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Urban Meyer's building an army. The early verbal commitment of Marcelys Jones was said to add a potential principle recruiter to Meyer's third recruiting class at Ohio State, but all everything 4-star corner Damon Webb, the second in the class, may ultimately prove to be the lynchpin for helping lay the foundation for future national title contending teams.
Webb (with a heavy assist from his mother) has put together 2014bucks.com, a WordPress based site with which to profile Ohio State's next recruiting class – and hopefully add to it. With a Flash banner at the top profiling the commits (and an official Twitter account to go along with it), it should be interesting following this one of a kind social experiment – and extra rewarding for fans watching as the extra names and photos are added to the marquee as summer arrives and progresses and more and more targets give their pledge to Urban Meyer and the Bucks.
If you had any doubt that Webb and his 2014 peers would waste no time attempting to target some of the best and brightest not yet in the fold for the Buckeyes, think again. After just under 12 hours in operation, the @2014Bucks account had already followed these top 2014 prospects:
We'll have to keep a running tally and see whether or not the likes of Myles Autry, Deshaun Watson, Raekwon McMillan, Marshon Lattimore, Dante Booker, Derek Kief, or Demarre Kitt are ultimately added to the '14 fray.
And speaking of Raekwon, if you missed Ian Cohen's incredible magnum opus "Determining where Raekwon McMillan will go to college based on Only Built 4 Cuban Linx lyrics" it's about time you fixed that. If you can get past the light hearted pot shots at Ohio State of yesteryear (jokes!), it's a tremendous read (and the one Cohen was born to write, in all honesty).
In recruiting news, Ohio State offered 2014 4-star DT Poona Ford. The 6-0 285 pound (!) mountain of a man could be an instant impact maker for the Ohio State D. We caught up with the Hilton Head Island, SC native to get his thoughts on the offer from the Buckeyes' coaching staff:
"Coach Vrabel offered me via a phone call. It feels pretty good to be offered by one of the top programs in the nation."
Per 247's heat index, the Buckeyes are already nipping on favorites Louisville and South Carolina's heels. We'll continue to keep in touch with Ford as his recruitment progresses.
The Buckeyes also offered 4-star all purpose back Christian McCaffrey Wednesday. If the name's familiar, that's because Christian's dad, Ed, was a two time Super Bowl champion wide receiver with the Broncos in the late 90's.
McCaffrey had a heck of a junior year as the star running back for Highlands Ranch Valor Christian School, helping his team win their fourth consecutive state title. He was personally responsible for 114 yards and 54 yards receiving in the state title game while also accruing a four-game playoff total of 628 yards and another 209 receiving to go with 16 (!) touchdowns.
The 4-star talent appears to have all the makings of a natural fit at the Pivot position for the Buckeyes, but OSU will first have to out duel the likes of Duke, Michigan, Nebraska, and Oregon for McCaffrey's services.
2014 C Jahlil Okafor, one of the best prep basketball talents in the nation (an an Ohio State target) was honored Wednesday as a first team USA Today All-American. On Okafor:
The facts: Averaged 20.7 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.9 blocks a game to lead Whitney Young to a city title. He is a distant cousin of NBA player Emeka Okafor. He's the only junior on the first team. First name is pronounced jah-LEEL.
Overrated: The phrase "no days off" is overrated. Playing every day is overrated. Sometimes your body needs rest.
No rivalry with Jabari Parker: We're the best of friends because we've been playing together for the past three years with the Mac Irvin Fire (AAU) and the USA Basketball team. We're really close. The rivalry is really between my high school and his high school.
The Buckeyes are definitely one of many in on the 5-star phenom, but what a coup landing the Chicago native would prove to be.