What has been a roller coaster recruitment, Justin Hilliard has become the eleventh member of the 2015 Ohio State Recruiting class, after announcing his commitment just moments ago.  The 6-2 Cincinnati Linebacker is one of the top prospects not only in the state but in the government.  Hilliard picked Ohio State over Notre Dame, Iowa, Alabama, and Michigan, although I think the top two were Ohio State and Notre Dame.  His recruitment had people in many different directions as many people thought Notre Dame led, then Iowa, then Ohio State, then the rest was anyone’s best guess.

Hilliard to Ohio State

Hilliard fills an immediate need for Ohio State at linebacker, a group that has under performed to say the least in recent seasons.  Keeping the best players in state has been the top priority for Urban Meyer and Ohio State, and they continue with Hilliard.  What makes this even better, was that he is from Cincinnati, a part of Ohio that does not necessarily mean an Ohio State lock.  Hilliard is going to become a leader for this class immediately and is going to try to bring the top talent with him.  I expect him to recruit Jashon Cornell and Damien Harris the hardest.

Justin Hilliard and Jashon Cornell have decided that they wanted to play college football together.  Justin Hilliard just announced for Ohio State and now Jashon Cornell becomes the twelfth member of the 2015 class.  Cornell, a 6-4, DE, ends his roller coaster recruitment and gives Ohio State two HUGE commitments for this class.  Cornell is arguably the best D-Lineman in the class and many thought that it was a long shot that he would come to Columbus.  But he visited Ohio State for the NFTC camp and he said it was one of the best visits he had been on.  He dominated the NFTC and was invited to the opening, the most prestigious summer camp, held on Nike’s campus in Oregon.

Cornell and Hilliard are a package deal to Ohio State.

This is a huge get for Urban Meyer and staff.  Cornell is going to contribute immediately as Larry Johnson loves rotating his linemen throughout the game.  The D-line has been Urban’s strongest recruiting parts of each class during his tenure at Ohio State.  They have Jones already committed to this class and Cornell just adds so much more to this class.  Cornell is also going to heavily recruit for Ohio State.  I am sure that both Hilliard and Cornell are going to be recruiting Damien Harris the hardest.  Jashon Cornell is one of the best players in this recruiting class.

I did. It’s close! “@wrestlingbucks: vote yet? @Buckeye158 up for #SMOY Head Coach http://www.elitelevelsportmarketing.com/#!smoy-awards-head-coach/c3ma … pic.twitter.com/qloM4nUsBz” @MotSaG

What was a slow start to recruiting for the Ohio State staff, has really been turned around in the recent weeks.  With several commitments in the past couple of weeks, fans are hoping to add more to the already, very talented, #Elite15.  It was announced about a week or two ago that Hilliard would be announcing Wednesday, July 2nd.  Cornell announced a couple of days ago that he wanted to announce at around the same time as Hilliard.  Then, Jerome Baker announced that he too would be committing earlier, and the announcement is set for July 11th.  I am going to give you my prediction for each one as their recruiting process draws a close.

1. Justin Hilliard– Cincinnati, Ohio

Justin Hilliard

Justin Hilliard’s recruitment has been the typical roller coaster recruitment.  A lot of people thought that because his brother signed with Iowa, they were the leaders.  Then some even thought that Notre Dame was the leader.  Now a lot of people think that Ohio State is the leader.  And, well Alabama is in the top 5 and why count out the best recruiter in the nation?  After months of speculation of his recruitment, the 6-2, 230 pound LB is ready for his recruitment to be over. He wants to be a leader for the class and recruit other players as well.  Whichever school lands him is going to get one heck of a player and person.  Because he is also friends with other top recruits, the school he chooses is probably going to get a plethora of other talent too, for example, Jashon Cornell.  I know that he loves Ohio State a lot and loves the coaches.  I also know that he loves the players already there, especially Raekwon McMillan.  But, he loves Notre Dame a lot also.  I think that it comes down to Ohio State and Notre Dame and I think he picks Ohio State.

2. Jashon Cornell-St. Paul, Minnesota

Are Jashon Cornell and Justin Hilliard a package deal?

Cornell was supposed to announce at the end of August but has decided to move it up to the same day and time as Justin Hilliard.  I think Cornell and Hilliard are a package deal.  The 6-4, 260 pound DE has not been shy about his love for Ohio State and even said it was the best visit he has been on.  People thought that him coming to Ohio State was a long shot, but now things are certainly trending to Ohio State.  A lot of people thought that Ohio State trailed behind Notre Dame and Michigan State.  I think that Ohio State has impressed him a lot, and I think he loves the idea of playing under coach Johnson.  Like Hilliard, whichever school he chooses is going to get a leader for the class and a recruiter as well.  I think this one comes down to Notre Dame and Ohio State also, and I think he picks Ohio State.  I like Hilliard and Cornell to be a package deal.

3. Jerome Baker– Cleveland, Ohio

Another guy who was not supposed to announce until after the season, Jerome Baker is now going to decide on July 11th.  Jerome has long been considered an Ohio State lean as all crystal balls on the 247sports crystal balls have him going to Ohio State.  I talked with Baker about a month ago and he had many great things to say about Ohio State.  “It is home,” he said of why he loves Ohio State.  “I also love Urban Meyer as well.”  He loves everything that Ohio State has to offer.  The 6-1, 205 pound linebacker told me he moved up his decision because he was just ready for it to be over.  He was ready to enjoy everything now.  I think that this one is going to come down to Florida and Ohio State.  I like Ohio State here in this one and I think he picks Ohio State.

Is Jerome Baker going to pick Ohio State?

We here at Men of the Scarlet and Gray, are pleased to announce a more interactive type article.  Last week, we asked you to send questions that you had for class of 2016 star Wide Receiver, Austin Mack.  Mack has offers from many programs around the country, such as Ohio State, Michigan, and Notre Dame.  He is rated as the 78th best prospect in the nation according to 247 sports composite and the 12th rated Wide Receiver.  In my opinion, Mack should be rated much higher, as I think he is one of the most talented recruits in the nation.  He was very excited to have the chance to answer questions from the readers!

Austin Mack loves Ohio State

 What are your top things when you look at a school? Like being close to home, education, coaching staff, and etc?- Zane

The top thing I look for in a school is education. Of course distance matters because I care about my family, but it all depends on the best fit. Also I care about how the coaches treat players and how good I can interact with them.

 Do you have additional summer visits planned?- OSUBasketballJunkie 

 Yes, I am going to MSU on the 12th of July, then going to Ohio State for the Friday Night Lights camp on the 25th , and I’m going to the BBQ in the big house which is also at the end of July. That should be it unless we make a stop to Tennessee on the 17th.

 What has been your favorite part about the recruiting process thus far?- JP

 My favorite part is being able to have the luxury of seeing things that most college fans couldn’t. Growing up as a kid, I wanted to see some of these things like the locker room and the equipment room, and now, since I’ve become more successful, it’s all happening.  It’s pretty special.  Also making relationships with people who I did not think I would, such as (Coach Urban Meyer) is neat too.

Call of Duty or Halo? Who do you model your game after?- El Kaiser

Call of Duty of course! I’m a gamer! But I model my game after Larry Fitzgerald. I can relate my game exactly to his and he is a big bodied receiver like myself. I study most of his routes and tendencies and try to put them into my own.

What is your favorite moment in your football career?- Paul

My favorite moment in my football career so far would have to be when I was a freshman and we won the state championship! One of the best memories in my life. But unfortunately, I wasn’t a big contributor due to our 25 senior starters. So more realistically, my personal best moment is receiving my first big offer from Ohio State. I was on Cloud nine for a while and it was a great feeling.

Name one thing that Ohio State has that Notre Dame does not, and one thing that Notre Dame has that Ohio State doesn’t?- Jesse Sidwell

Ohio State has a more prestigious football program and they have multiple facilities.  Notre Dame has incredible academics. They are compared with Harvard and some Ivy league schools. But the huge difference between them both is one is public and one is private. ND only has about 9,000 kids on campus which is a lot smaller than OSU. But there both great schools and have their own unique, qualities. 

Kayden Lyles is used to having the spotlight around.  When your teammate is one of the most heralded recruits in the nation, it helps with the spotlight when it is your turn.  Christian Kirk has done just that for Kayden Lyles.  Kirk is a 2015 WR and one of the biggest recruits in the nation.  Lyles is used to the media always being around for Kirk so it is helping him for when it is his time to shine.  As a sophomore to be, that time is beginning now.  The 6-3 3, 290 pound Lyles already has an impressive offer sheet.  He has received offers from many schools such as Arizona, Oklahoma, Arizona State, Notre Dame, and Ohio State.  With so many offers, he has many options to choose from. About a month ago, him and his brother Kare, A quarterback for the 2016 class, took a trip to Ohio State.  He had many good things to say about the visit.

Lyles loved everything about Ohio State.

“I loved Ohio State!” he said of the visit.  “Everything from the facilities to the campus was just amazing.  I got to spend a lot of time with Coach Meyer and Coach Smith.  Coach Smith is my main recruiter and we have such a strong relationship.  I love how they keep everything real.  They told me about the programs they have for after football because football does not last forever.  Everything about Ohio State was amazing.”

He told me that the best part was just getting to hangout with the coaches.  He loves Coach Smith a lot and he is a big reason why he loves Ohio State.  I asked him about Kare, and what school he chooses having an effect on his decision and he said, although he would love to play with his brother in college, it won’t be a deal breaker to not attend a school.  “Of course I want to go to the same school as Kare,” he said of attending the same school.  “My parents think that would be fun also.  But none of us are concerned about any of that because we have to make the best decisions for us.”

Lyles still has a long way to go in his recruitment.  He does not have a set date on any visits this summer, but is going to Arizona State sometime in Mid-July.  I asked him how playing with all the talent around him like Kare and Christian Kirk, and he said it has just been a lot of fun.  Kirk has also been giving him a lot of advice on his recruitment.  He told him about staying humble throughout the process and to work on getting better each day. Lyles is definitely taking that advice with him as he goes through the process.  He is a special talent and I know he loves Ohio State.  He also told me that distance would not be a factor, saying whether he goes an hour away to school or 18 hours away, as long as it is the best fit for him.  Ohio State is going to be in his recruitment until the end.

http://www.hudl.com/athlete/3289529/highlights/94259502

You can also follow Kayden on twitter: @Klyles60