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Ohio State recruiting: State Secrets, 4/30 - New offers, visit updates

The Ohio State assistant coaches were racking up the frequent flyer miles again, checking in on some of the top talent in the nation Monday – leading to one football and one basketball prospect each receiving an offer from the Buckeyes.

By Charles Doss
2014 punter Corbin Daly visited Ohio State recently, coach Withers returned the favor Monday.
2014 punter Corbin Daly visited Ohio State recently, coach Withers returned the favor Monday.

Tight end coach Tim Hinton made the trek down to Tennessee to see what the Volunteer state had to offer. One of the recruits Hinton visited was 2015 Memphis University School offensive tackle Drew Richmond. Ohio State offered the 6-6 300 pound life long Buckeye fan last month, but isn't the only program to do so; Ole Miss, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Florida and Alabama are just a few of the other schools to send out a full ride scholarship offer to the sophomore.

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Saint Paul, Minnesota native Jashon Cornell might remember yesterday for the rest of his life. The 6-4 230 pound class of 2015 defensive end didn't just have defensive line coach and former NFL beast Mike Vrabel in for a visit, the talented Cornell received an offer to join the Scarlet and Gray when he was offered by the Buckeyes. It's still early in the sophomore's recruitment, but he is already building a pretty solid list of over ten potential suitors with OSU joining the likes of Notre Dame, Florida, Iowa and Penn State to name a few.

Offensive coordinator Tom Herman flew down to Louisiana to watch 2014 quarterback Brandon Harris practice. After Deshaun Watson announced last week that he will stick with his Clemson commitment, plenty of analysts have been throwing Brandon's name around as maybe the next gunslinger the Buckeyes will pursue. No wonder Arkansas, Nebraska, South Carolina and others have offered the 6-1 190 pound Harris; he accounted for over 3000 yards from scrimmage and 38 touchdowns leading his Rockway High squad to an 11-2 record last season. Even thought the Buckeyes have yet to offer Brandon, who plans to commit in July, he's stated he feels one could be coming his way very soon.

Wide receivers coach Zach Smith and co-defensive coordinator Everett Withers tag teamed the state of North Carolina Monday. A few of the recruits the coaches visited with were 2014 wide receiver Braxton Berrios, punter Corbin Daly and 2015 linebacker Tanner Muse. Most Buckeye fans know the staff is looking to add a leg to the class of 2014 after the whole Johnny Townsend situation last signing day. After averaging nearly 50 yards a punt as a junior, Daly has caught the attention of plenty of schools including Ohio State, where he visited recently. I had to the pleasure to catch up with Corbin and asked how his visit with Withers went.

Coach Withers stopped by. He told me that he was looking forward to seeing me in June when I go up there for kicking camp. He also watched me kick and told me that it was really impressive.

Surprising no one, a pair of talented 2014 offensive line prospects have announced that the Buckeyes have made their respective short lists. One time Texas commit Demetrius Knox told Scout.com ($) that he now has a list of Ohio State, Florida State, UCLA, Miami, Ole Miss, Oregon and Alabama. The 6-4 300 pound Knox plans to visit all seven schools this summer. For what its worth, most people in the know feel the Buckeyes could be the front runners for the former Ohio resident who happens to already be friends with Buckeyes quarterback Braxton Miller.

New Jersey lineman Quenton Nelson announced a top 5 of Notre Dame, Boston College, Ohio State, Rutgers and Penn State Monday. Even though the Buckeyes made the cut, most feel Nelson is headed to Notre Dame. Though many recruiting analysts feel that way, it won't keep a few of the current Ohio State commits from going out of their way on Twitter to show just how much they want the 6-5 295 pound Nelson as part of the next class of Buckeyes:

Another New Jersey lineman has the Buckeyes towards the top of his list of prospective destinations. Even though they haven't offered just yet, Tommy Hatton, a 6-3 260 pound class of 2015 guard, has the Buckeyes, Michigan and Wisconsin at the top of his short list. Hatton does already have concrete scholarship offers from home state Rutgers and UConn. I had the pleasure to speaking with Hatton on OSU and his summer plans:

Ed Warinner watched my workout last week but didn't really say much. I think by just looking at me he thinks I'm short, but he doesn't know just how good I am yet. I plan on camping there over the summer.

And finally, Thad Matta and his basketball Buckeyes staff weren't about to be shutout of the fun. One of the fastest rising prospects in the class of 2014, point guard Chris Chiozza, received an offer from OSU on Monday. Chiozza, a 4-star in the 247Composite rankings, is AAU teammates (on the aptly named Team Thad) with current Ohio State target power forward Leron Black.

Chiozza can push the tempo, pull up and shoot, as well as harass opposing defenders from coast-to-coast. He's a bit undersized (listed at 5-10 and perhaps generously so) and could use some college strength and conditioning, but with offers from both OSU, Florida, Memphis, as well as UConn all on Monday, fewer prospects are any hotter at the moment.

Check out what the prospective future floor general for the Bucks would hypothetically bring to the table:

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