2013 Recruiting Board Update

We’re checking in with another quick update this morning.

JUCO LB Tommy Sanders has been dropped from the board after verbally committing to Texas A&M.

That gives the Aggies six LBs in their 2013 class and 34 commitments overall with several other prospects still considering joining.

On Ohio State’s end, that leaves TX LB Mike Mitchell and GA LB Trey Johnson as the two primary targets remaining at LB.

Mitchell plans to announce at the Army AA game on January 5 and it would be surprising at this point if he didn’t choose the Buckeyes.

Johnson will likely announce at the Under Armour AA game on January 5 and the Buckeyes have a great shot at landing him as well.

If either falls through, FL LB James Hearns is scheduled to visit Columbus on January 11.

The newest addition to the board, NJ DE Al-Quadin Muhammad, could factor in at LB too.

He emerged on the radar almost a year ago, but with no positive news to report regarding Ohio State he dropped off relatively quickly.

Now Muhammad has the Buckeyes in his top five again and Coach Meyer has reportedly visited his school recently. Although listed as a DE, he is 6’4″ 225 and given who is already in the DL class, that leads me to believe that the staff may be considering him as an option at LB.

Either way, although it briefly looked like the staff might be looking at 3 LBs with Sanders as an option, that seems highly unlikely now.

The emergence of players like CA OL Cameron Hunt and CO OL Dan Skipper make it seem  like the staff  really, really wants to get another OT which would take a third LB off the board anyway.

In other news, KY WR James Quick will reportedly announce his college decision on January 5 around the Army AA game festivities.

January 5th is shaping up to be a potentially huge day for the 2013 class.

My latest best guess would be:

0-1 Offensive Tackles

Cameron Hunt and Dan Skipper are the top candidates at the moment but others will likely emerge. Getting someone on an official visit will be the biggest key. If the staff isn’t able to get anyone on campus, the number here will likely be zero.

2 Wide Receivers

I think James Quick is by far the top target. Shelton Gibson is a no-brainer unless something like academics keeps him out of the class. Cornelius Elder and Ryan Timmons are at the top of the list as well with everyone else (including David Williams) coming in as dark horses.

2 Linebackers

I would be really surprised if Mike Mitchell and Trey Johnson aren’t Buckeyes.

1 Safety

Vonn Bell is the top target. We will likely be waiting on him down to the wire as he takes his official visits in January. Chris Worley is another option and most people expect him to be a part of the class.

As a Glenville player, Worley will likely wait until NLOID which works out nicely in this instance as I believe he would fill in for a miss at basically any position across the board.