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Ohio State recruiting: State Secrets, 7/23 - Brandon Stephens picks up offer

Brandon Stephens picked up an offer from Ohio State. Are the Buckeyes in a position to make a run at the 2016 Texan? Also, Shane Simmons is set to commit on July 30.

By Austin Kemp
Student Sports

A new offer went out on Tuesday, this one going to 2016 running back Brandon Stephens. Stephens, from Texas, was currently on an unofficial visit to Ohio State. Stephens possesses elite size at 6'1, 200 pounds. That weight is sure to grow up as he matures through his junior and into his senior season. The Buckeyes were one of Stephens first offers. While he's a raw athlete, other programs are starting to take notice of his potential thus far in his recruiting process. Wisconsin extended an offer to him on June 28.

Though those are his two most notable offers to date, Stephens has also spent his summer camping at Oklahoma and Indiana. For his size, Stephens is very shifty, but also has a deadly stiff arm in his arsenal. His skills will continue to be developed, but he's only touching the surface of what he could become as a football player. Here are his sophomore season highlights at Plano High School.

Ohio State is currently in contention to land 6'5 defensive end Shane Simmons. Simmons is another 2016 prospect and it was reported that he will be choosing his future school on July 30.

At the moment, the Buckeyes seem to be trailing Florida State, but the good news is that his last visit was to Columbus at the end of June. Simmons is a prototypical strong side defensive end, but is also someone who can play solidly in pass coverage as well. No matter what school picks up his commitment this week, this is still a player to keep an eye on as signing day in 2016 is a long ways away. Simmons is the top rated player in the state of Maryland for his class.

Jordan Whitehead will visit Ohio State this weekend. This news broke late Tuesday night. Whitehead is a consensus four-star prospect and has favored the Buckeyes throughout his recruitment. A corner back, Whitehead has good size at 6'0, 180 pounds. Penn State, Alabama, and Pittsburgh have been the stiffest competition for Ohio State in this one, but Urban Meyer will be looking to lock up the Pennsylvania prospect this weekend.

As you remember on Monday, one of Ohio State's top offensive line targets Matthew Burrell tweeted that he would release his top eight sometime that night. Well, Monday night came and went and there no announcement from Burrell. However, he was able to clear the air on Tuesday.

Still, Ohio State is in extremely good shape with the big offensive lineman and have positioned themselves to have a legitimate shot to land him.

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