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Ohio State recruiting: State Secrets, 3/5 - Visits, visits, visits

As spring practice kicks off this morning, check out the ground work being laid by the Ohio State coaching staff, both football and basketball wise, that could lead to future glory.

By Charles Doss
Are the Buckeyes the leader for 2014 Georgia DE Lorenzo Carter?
Are the Buckeyes the leader for 2014 Georgia DE Lorenzo Carter?

Over the weekend, ex-Buckeye hoopster and current assistant coach Chris Jent visited the east coast to check out a pair of talented 2014 prospects face off. Forward Abdul-Malik Abu and his Kimball Union teammates took on Cushing Prep & stud guard Kaleb Joseph. Both players did not disappoint, in front of the one time NBA head coach. In the end Abdul and Kimball Union didn't do enough as Cushing Prep ran away with the 62-52 victory. After the game Coach Jent had a chance to catch up with the pair, Land-Grant Holy Land had the opportunity to get an inside view to what Jent said to Abdul-Malik Abu. "Coach told me I was a different player from a month ago and that he liked my game,he's looking forward to further recruiting me this summer". Even though the Buckeyes have yet to offer the 6-8 220 lb forward, he has plenty of programs who have including Florida, Florida State, Maryland, Michigan State and Wisconsin to name a few, but all that could change. The Buckeyes struck out on 2014 wing Justin Jackson Monday. The five-star Houston,Texas native who visited North Carolina over the weekend picked the Tar-Heels over the Buckeyes, Arizona and others.

One of the top 2015 recruits in the state of Ohio is 6-7 210 lb Esa Ahmad. Only a sophmore, Ahmad is already sporting scholarship offers from the likes of Dayton, Miami,Fl and Xavier. The Shaker Heights forward was even recently named Northeast Ohio Conference Valley player of the year. Even though the Bucks have yet to offer Esa, it won't keep him from visiting the Ohio State campus this Sunday to watch the regular season finale, when the Buckeyes take on the Fighting Ilini of Illinois. Speaking of Shaker Heights, 2014 defensive end Joe Henderson was offered by Arkansas and Mississippi recently is gaining increased interest from the Buckeyes. The 6-4 215 lb Henderson would like to check out what Ohio State is all about sometime this spring.

Thad Matta won't be the only Ohio State coach showing recruits around campus in the coming weeks. Jonathan Hilliman a 2014 running back will join fellow New Jersey recruit, offensive line prospect Quenton Nelson and Michigan wide-out Maurice Wells on the growing list of visitors for the last weekend of March. The three-star Hilliman is no stranger to the recruiting scene with a long list of offers that include Georgia, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oregon and Penn State. The Buckeyes had 2014 recruit Kyle Berger on campus this past weekend. The linebacker didn't meet up with any members of the coaching staff but hung out with ex Cleveland St.Ignatius teammate and current Buckeye tight end Blake Thomas and other members of the Buckeye football team.

On Monday, another top 2014 prospect announced plans to check out the Ohio State and the Braxton Miller led offensive attack in person. Indiana wide receiver Austin Roberts, who's father is ex NFL tight end and current Indianapolis Colts assistant Alfredo Roberts, will visit Ohio April 13th for the spring game in Cincinnati. The 6-3 210 lb Roberts has offers from the Buckeyes, Florida, Iowa, Maryland and Nebraska to name a few. As one recruit sets a spring visit, another recruit could soon follow. 2014 Michigan linebacker Jared Wangler, who had plans to visit Columbus Feburary 24th but had to cancel due to a basketball game could be looking to reschedule. The 6-2 215 lb Wangler told me that he is still in contact with Coach Coombs and that he has been invited to visit a spring practice but he has yet to pick a date. California tight end Tyler Luatua told 247Sports that the Buckeyes might get one of his five official visit sometime this fall. Many in the recruiting scene believe Tyler is a Alabama lock since his older brother is already a member of the Crimson Tide football squad. The Buckeyes, Notre Dame and USC are some of the programs trying to keep the 6-3 215 pounder away from Tuscaloosa.

Georgia defensive end Lorenzo Carter has just about every team under the sun recruiting him. The 6-6 225 lb peach state pass rusher tweeted last week that he had the "Buckeyes on the mind", now many of the national scouts believe the Buckeyes might be the front-runner to land Carter. Woody Wommack is definitely one of those scouts, get it straight from the horses mouth in this video where Wommack breaks down Lorenzo's game and recruitment. Carter is not the only recruit to tweet out his love for Buckeye Nation, 2014 linebacker Clifton Garrett tweeted that Ohio State, Ole Miss, Florida, LSU and USC all stick out, but there is still a ways to go. Orlando Brown announced his top seven Monday and the Buckeyes made the cut for the ultra-talented three-star Georgia offensive lineman. The following schools join Ohio State on the list:

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