Ohio State recruiting: State Secrets, 3/17 - Tommy Stevens, Tyler Gerald excited for visits, targets shine at NFTC

The biggest recruiting news of the weekend might have took place late Sunday afternoon when class of 2015 tight end Chris Clark gave his verbal commitment to North Carolina during a trip to Chapel Hill. Clark arguably the top tight end in the country, ended his recruitment a week before he was scheduled to visit Ohio State and just days after naming the Tarheels, Buckeyes, Arizona, Arizona State, Maryland, Michigan, Virginia, Texas Tech, Georgia and South Carolina as programs that were sticking out among the rest of the many scholarship offers he held.

With Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes looking to bring in two tight ends in this class and with Chris, a four star prospect presumably off the table, Jackson Harris of Columbia, Tennessee, Jefferson City, Missouri's Hale Hentges, who visits Columbus on April 4th and Keystone High's CJ Conrad could all be options to fill the tight end whole for Meyer and OSU. Conrad, a 6'5 225-pound soft handed receiver, unlike both Harris and Hentges, has yet to receive an offer from the Bucks but is no stranger to campus or the program, visiting Columbus many times during his recruiting process.

Speaking of visits, the Buckeyes will have many prospects on campus over the next few weeks including Van Jefferson, Brian Cole, Simon Stepaniak, LJ Scott and many others this upcoming weekend. Another class of 2015 recruit headed to Columbus soon for a visit is Indianapolis Decatur Central High School quarterback Tommy Stevens, who will make it to town on Tuesday.

"Coach Herman and I talk the most. I'm very excited to spend some time with the coaches and get a better feeling for OSU football." Stevens, who passed for 1,621 yards and rushed for another 1,059, scoring a total of 25 touchdowns as a junior, told Land-Grant Holy Land on what he is most looking forward to doing on his trip.

With his recruitment quickly taking shape, programs such as Indiana, Michigan State, Iowa, North Carolina State, Purdue and Cincinnati have offered the 6'4 200-pound dual threat quarterback so far. Stating "Every offer is a good offer" the very humble Stevens, didn't hide how excited he would be to add OSU to his growing list. "It would be great." He said. "THE Ohio State is a very prestigious program. It would be an honor."

See why Tommy Stevens has caught the eye of so many college coaches with these highlights of him in action from last season:

The visit plans don't stop there as class of 2016 offensive lineman Tyler Gerald will make the trip from Sciotoville near Portsmouth to Columbus for a spring practice later this month on the 29th.

"I'm looking forward to the visit." The 6'5 300-pound Gerald told Land-Grant Holy Land. "I look forward to seeing the way the whole team handles themselves and of course being an O-line guy, I'm going to try to spend as much time with them as I can."

Only a sophomore, Tyler, who has been in contact with offensive coordinator Tom Herman, has yet to receive an offer from the Buckeyes just yet but is planning to treat his upcoming visit as a business trip to help him get ready for what the future could hold.

"It's every little kids dream to go play at Ohio State especially being from Ohio." Gerald said. "I'm going to keep a level head on my shoulders and try to determine if I would like to spend my college career there. I have to be able to look past the name of a school and find somewhere I could be comfortable."

For highlights of Tyler, check out his Hudl page.

The Elite 11 and Nike Football Training Camps were back at it this weekend in Orlando and Miami with a number of Ohio State prospects standing out enough to be selected to participate in The Opening at the Nike Headquarters in Oregon this summer, including the following:

Orlando:

• QB Deondre Francois
• RB Ray Ray McCloud
• RB Jacques Patrick
• RB Dexter Williams
• WR George Campbell
• OL Martez Ivey

Miami:

• QB Torrance Gibson
• LB Tevon Coney
• DB Tarvarus McFadden
• DB Tyrek Cole
• DB Kendrell McFadden

Last year the Buckeyes were well represented in Oregon, with many members of the Dream '14 recruiting class taking part in the now annual event, including Damon Webb, Kyle Trout, Dante Booker, Parris Campbell and Stephen Collier.

For more on the Florida Elite 11 and NFTC events, check out SB Nation Recruiting.

Lets switch gears from football to basketball where class of 2015 Ohio State point guard commit AJ Harris and his Dayton Dunbar teammates watched their championship dreams crumble in the hands of crosstown rival Thurgood Marshall, 62-55 on Thursday in the Division II Regional Semifinals.

Not in the starting lineup due to an ankle injury, Harris finished with 12 points for the Wolverines in the loss. Finishing the year 23-4, Dunbar, who returns Harris and other key pieces next season, look to bounce back from this and make it even further in the playoffs.

Even though we didn't win we still finished the season out strong, we will be back next year no doubt about it imma always bleed blue

— I_WILLRISE12 (@FAMOUS_AMOS12) March 14, 2014

With AJ's season now over, D'Angelo Russell is the only future Buckeye chasing title dreams, as the McDonald's All-American and Montverde Academy (FL) head to New York City next month looking to repeat as Champions of the Dick's Sporting Goods National High School Invitational at Madison Square Garden.

Quick Hits

• After being selected to participate in The Opening, class of 2015 quarterback Torrance Gibson tells Bud Elliott of SB Nation he will visit Ohio State and others during his spring break. See what else Gibson had to say here.