clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Ohio State recruiting: State Secrets, 1/29 - Ryan Timmons and Vonn Bell updates

Another day, another grind for Ohio State's Urban Meyer and his staff on the home stretch leading up to National Signing Day 2013.

By Charles Doss
Ohio State boss Urban Meyer was in Florida to visit 2014 WR Johnnie Dixon (#1) and others Monday.
Ohio State boss Urban Meyer was in Florida to visit 2014 WR Johnnie Dixon (#1) and others Monday.
Shannen Germain/Facebook

Monday was definitely another newsworthy day in the world of Buckeye recruiting. Head football coach Urban Meyer and his coaching staff were racking up frequent flyer miles all over the United States trying to close out the 2013 class with a bang. The staff were also checking in on some big time 2014 recruits to add to the Buckeyes' already impressive start to the class. If you missed it yesterday evening, there was some lingering trepidation over Trey Johnson and his surprise visit to Tennessee. But after reaffirming his commitment, Ohio State shouldn't have anything worry about... at least on that front.

Urban Meyer left the soggy, snowy Columbus roads and returned to the familiar streets of Florida. No, Urban is not on vacation; OSU's leader-in-chief is hitting the recruiting trail for future All-Americans. Coach Meyer stopped in to see how 2013 defensive end commit Joey Bosa (Fort Lauderdale/St. Thomas Aquinas) was doing while on his trip down south. It was reported that the Buckeye boss didn't just travel to see Bosa; Meyer also stopped in on a few 2014 prospects. Offensive Lineman K.C. McDermott (Wellington/Palm Beach Central), wide out Johnnie Dixon (Palm Beach Gardens/William T. Dwyer) and defensive back Quincy Wilson (Fort Lauderdale/Univ. School of Nova S.) all had Meyer visit Monday:

Buckeyes Offensive Coordinator Tom Herman and running backs coach Stan Drayton meanwhile both traveled to Missouri to check in on 2013 running back commit, Ezekiel Elliott. The 6-0 210 lb Elliot, is fresh off a visit to check out his home-state school (and the alma matter of both of his parents), the Missouri Tigers:

Defensive backs coach Kerry Coombs had plans to paint That State Up North scarlet and gray, but due to terrible weather conditions and most schools canceling class for the day, Coombs had to postpone his trip until later in the week. Coombs instead stayed right across the boarder, checking out some recruits in the Toledo/Northern Ohio areas. One recruit that Coach Coombs visited was 2014 defensive back Darius West (Lima/Central Catholic). One of the top defensive backs in the state of Ohio, West received an offer from Penn State Monday to go along with offers from Cincinnati, Louisville, Illinois and others. Could an Ohio State offer be next?

Word on the street is that linebackers coach Mike Vrabel was also out on the road putting in work for the Buckeyes. Vrabel was in Illinois checking in on some of the top talent the state has to offer. To name a couple of the many, Coach Vrabel stopped by and visited with was talented linebacker Clifton Garrett (Plainfield/South) and offensive lineman Jamarco Jones (Chicago/De La Salle). Speedy Illinois linebacker Kyron Watson (East St.Louis/Senior) also announced he plans on visiting Columbus sometime in the spring:

Stud 2013 running Back/slot receiver Dontre Wilson (DeSoto,Tx/DeSoto) stated he is 50/50 right now between Ohio State and Oregon. Ohio State assistant Tom Herman will conduct an in-home visit Wendsday with Dontre. Five-star defensive back Vonn Bell (Rossville,Ga/Ridgeland) has even less clue where he is headed and will sit down and make his decision in the next week between the Bucks, Alabama and the University of Tennessee. It'd been thought that Bell was a solid Alabama lock, but to the shock of many, he's still discussing taking maybe another visit elsewhere this coming weekend. Bell will announce his future plans on National Signing Day at 10 a.m. EST on ESPNU.

As for Wilson:

In other Ohio State football recruiting news, 2013 JUCO OL Dan Skinner committed to Arkansas over the Buckeyes & Tennessee, where he'd previously been committed. Speaking of offensive linemen, 2014 Buckeye commit Marcelys Jones (Cleveland/Glenville) was offered by UCLA. 2014 tight end target Tyler Luatua (La Miranda CA/La Miranda) was offered a scholarship by Florida.

2014 QB targets Drew Barker (Hebron,Ky/Conner) and Will Ulmer (Washington,DC/St.Johns) both had exciting mornings as well. Barker had newly minted University of Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops in to visit him while Ulmer was offered a scholarship by the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Even though neither of the talented QB's have an offer from OSU, the staff definitely has them on their radar.

Junior receiver Demarre Kitt of Sandy Creek High School in Tyrone, Georgia announced on Twitter that he no longer has a top 5, just favorites, but later announced that of those favorites, Clemson and Ohio State are the teams to beat. Another top 2014 recruit from the Peach State, RB Myles Autry (Norcross,GA/Norcross) announced he will be visiting Ohio State in March as well.

In basketball recruiting news, 2014 wing Justin Jackson (Spring,Tx/HCYA) announced he will visit the North Carolina Tar Heels March 3rd. Chris Chiozza, a 2014 point guard from Tennessee, is gaining interest from the Buckeyes, Florida, Kansas and others.

And finally, late Monday, the Columbus Dispatch's Tim May cited an evidently erroneous report from "KSTV", a nightly sports program on a single cable provider cable only channel, that Ohio State target, 3-star ATH/WR Ryan Timmons would be committing this Friday instead of February 5th as long thought. His AAU coach quickly shot down the rumors, stating Timmons will announce next Tuesday at his high school as scheduled. It would be especially unlikely given that his own high school had put out a press release not even 12 hours prior confirming next Tuesday's 1 p.m. ceremony. Kentucky still has to be the bettor's favorite, and Timmons declining to take an Ohio State official visit in lieu of heading to Florida this weekend can't help the Buckeyes' chances.

Be sure to follow Land-Grant Holy Land (@Landgrant33) and Charles (@CDoss_LGHL) on Twitter as we head into the home stretch for National Signing Day 2013.

More From Land-Grant Holy Land