Ohio State recruiting: State Secrets, 12/12 - A new offer, 2 official visits set

Ohio State recruiting is starting to heat up coming off of the loss to Michigan State in the Big Ten Championship Game. Yesterday was a prime example of that as the Buckeyes coaching staff was all across the nation visiting many targets, who for the most part were 2015 prospects and even sent out an offer.

The offer went to '15 ATH Shawn Burgess-Becker from Monarch High School in Florida. Burgess-Becker is rated as a 4-star prospect and the 63rd ranked player in the 2015 recruiting class. His offer sheet defends that notion as he already has picked up offers from Alabama, Florida State, LSU, Miami, Ohio State and many others.

DB coach Kerry Coombs was in enemy territory on Wednesday, as he stopped by Heritage High School in Saginaw, Michigan to check on '15 ATH Brian Cole. With the Wolverines and Spartans seemingly in the best position to land the 4-star ATH, the Buckeyes will attempt to take another top player from that state up north like they did with Damon Webb in this class. Another stop was to Northville High School in Michigan to visit '15 OT David Moorman. The 6'5", 275-pound prospect currently holds offers from Central, Eastern and Western Michigan, as well as Illinois. Michigan and Michigan State are also showing interest in Moorman.

'15 DE Scott Patchan had a great day on Wednesday as the Buckeyes and Crimson Tide stopped by to pay him a visit. He also picked offer number thirteen from the Tennessee Volunteers. The Buckeyes have already extended an offer to the 3-star pass rusher last month. Our own Miles Joseph has predicted Patchan to choose the Hurricanes of Miami.

OL coach Ed Warinner was in the garden state to check out a few targets. One of those targets was '15 OG Steven Gonzalez from Union City High School. The Buckeyes are currently in a great spot to land the 4-star lineman but will have to hold off the Scarlet Knights in order to do so. Gonzalez briefly talked with Land Grant Holy-Land to discuss the visit:

Coach Warinner stopped by. He just wanted to check up on me and told me that I'm one of their main recruits for 2015 and that he really wants me. I'm thinking about going to Columbus in the spring.

Warinner also stopped by St. Peters Prep to check out two teammates in Brandon Wimbush and Minkah Fitzpatrick, who both have Buckeyes offers. The talented duo visited Columbus on October 26th to check out the 63-14 beating that the Buckeyes put on the Nittany Lions and they are definitely two prospects to keep an eye on. Lastly, '15 4-star WR Irvin Charles was visited as well. Charles does not hold an offer from Ohio State at the moment but does from Ole Miss, Rutgers, Virginia and a handful of others.

247Sports' Brian Perroni reported that head coach Urban Meyer would be in Texas later today to check out '14 CB Tony Brown. The Buckeyes have always pursued the 5-star CB quite hard but it will be tough for them to take him out of the state of Louisiana. The Tigers of LSU are in great shape to land the stud corner.

As far as prospects visiting Ohio State, two highly-touted defensive lineman in the 2014 class set up official visits to Columbus yesterday. The one that seems like a more realistic option is big-time '14 DE Solomon Thomas from Texas. The Buckeyes will have to battle with the Longhorns and the Cardinal to land Thomas. '14 DT Derrick Nnadi from Virginia also planned an official visit to Columbus for January 17th according to Michael Clark of Scout. Nnadi named Ohio State in his Top 4 last week along with Virginia Tech, Florida State and Penn State.

Finally, Ohio State commit and '14 WR Terry McLaurin won Mr. Football in the state of Indiana yesterday. McLaurin deservedly won the award after compiling 953 yards on 58 receptions with 8 touchdowns as well as running for 744 yards and six touchdowns according to the Indianapolis Star.