruiting Reconnaissance: Scarlet Fever at the Shoe

The game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers will be another Top-10 battle between two potential participants of the College Football Playoffs, but there is another reason why this game is of such importance.  There have been significant battles on the recruiting front between the Buckeyes and the Cornhuskers.  There is that and the rivalry between Wide Receiving Coaches that has been brewing frequently enough to cause a stir on both fronts.  Zone 6’s own Zach Williams and Nebraska’s Keith Williams have been dueling for star wideouts from various recruiting battlegrounds and this is a battle to keep your eyes on.  The recruits that they are vying for are Donovan Peoples-Jones, Trevon Grimes and Keyshawn Johnson Jr.  They both have one of the previous three named in their respective classes, but Peoples-Jones is still deciding on the two, as he took the time to visit these two schools earlier this season. So far Peoples-Jones is hard to read and he has recently released a Top-5 list that did not include Nebraska, but in recruiting that means nothing.  Wide Receiver isn’t the only position Ohio State and Nebraska are dueling for, they are also going head to head for Calabasas California’s own Darnay Holmes, a highly sought after Defensive Back prospect.  Nebraska and Johnson Jr are both trying to continue the pipeline into Nebraska’s future plans, but I don’t know if he will end up in the Scarlet and Gray due to the limited spots in this years class, but you never know.  There is also another possibility to where Bubba Bolden wants to join the Select 17 as well.  The Buckeyes are trying to get at least two more Defensive Back prospects after National Signing Day, but it will depend on if Ohio State misses out on the bigger names on what is left on their recruiting board.

Here are the current Ohio State Commits:

• • 
    Josh Myers Miamisburg (Miamisburg, OH)

    OT 6-6 306 0.9928 10 3 1
  • Commit 1/25/2015
• • 
    Wyatt Davis St. John Bosco (Bellflower, CA)

    OG 6-5 310 0.9902 15 1 6
  • Commit 6/24/2016
• • 
    Trevon Grimes St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, FL)

    WR 6-3 202 0.9890 17 4 3
  • Commit 8/22/2016
• • 
    Shaun Wade Trinity Christian Academy (Jacksonville, FL)

    CB 6-1 177 0.9886 20 4 5
  • Commit 1/12/2015
• • 
    Chase Young DeMatha Catholic (Hyattsville, MD)

    WDE 6-5 225 0.9857 30 2 1
  • Commit 7/22/2016
• • 
    Tyjon Lindsey Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, NV)

    WR 5-9 161 0.9823 36 6 1
  • Commit 8/22/2016
• • 
    J.K. Dobbins La Grange (La Grange, TX)

    APB 5-9.5 199 0.9804 39 1 6
  • Commit 3/6/2016
• • 
    Isaiah Pryor IMG Academy (Bradenton, FL)

    S 6-1.5 195 0.9742 46 5 8
  • Commit 7/27/2015
• • 
    Tate Martell Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, NV)

    DUAL 5-10.5 203 0.9712 56 2 2
  • Commit 6/12/2016
• • 
    Haskell Garrett Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, NV)

    DT 6-2 288 0.9673 61 5 3
  • Commit 2/9/2016
• • 
    Jake Moretti Pomona (Arvada, CO)

    OT6-5 285 0.9613 78 13 2
  • Commit 7/4/2015
• • 
    Brendon White Olentangy Liberty (Powell, OH)

    ATH 6-1.5 200 0.9455 112 3 2
  • Commit 10/2/2015
• • 
    Amir Riep Colerain (Cincinnati, OH)

    CB 5-11 185 0.9410 125 14 3
  • Commit 7/23/2016
• • 
    Marcus Williamson IMG Academy (Bradenton, FL)

    CB 5-9 180 0.9360 138 16 4
  • Commit 4/18/2015
• • 
    Jerron Cage Winton Woods (Cincinnati, OH)

    DT 6-1.5 275 0.9097 227 14 9
  • Commit 7/21/2015
• • 
    Antjuan Simmons Pioneer (Ann Arbor, MI)

    OLB 6-1 215 0.8949 297 19 6
  • Commit 3/1/2016
• • 
    Blake Haubeil Canisius (Buffalo, NY)

    K 6-3 200 0.8321 NA 1 9
  • Commit 7/24/2015

Here are the remaining targets left on their Big Board:

• • • 
      Marvin Wilson Episcopal (Bellaire, TX)

      DT 6-4 329 0.9972 3 1 1
    • Warm +24 othersâ–¼
  • • 
      Cam Akers Clinton (Clinton, MS)

      RB 5-11 213 0.9951 6 2 1
    • Warm +22 othersâ–¼
  • • 
      Jeffrey Okudah South Grand Prairie (Grand Prairie, TX)

      CB 6-1.5 190 0.9950 8 1 2
    • Warmer +33 othersâ–¼
  • • 
      Baron Browning Kennedale (Kennedale, TX)

      OLB 6-3 230 0.9935 9 2 3
    • Warm +41 othersâ–¼
  • • 
      Darnay Holmes Calabasas (Calabasas, CA)

      CB 5-10190 0.9923 11 2 3
    • Warm +27 othersâ–¼
  • • 
      Donovan Peoples-Jones Cass Technical (Detroit, MI)

      WR6-2192 0.9922 12 1 1
    • Warm +22 othersâ–¼
  • • 
      Trey Smith University School Of Jackson (Jackson, TN)

      OT 6-5.5 299 0.9885 22 5 2
    • Warm +26 othersâ–¼
  •            
              Deangelo Gibbs Grayson (Loganville, GA)

              S 6-220.4 0.9790 41 3 3
  • • Cool +30 othersâ–¼
      DUAL 5-10.5 203 0.9712 56 2 
  • • 
      Jay Tufele Bingham (South Jordan, UT)

      DT 6-3 297 0.9701 58 3 1
    • Warmer +20 othersâ–¼
  • • 
      Bubba Bolden Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, NV)

      S 6-3 190 0.9610 79 9 4
    • Warm +24 othersâ–¼
  • • 
      Anthony Hines Plano East (Plano, TX)

      ILB 6-2.5 222 0.956 189 2 11
    • Cool +87 othersâ–¼

Here is the list of visitors via 24/7’s Buckeye affiliate:  Bucknuts.com:

Saturday, November 5, 2016 (7)

• • 
    Tate Martell Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, NV)

    DUAL 5-10.5 203 0.9712 56 2 2
  • â–¼
• • 
    Tyjon Lindsey Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, NV)

    WR 5-9 161 0.9823 36 6 1
  • â–¼
• • 
    Anthony Hines Plano East (Plano, TX)

    ILB 6-2.5 222 0.9561 89 2 11
  • Cool +87 othersâ–¼
• • 
    J.K. Dobbins La Grange (La Grange, TX)

    APB 5-9.5 199 0.9804 39 1 6
  • â–¼
• • 
    Trevon Grimes St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, FL)

    WR 6-3 202 0.9890 17 4 3
  • â–¼
• • 
    Bubba Bolden Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, NV)

    S 6-3 190 0.9610 79 9 4
  • Warm +24 othersâ–¼
• • 
    Shaun Wade Trinity Christian Academy (Jacksonville, FL)

    CB 6-1 177 0.9886 20 4 5
  • â–¼

Other notable players visiting today:

Class of 2018:

• Jaelen Gill, RB
• Jermaine Eskridge, WR
• Jackson Carman, OL
• Rasheed Walker, OL
• Dallas Gant, LB
• Christopher Oats, LB
• Cameron McGrone, LB
• Derrik Allen, DB
• Christian Tutt, DB

Class of 2019:

• Jaylin Simpson, DB
• Jashawn Sheffield, WR
• Stephon Herron, DE

Hopefully the atmostphere and the nifty new uniforms, along with the Scarlet clad Shoe secures a commit or two after the game.  Hopefully it motivates the team enough to make them play angry.  I do not predict a commitment, but it would surely help the cause when it gets closer toward signing day because the Buckeyes coaching staff is starting to build relationships with the players from the 2018 and 2019 classes as they look to get a head start and finish the 2016 class strong.  As always I am hoping for a strong showing and an angry team.  Go Bucks!!!