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Nowadays, there's never a boring day in the life of an avid Buckeye fan, especially this time of year and so close to National Signing Day 2013. New names truly do pop up every single day, and Thursday was no exception. 2013 3-Star junior college offensive lineman and Nebraska commit Matt Finnin was issued an offer by the Buckeyes early yesterday and thought about scheduling a visit, yet later on gave a final verdict:
JUCO OL Matt Finnin has just informed me that he will not take a visit to the #Buckeyes and remains solid in his commit to #Nebraska
— Kevin Noon (@Kevin_Noon) January 31, 2013
With the late offer in Finnin, it further solidifies the expectation that the staff wants to add another lineman to the 2013 class. Like Finnin, do not be surprised to see several more offensive lineman being thrown Ohio State offers late in the game. Another lineman issued an Ohio State offer yesterday was 2014 Wisconsin commit Jaden Gault:
#OhioState offers 2014 #Wisconsin commit Jaden Gault: mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=145&…
— Allen Trieu (@AllenTrieu) February 1, 2013
The 4-star offensive tackle and Wisconsin native should be one to monitor closely as the staff transitions from focusing on 2013 recruiting to 2014. Another 2014 lineman the staff is taking a look at is Jarrett LaRubbio. In fact, the Lakota East product was visited by the staff yesterday:
I can confirm the staff stopped by Lakota East for 2014 OL Jarrett LaRubbio.He tells me the staff wants him to visit the campus soon.
— Charles Doss (@CDoss_LGHL) January 31, 2013
Other prospects receiving visits from the Red Bull-addicted Ohio State staff were 2014 outside linebacker Dante Booker, 2014 running back Parris Campbell, 2014 linebacker Newman Williams, and 2014 wide receiver Derek Kief. Booker, Campbell, and Williams were visited by Luke Fickell, and Williams is the only one of the St. Vincent-St. Mary trio not holding a Buckeye offer. Kief also does not yet hold an offer but was visited today by coaches Urban Meyer and Kerry Coombs. Kief is a product of La Salle High School in Cincinnati, and when asked if he was able to speak with Meyer and Coombs much, Kief told me, "I couldn't really talk to them much, but they want me to come to a Spring practice."
Luke Fickell watching 2014s Dante Booker, Newman Williams and Parris Campbell at basketball practice today. Urban's staff does not sleep.
— Zac Jackson (@FSOhioZJackson) January 31, 2013
In some somewhat negative Buckeye recruiting news, 2013 Oregon Ducks wide receiver commit Darren Carrington, who had planned on taking a visit to Columbus this weekend, is unfortunately not doing so:
#Oregon commit WR Darren Carrington Jr. will NOT visit #OhioState this weekend elevenwarriors.com/forum/recruiti…
— Alex 11W (@alex11w) January 31, 2013
Additionally, the ship has officially sailed with former Buckeye target Ryan Timmons, and Scout's Bill Greene expects him to end up in the SEC:
OK Kentucky fans.........I have Ryan Timmons on STRONG UK Commitment watch. Making his announcement next week. Watch for that one.
— Bill Greene (@BillBankGreene) February 1, 2013
Saving the strangest recruiting news for last, Buckeye commit Ezekiel Elliot added one real offer from Florida State and one evidently "fake" offer from Alabama on Thursday. Steve Wiltfong of 247Sports reported an Alabama offer Thursday evening, yet several hours later, Elliot's mother tweeted that there was, in fact, no offer for Elliot from Alabama:
#Alabama offers Ohio State RB commit Ezekiel Elliott. alabama.247sports.com/Board/116/Alab… via @247sports #Tide
— Steve Wiltfong (@SWiltfong247) February 1, 2013
@hollabucks @crimsonflavor but there was NO offer. it was misinterpreted.
— Miz Dee ✌ (@itz_mizdee) February 1, 2013
Despite these big time offers (of varying legitimacy), Buckeye fans should rest easy, in my opinion. We won't officially know until signing day, but here's what Elliot had to say on the late offers:
Schools trying to come out of no where and offer. Crazy
— Ezekiel Elliott #⃣2⃣ (@EzekielElliott) February 1, 2013
Be sure to follow Land-Grant Holy Land (@Landgrant33) and Zach (@ZClark_LGHL) on Twitter as we head into the home stretch for National Signing Day 2013.