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When it comes to recruiting it's mostly important to have a coaching staff that is able to do it at an elite level. Ohio State is one of those programs that does just that. However, another important aspect of putting together a great recruiting class is having a prospect be the leader of the group -- one that takes time to help recruit some of the nation's top prospects to join him.
Walker taking charge?
Last season for Ohio State, it was Justin Hilliard who took on that role. For the 2014 class, it was Damon Webb from Cass Tech. But who will it be for this cycle? We may have our answer.
Spoke to most of the guys in my class today. #Buckeyes
— AlⓂ️ightyReem (@_KareemWalker) February 18, 2015
That may be the best case scenario for Ohio State, as well. '16 RB Kareem Walker is an elite prospect, one of the best in the country, and that could be a huge factor in other prospects potentially wanting to play in Columbus. The New Jersey native is the 8th-best player in the 2016 cycle, the best running back and the second-best player from his state.
One area that the Buckeyes would like to have success in this cycle would be the state of New Jersey. The garden state's top eight players all hold offers from Ohio State and Walker is a player that could convince those guys to join him. A few names that really stand out are '16 DT Rashan Gary, '16 QB Jarrett Guarantano, and '16 WR Hasise Dubois, who attends the same school as Walker.
Two high on Ohio State
247Sports' Ryan Bartow had the chance to talk with '16 WR Eddie McDoom of West Orange (FL) on Wednesday to speak on his recruitment. The 5'11, 170-pound speedster had good things to say about the Scarlet and Gray, who offered him back in November. McDoom told Bartow that he hears from Kentucky and Ohio State consistently.
McDoom went on to tell 247Sports that if he had to have a top three, it would be Clemson, Ohio State, and Louisville in that order. The four-star pass catcher is hoping to make plenty of visits this summer to collegiate campuses.
An update on '17 WR James Robinson was also posted by Bartow yesterday. The Buckeyes are one team in the mix for the 6'4, 190-pounder, as he received an offer from them back in May of last year. The four-star prospect from Lakeland High School in Florida spoke to Bartow on what he likes about Ohio State.
"They play physical, up tempo." - James Robinson to Ryan Bartow
Robinson is currently graded out as the 100th overall player in the 2017 recruiting cycle. He also comes in ranked as the 20th-best player at the wide receiver position and the 13th-best player in the state of Florida. As of now, Florida, Marshall, and Tennessee are the other programs to give Robinson a scholarship opportunity and many more will come.
The Buckeyes will have to out battle some of the nation's top programs to land Robinson in hopes to pair him with fellow Floridians Bruce Judson and Shaun Wade in the 2017 class. Of course, they will have to fight to keep those two prospects in the fold as well.