— BIG ❌EECH (@Meech_Dream14) January 23, 2014
With National Signing Day right around the corner, the Buckeyes will be looking to fill out the rest of the 2014 class. But that is not the only thing they will have to focus on. Ohio State football coaches will be battling off a few other top programs in order to keep the current commits on board and avoid any possible flips.
One name that has been brought up in the past few days is '14 OG Demetrius Knox. Rumors began circulating on Tuesday that Knox would be taking an official visit to UCLA. That wasn't the only rumor either. Yesterday, many outlets reported that the 4-star lineman would also give an official visit to Texas and new head coach Charlie Strong.
Head Coach Urban Meyer and Offensive Coordinator Tom Herman were in Texas on Wednesday to do some recruiting and to host the in-home visit with the 6'4, 294-pound All-Saints lineman. After the visit with Knox, Tom Herman sent out this tweet:
Flag FIRMLY planted in Fort Worth. No worries. Just smiles. #ProudBuckeye #Dream14 #NotOnMyWatch
— Tom Herman (@CoachTomHerman) January 23, 2014
It has not been determined if Herman and Meyer have Knox reconsidering his visits to both UCLA and Texas, but it definitely sounds like positive news for the Buckeyes. We will have more on the Knox situation as it develops.
Two other prospects from the lone star state that received a visit from Buckeye coaches were '15 RB Sosa Jamabo and '15 WR DaMarkus Lodge. The 5-star RB from Plano West High School is a football and basketball teammate of '15 SF Mickey Mitchell, an Ohio State commit. Lodge is ranked as the 3rd best WR in the country for his class and currently has the Buckeyes listed in his Top 10.
Lastly for Texas recruiting, '15 OT Trevor Elbert received an offer from Ohio State. The 4-star tackle from Rockwall-Heath High School already has offers from Alabama, Oklahoma, Texas, Texas A&M and Texas Tech. Elbert is ranked as the 11th best player at his position and 113th best overall player in the class of 2015.
Got an offer from ohio state! #gobuckeyes
— TREVOR ELBERT #⃣7⃣4⃣ (@74BIGtrev74) January 22, 2014
Newly hired defensive line coach Larry Johnson Sr. was in that state up north on Wednesday. One visit was given to '14 DE Malik McDowell. The Buckeyes look to want another defensive lineman in this class and McDowell is definitely one to keep an eye on. Michigan State looks to be in the best position to land the talented pass rusher. Another stop was to Oak Park High School in Michigan to see '15 ATH John Kelly, the 12th ranked player in the state for the 2015 class.
Co-defensive coordinator Luke Fickell was in the great state of Ohio doing some recruiting on Wednesday. Fickell was at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School to see '16 DB Tyrece Speaight. The Ohio State target attends the same school as commits Dante Booker and Parris Campbell. Speaight is currently receiving interest from many major programs in the country.
The other offer sent out by the Bucks on Wednesday was to '15 LB Tevon Coney. According to 247Sports, Coney currently only holds offers from Appalachian State, FAU and South Alabama. With the Buckeyes jumping in on the 6'2", 205-pound linebacker, I would imagine that more offers begin to roll in. Alabama, Florida, Florida State and others are showing interest in Coney.
OHIO STATE JUST OFFERED ME #Blessed🅾🅾🅾
— Tevon Coney9⃣ (@TevonConey) January 23, 2014
Ending on a good note, '15 LB/DE Ricky DeBerry announced that he would be taking a visit to Columbus on February 17th. Definitely good news for the Buckeyes as DeBerry comes in as the 54th ranked player in his class. DeBerry is also listed as the 4th best player at his position and 2nd in the state of Virginia. The hiring of Larry Johnson seems to have spiked DeBerry's interest in the Bucks.
