Notre Dame went on a major recruiting run this past weekend, landing three big time offensive tackle prospects (including two with Ohio State offers) and Ohio quarterback Malik Zaire out of Kettering Archbishop Alter.
Zaire was offered by Ohio State’s previous coaching staff and continued to be recruited by Urban Meyer- clearly he was one of the top targets on Ohio State’s QB board.
The same “you hate to see Ohio kids go to other schools” principal applies here as well, particularly Ohio kids that the Buckeyes were recruiting.
So, Ohio State lost a top quarterback from Ohio that they had been pursuing through two coaching staffs- big deal, right?
Well, outside of another old principle- a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush, Ohio State is still on track to hit its mark recruiting quarterbacks this year.
Interestingly enough, they will likely land the proverbial two in the bush.
From my first look at 2013 quarterbacks in February, I have said that Ohio State would end up with two quarterbacks in this class.
Urban Meyer is still on track to do just that, with the obvious subtraction of Zaire from the equation.
If Meyer continues to pursue Zaire, he still might be in the picture despite the early commitment, but that is not worth worrying about.
From the beginning the coaching staff have made it clear that they want to see each quarterback at camp to evaluate in-person, and those camps have yet to take place.
The good news is that things are looking good for Ohio State with elite Texas QB J.T. Barrett.
He is visiting Columbus as I write this, and I would not be surprised at all to see him at Ohio State.
Barrett will make his decision sometime before his senior season in the next few months.
My favorite for the second spot in the class is Mitch Trubisky. Being the only Ohio player left on the board with an offer, that prediction isn’t really going out on a limb.
Trubisky has plenty of ability (arm strength, scrambling), but his intangibles are off the charts (leadership, competitiveness) which is right in line with what Meyer looks for.
After those two, there is Ohio QB Tra’Von Chapman, who looks like he will have to impress at summer camp to be a part of the class, and VA QB Bucky Hodges, who I don’t see being a Buckeye.
I moved IL QB Aaron Bailey to an athlete, which is where the Buckeyes are looking at him, and I don’t think FL QB Darryl Richardson is being pursued by the new staff.
That is about it right now on the QB board.
There has certainly been some attrition from the board since the last update, and Ohio State still doesn’t have a QB in the class, so that isn’t ideal.
However, Trubisky and Barrett would be an outstanding class, and as mentioned, things are still looking good for both of them.
I am comfortable (and I think the staff is comfortable) with where things are at with the quarterbacks right now.
If the top two drop from the board to any place other than Ohio State, it would definitely be time to re-evaluate the class, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see some new offers go out if that were to happen.
Right now, I don’t see that happening.
Give me Trubisky and Barrett and call it a QB class.
Remember to check out our 2013 Big Board for all the latest recruiting news and updates.
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