Ohio State recruiting: MORE State Secrets, 4/16 - Who heard from OSU's staff

With the NCAA's quiet period ending Monday, cell phones were blowing up en masse accordingly all day Monday for the elite recruits across the country. While staffs like Ohio State's elite group of recruiters are limited to just one call per recruit per day, you can bet the targets they're trying to keep interested will be hearing from them in the days to come.

One such player Ohio State's recruiting early and often is 2015 RB Jacques Patrick. We caught up with Jacques on Monday after he got the call from Ohio State (and head coach Urban Meyer in particular). "He told me I could play as a true freshman and they're gonna recruit me really hard and how I can be the next Eddie George for them," Patrick told Land-Grant Holy Land. With a summer visit to Ohio State likely in the cards for the high ceilinged, must watch prospect, you have to thing the Buckeyes will continue the full court press on the highly touted back.

Another player we checked in with was '14 S Darius West. West, a 247Composite rating 4-star, is the 184th best player in the class of 2014, the 13th best safety in the class, and the 7th best player in the state of Ohio. West was another top prospect who spoke with Ohio State on Monday. "I talked to Coach Withers last night. He was mostly just talking about the spring game, and that they're gonna be in to see me sometime soon," he told Land-Grant Holy Land. Particularly in lieu of some of the scuttlebutt about Jabrill Peppers, West, a Lima, OH native, could become an increased priority for the staff.

2014 ILB Petera Wilson's interest in Ohio State continues to grow. Wilson's expressed interest in getting up to visit OSU in the wake of winning MVP amongst linebackers at this weekend's Elite Nike Combine in Memphis. He told ESPN's Buckeye Nation ($) "They look like they’re going to snatch the title from the SEC." Hard for Ohio State fans not to like the sound of that.

The Buckeyes' 2014 class did get a bit bigger Monday as well. Perkins' Aaron Mawhirter, a TE/LB from the class of 2014, committed to Ohio State as a preferred walk-on. Mawhirter made all-Ohio second team for Division III on defense and weighs in at 6'3 200 pounds. Mawhirter caught 14 passes for 182 yards plus recorded a team-leading 82 tackles last second. Congrats to Aaron and best of luck on the challenge ahead.

Officially a member of The Ohio State University football team!

— Aaron Mawhirter (@aMawhirter) April 15, 2013

Derrell Scott, a 4-star all purpose back from Havelock, NC, released his top 5 Monday evening – and Ohio State finds themselves positioned favorably. The Buckeyes check in third on a top 5 that, in order, also ncludes South Carolina, Florida State, Notre Dame, and Clemson. You have to believe Scott is being sold heavily on playing the Pivot (*cough* Percy Harvin position *cough*) at the next level.

The Glenville to Ohio State pipeline may be getting another addition sooner rather than later. 2014 4-star Erick Smith has a plan to sort amongst offers ($) that include Alabama, Michigan, Ohio State, and Tennessee – and a visit to Columbus will definitely be a part of that. "It’s what feels like home, the atmosphere and the fans," Smith said. "I’m not really looking to go to the biggest school. I’m just looking to feel comfortable," Smith told ESPN. You have to wonder if Smith and Marshon Lattimore could help good things come in twos for the class of 2014.

QUICK HITS:

• 3-star S New Orleans, LA product Mattrell McGraw spoke to Ohio State assistant head coach/co-defensive coordinator Everett Withers Monday night
• 2014 4-star WR Artavis Scott (Tarpon Springs, FL) also spoke with the Buckeyes on Monday
• New Michigan commit 14 4-star WR Drake Harris on why he chose Michigan over Ohio State: "It just wasn't the right place for me"