With Urban Meyer at the helm, recruiting optimism and momentum have reached unprecedented levels across Buckeye Nation.
PA DE Noah Spence is the latest in a series of recruiting victories that have skyrocketed the 2012 class into one of the top groups in the country.
While the defensive line haul has reached historically awesome heights over the past week or so, there are still some pressing needs moving forward.
Most notably, the 2012 class is still missing the premiere offensive tackles that are so clearly needed in the coming seasons.
In addition to offensive tackles, Urban Meyer will work to add depth at linebacker and to find some difference makers on offense over the final weeks before signing day.
Here is the latest news on the remaining targets in the 2012 class.
Offensive Line
Kyle Dodson
Joe: It looks like Dodson will decide between Ohio State, Auburn (where he just visited), and Wisconsin. He plans to take at least one more official to USC and to decide shortly after his final visit.
For the Buckeyes, this is probably the most important recruit left on the board. Ohio State is sitting in about the best position possible right now after all that went on earlier in the recruiting cycle and his previous commitment to Wisky.
Jim: One thing to consider here (and with the rest of the offensive linemen) is that the Buckeyes haven’t named their next offensive line coach yet.
Dodson has specifically mentioned his comfort level with the OL coach being a factor he will consider. Until a coach is named, that uncertainty could have a negative impact.
I am still hopeful that Studrawa will come to Columbus to be the Co-Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line Coach. Even if this happens, it won’t be official for several more weeks.
At the very least, hopefully Meyer is able to give the players some idea about his plans for the rest of his coaching staff until everything is finalized. That seems likely, as the Buckeyes appear to be in great shape for Dodson.
Jordan Diamond
Joe: Ohio State is in the top 5, but I don’t expect much news until signing day. Diamond seems to be enjoying his recruitment and he will likely take his time making a decision.
There was a bond made when he visited Columbus; the other recruits are all over his twitter page. The question is whether or not that bond is strong enough after his other visits to convince him to come to Columbus.
Jim: If Diamond does enjoy the recruiting game, it should be noted that Urban Meyer’s style is much more conducive to swaying such recruits than Jim Tressel’s. Past experiences with these situations can be disregarded at this point.
He will visit Michigan, Wisconsin and Arkansas in January, meaning that Buckeye fans will have to play the waiting game on this one- as hard as that may be after this past week.
Joey O’Connor
Jim: Despite the fact that Ohio State has not officially offered at this time, O’Connor will take an official visit to Columbus on January 13th.
At 6’4″ 295 lbs. he lacks prototypical size for an offensive tackle, but his film is very impressive. He has extremely quick feet, plays with a ton of aggression, and has a motor that never stops- all of which could make a very good right tackle in college.
He could be a top candidate for a spot in the class if Dodson or Diamond fall through.
Alex Kozan
Jim: The interest from Ohio State’s end appears to have dropped off under Meyer, and unless something drastic happens, the Buckeyes shouldn’t be considered a major contender in this recruitment anymore.
Nick Davidson
Jim: Like Kozan, it appears that interest on Ohio State’s end has dropped off significantly under Meyer.
Davidson may visit Columbus in January before making his final decision, but once again, unless something drastic happens is doesn’t appear that the Buckeyes will be a major player in this recruitment moving forward.
Linebackers
Camren Williams
Joe: He visited last week on Monday while the Buckeyes were getting committs from Schutt and Pittman. Despite being a soft verbal to Penn State at the moment, I wouldn’t sleep on him, he could be one of the LB’s we really need in this class.
Jim: As I said last week, there are a lot of positive signs for the Buckeyes in this recruitment. While Jamal Marcus may be a more exciting prospect, I think right now Camren Williams is more likely to choose the Buckeyes.
Jamal Marcus
Joe: Marcus is my favorite recruit left on the board. He has future stud written all over him and there is no way he is a three star prospect.
His recruitment will probably be quiet for a little while, but things will pick up after his visit to Columbus in January. You have to like our chances with Urban. Hiring Withers, who had been pursuing him at UNC, isn’t going to hurt either.
Jim: There is no doubt that Marcus would be a tremendous addition to the class and I agree that the Withers hire helps Ohio State’s chances. However, until he comes to Columbus I wouldn’t get my hopes too high.
His favorites include Ohio State, Florida, Auburn, ECU and UNC. You will notice that only one of those schools is north of the Mason-Dixon line.
This one will likely come down to signing day. Until then, the news to watch is whether or not he will be making it to Columbus for an official visit.
David Perkins
Joe: There are rumors that he doesn’t want to play LB. There are also rumors of some off-field issues that may be red flags. I think the Buckeyes will be treading lightly here.
Jim: Michigan recently offered Perkins at RB (likely in response to Dunn re-affirming his commitment to Ohio State) which may support the rumor about him not wanting to play LB… or it could be the source of them.
He recently cancelled his visit to Michigan State and may visit Columbus in January. Unless something changes during the visit (which may or may not even happen), it seems unlikely that Perkins will be a part of this class.
Bam Bradley
Joe: Pitt is a strong contender right now with his brother being there. However, their coach leaving may have an effect on his recruitment.
Jim: There is a lot of buzz here due to Ohio State’s history with Trotwood-Madison kids.Without getting into it too much, right or wrong some people feel that Ohio State has ignored Trotwood players in the past.
Now, with Bradley in ’12 along with Burrows and McCray in ’13, that is likely going to change in the very near future.
Bradley visited Ohio State over the weekend and will announce his college decision on January 3rd at the Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl.
If Bradley chooses the Buckeyes (which seems like a strong possibility at this point), he will likely fill one of the linebacker spots left in the class… leaving room for only one of the above players.
Offensive Playmakers
Davonte Neal
Joe: It is clear that Meyer wants an athlete like Neal in this class, and with Cyrus Jones saying we are out of it, Neal would be a very nice pickup.
Drayton was out to see him in Arizona. He has Ohio ties and will be visiting on January 13th.
Jim: Coach Drayton is taking the lead on the recruitment of most of the offensive playmakers which is no surprise given his history with Meyer at Florida. Drayton is the most qualified coach to find the type of playmaker Meyer is looking for.
Over the final weeks, Drayton and the staff will be forced to balance who they want the most, who they think they have the best chance with, and who they have room for.
They clearly want at least one player in the class, and after Neal visits Columbus he could become the primary target.
Joel Caleb
Joe: He is down to Georgia, Virginia Tech, West Virginia (visiting in January), and Ohio State. If the Buckeyes push hard, it will come down to Ohio State and the home state favorite Virginia Tech.
Jim: Caleb has a great relationship with Coach Drayton and the Buckeyes are in a good position here. The question is if the Buckeyes want to pursue him over some of the other offensive playmakers.
Jameis Winston
Joe: FSU and Alabama are the competition for the #2 QB in the country.
Originally he said he was going to visit Ohio State but he has backed off that a little bit. If he does visit then game on.
Jim: Landing the #2 QB in the country would be great, and if he visits Columbus I won’t be complaining, but at this point the Buckeyes need as much room as possible for tackles and linebackers. Any skill position player will just be icing on the cake.
Stefon Diggs
Joe: There isn’t much reason for optimism here and it may be time to take him off the wish list.
Jim: This is certainly a long shot, but Diggs is the type of talent that you pursue until the very end. In this case, that may go beyond NLOID.
Final Thoughts
Jim: While the players aren’t guaranteed, the positions that will make up the rest of this class seem set:
Two offensive tackles, two linebackers, one offensive playmaker.
That puts the class at 24 players- the upper limit of what is possible.
Bam Bradley could be the next commitment on January 3rd, and Kyle Dodson could commit at any time as well.
That would leave one tackle, one linebacker, and one offensive skill player.
We might be waiting until signing day- or very close to it, to find out who fills those final three spots.
Then again, we might not.
The buzz is very positive right now around Davonte Neal thanks to his scheduled visit to Columbus. With the way things are going, we might even have our offensive player locked up after that visit. Fingers crossed on that one.
The staff will likely wait until signing day for Jordan Diamond… and hopefully Joey O’Connor will be waiting as well to see if he has a spot in the class. As it stands right now, I think the staff will take one or the other to fill the final OL spot.
Similarly, I think the final LB spot will come down to Camren Williams and Jamal Marcus. It seems like Williams is more likely to commit before signing day- after his return visit to Columbus with his mother, for instance.
However, if Jamal Marcus wants to be a Buckeye I am sure there will be room for him.
That is a lot of words, but to summarize, my best guess is:
OL: Dodson
OL: Diamond/O’Connor
LB: Bradley
LB: Williams/Marcus
ATH: Neal
Of course, these days with Meyer, you always have to include the clause about room for surprises.
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