In case you missed it, Monday evening, the Ohio State football team added the 24th commitment to an already impressive 2013 recruiting class. Texas all-purpose back (and one time Oregon commit) Dontre Wilson (De Soto, Tx/De Soto), decided the Buckeyes were the right team for his services, in lieu of the Ducks and his home state Texas Longhorns.
For those keeping score at home, that gives Buckeyes star recruiter (and surely future head coach) offensive coordinator Tom Herman Wilson, 4-star LB Mike Mitchell, and 4-star QB J.T. Barrett. Not a bad little pipeline the Buckeyes have in the works from the Lone Star State. And for those wanting to know the immediate impact of adding the 4-star Wilson, the Buckeyes are now second in the 247Composite rankings, in a virtual dead heat with Florida for second in Rivals' team rankings, and second in the Scout.com team rankings. Not a bad night for Buckeye Nation at all.
But Urban Meyer and staff aren't done trying to add future All-Americans with Wilson. The staff is patiently waiting to hear from a few other top prospects from around the nation. Stud safety Vonn Bell (Rossville, Ga/Ridgeland), who as of late seemed to be flipping between Alabama, Tennessee and Ohio State, is finally ready to announce where he will take his talents. Bell, will let the world know where he is headed Wednesday at 10:00 am, and you can watch the five star peach state prospect make his decision on ESPNU. Though many recruiting analysts believe Bell is down to Tennessee and OSU, a number like the Buckeyes chances.
Hearing that things could be trending back to #OSU for Vonn Bell. This one is a roller coaster. #Vols
— Mike Farrell (@rivalsmike) February 4, 2013
Sunshine state wide receiver James Clark (New Smyrna Beach, Fl/NSB) announced Monday that he will pick between Ohio State, Clemson and home state Florida. The four star burner, like Bell, will also make his decision Wednesday at 10:00am EST. Many of the national recruiting analysts feel Clark could end up staying put and joining the Gators.
Ohio State running back commit Ezekiel Elliott (St. Louis, Mo/John Burroughs) has had the Ohio State faithful counting down the days till Coach Meyer receives his Letter of Intent. Fortunately, they will only have to wait a little bit longer. Elliott will make his decesion Wendsday at 3:00 CST between his home state Missouri Tigers and the good guys. From the sounds of things Ezekiel can't wait to get the recruiting process over with:
Man. Ready for signing day. Ready to get this over with
— Ezekiel Elliott #⃣2⃣ (@EzekielElliott) February 4, 2013
Today, Kentucky ATH Ryan Timmons (Frankfort, Ky/Franklin Co.) will be announcing where he will be spending the next few years of his life. At 1:00 EST, Timmons will choose between OSU, Florida, Illinois and Kentucky. It was reported last week that the Buckeyes have stopped recruiting the Blue Grass state speedster. Many of the national analysts believe Timmons will be a Wildcat when it's all said and done:
Still think it's #UK for Ryan Timmons. Think #UF gets James Clark. Win-win for both.
— J.Rowland (@RowlandRIVALS) February 4, 2013
While it was a hail mary at best for 2013 4-star WR (and UO commit) Darren Carrington to wind up anywhere other than Oregon (especially after he and his father elected not to visit Ohio State with little guarantee there was a committable scholarship actually waiting for him), it seems like Oregon won't go completely 0-fer on Tuesday night. Though the Ducks may have struck out on Wilson, they can at least take solace in knowing that Carrington wil be suiting up for them next season:
Darren Carrington shuts it down, sticking with #Oregon oregon.rivals.com/showmsg.asp?fi…
— Adam Gorney (@adamgorney) February 5, 2013
2014 Georgia defensive end Dante Sawyer (Suwanne, Ga/N. Gwinnett) added offers from Arkansas and USC on Monday. Sawyer, plans on visiting Ohio State this weekend with a gang of other peach state prospects including, Demarre Kitt (Tyrone,Ga/Sandy Creek) and Nick Chubb (Cedartown, Ga/Cedartown), to name a few.
2014 North Gwinnett DE Dante Sawyer has gotten two offers today. #USC and #Arkansas
— Jake Rowe (@JakeRoweRivals) February 5, 2013
And staying in the class of 2014, it looks like Ohio State will have a big post-Signing Day unofficial visitor heading to Columbus. 4-star DE Lawrence Marshall from Southfield, Michigan will be heading to campus this weekend to see what Ohio State has to offer. From the sounds of it, Marshall is pretty amped up for the trip:
Ohio State this weekend I can't wait!!!!!!!!!
— Lawrence Marshall Jr (@ESPN_Lo) February 5, 2013
In round ball recruiting news, Adam Zagoria reported the staff are supposed to visit 2013 recruit Mikyle McIntosh (Jackson, Ky/22 FT. Academy) sometime in the near future. The Buckeyes, Kentucky, North Carolina, Florida and others are starting to show interest in the 6'6 225lb forward. Check him out in action below: