Ohio State recruiting: Previewing a big week for visitors

There have only been a few visitors on campus this month, including wide receiver Christian Kirk, defensive back Marcus Lewis, athlete Eric Glover-Williams, in-state linebacker Nick Conner, and a couple of basketball recruits who checked out the Ohio State-Michigan State hoops game a few weeks ago.

This week is set to be the biggest of the month as far as visitors go this week is set to be the biggest of the month as around ten prospects on set to visit this week and the list could grow as the week moves along.

Let's take an in-depth look at the massive visitor week for the Scarlet and Gray

WR Jalen Guyton, Allen (TX)

Standing at 6'0 and weighing in at 180-pounds, the standout receiver has an impressive offer list that includes the likes of Arizona State, Baylor, Clemson, Illinois, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Stanford, Texas A&M, and many others.

He's set to make it to Columbus this week to see what Ohio State has to offer. I'm not sure he has a committable offer right now, but if he's pursued hard enough by the Scarlet and Gray they could be a real player for his commitment.

LB Josh Barajas, Merrillville (IN) Andrean

The athletic linebacker has been on fire recently picking up offers from Notre Dame, Michigan, Oregon, Tennessee, Wisconsin, and others in the last month or so. He'll be in Columbus for a visit for the first time when he's on campus Thursday.

I think Notre Dame holds a pretty sizable lead in the race for his commitment, but if the Buckeyes offer him soon, they could be firmly in the running along with the aforementioned Fighting Irish, Michigan, and a couple of others.

ATH Jerome Baker, Cleveland (OH) Benedictine

One of, if not the top target for the 2015 class will be visiting on Thursday to check out spring practice. Baker has visited Ohio State quite a few more times than any other school.

Baker has stated that the Buckeyes lead for his commitment on multiple occasions and I don't see that changing anytime son. I don't see him committing Thursday, but somewhere down the road, I see him donning the Scarlet and Gray.

ATH Brian Cole, Saginaw (MI) Heritage

Ohio State will host the top player from Michigan again this weekend and will look up to make up some ground on the top in state schools. Cole has the ability to play running back, wide receiver, and defensive back at the next level and is one of the most versatile players in the nation.

Right now I think Michigan State and Michigan are the early co-leaders for Cole's commitment, with the Buckeyes as maybe the biggest threat to the Wolverines and Spartans. Urban Meyer and company will lay out the red carpet on his visit this weekend.

OG/C James Daniels, Warren (OH) G Harding

The only in-state offensive lineman who has received an offer from the Scarlet and Gray will make his way to Columbus Saturday to watch Ohio State's spring practice. He will likely be a center at the college level, but could also play guard. He's a Buckeye legacy as his father Leshun Daniels played football for the Buckeyes.

Daniels has stated time and time again when we've talked that he wants to wait for more offers to come in and take his visits before making a decision. I'm pretty comfortable projecting him in the class, but don't count on a commitment this weekend.

RB Larry Scott, Hubbard (OH)

Ohio's top running back, who recently received an offer from the Buckeyes has a little bit of work to do in the classroom, but is definitely one of the top running backs in the class as a whole talent wise. He'll be at the practice Saturday as well and will have the opportunity to check out the campus too.

Michigan State, West Virginia, Auburn, Alabama, Kentucky, and others are in this race right now, with the Spartans probably holding the early edge. Ohio State probably has some ground to make up, but it's definitely doable. Scott will be going to a big time school as long as he passes through the NCAA clearinghouse.

WR Van Jefferson, Brentwood (TN) Ravenwood

Ohio State could definitely use a big receiver on the outside and the ultra-polished Jefferson is certainly someone who fits the billing. He'll also be on campus this weekend for the first time since watching the Buckeyes blowout Indiana last November.

I still think the Buckeyes are the team to beat, but Tennessee and Penn State are coming on strong. Jefferson could make his college decision in the next month or so. He is the son of former NFL player and Tennessee Titans wide receivers coach Shawn Jefferson. He grew up rooting for the Bucks as well.

OL Patrick Allen, Reisterstown (MD) Franklin

He received an offer from the Buckeyes a month or so ago and the Buckeyes jumped firmly into the race for him. He's yet another top prospect who will be on campus this weekend.

From talking to Allen I get the vibe that he really likes Ohio State, but I think Florida State holds an early edge on the Scarlet and Gray, but with a good visit this weekend, the Bucks could vault into the lead.

CB Jordan Whitehead, Monaca (PA) Central Valley

One of the top cornerbacks in the class is set to make his fourth trip to Columbus this weekend. He comes from the same high school as former Buckeye target and current Alabama receiver Robert Foster.

I think the Buckeyes once held a pretty comfortable lead for Whitehead's commitment, but with the recent hire of James Franklin, I think Penn State may have jumped out into the lead for his commitment. West Virginia is also right there for him.

CB Kareem Orr, Chattanooga (TN) Notre Dame

Though he's flying under the radar right now, Orr is a guy who has the chance to "blow up" if he performs well at camps this summer. He'll arrive in Columbus on Friday night and will spend all day Saturday on Ohio State's campus.

I don't think he'll get an offer this weekend, but it's definitely possible he'll get one somewhere down the road. He told me he speaks to Ohio State cornerbacks coach Kerry Coombs about once a week.

Other visitors: OL Simon Stepaniak, LB Matthew Draper, ATH Jordan Overton

Not visiting

TE Chris Clark, Avon (CT) Old Farms

The standout tight end stunned the recruiting world on Sunday when he verbally committed to North Carolina on his visit to Chapel Hill. He says he is done taking visits and therefore won't be making he scheduled trip to Columbus this weekend.

I was obviously stunned he committed to the Tar Heels over the weekend, especially without taking a visit to Ohio State. The Bucks will have to move on to Hale Hentges and other tight ends for the class though.

QB/ATH Torrance Gibson, Fort Lauderdale (FL) American Heritage

Ohio State's top quarterback target told me and many others that he would be taking a visit to Ohio State and many other schools over his spring break next week. That's no longer the plan as the visits he has set are to Oklahoma, LSU, Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, South Carolina, and Florida.

"I wanted to visit Ohio State, but my coach said it was too far," Gibson told Land-Grant Holy Land.

It appears the visit got called off because it didn't fit geographically with the other schools he is interested in visiting. He should be in Columbus sometime this summer as he originally planned on doing.