Ohio State recruiting: State Secrets - Buckeyes contact top 2017 prospects, Tyson Carter plans visit

Ever since the clock struck midnight yesterday members of the Ohio State coaching staff were hard at work contacting many of the top junior prospects in the country. With the staff now allowed to freely communicate with class of 2017 prospects via social media, Urban Meyer, Mark Pantoni, Chris Ash and the rest of the OSU coaches didn't waste any time tracking down and reaching out to standout recruits.

Quarterback Danny Clark, running back Todd Sibley, defensive tackle Jerron Cage and the rest of the OSU class of 2017 verbal pledges were some the first prospects to hear from their future bosses. While the staff reaching out to their current commitments was pretty much a given, the Ohio State coaching staff also preached the Buckeye gospel to a rather large gang of uncommitted recruits.

Among the many 2017 prospects to hear from the national champions on Tuesday were some of the top juniors on the Buckeyes' big board. Skill players like running back Trey Sermon, a Georgia native who visited OSU for their Friday Night Lights camp in July, wideouts Trevon Grimes of St. Thomas Aquinas (FL), Donovan People-Jones of Cass Tech (MI), Cleveland Heights stud Jaylen Harris, Florida speedster Jerry Jeudy, and elite tight ends such as Illinois native Cole Kmet and Matt Dotson of Cincinnati Moeller all received messages from Ohio State.

With OSU already holding commitments from five-star tackle Josh Myers and four-star tackle Jake Moretti, they contacted offensive lineman Isaiah Wilson, Tony Gray, Matt Bockhurst, Jordan McNair, Andrew Thomas, and others to touch base and express interest in them too.

The staff didn't just talk with offensive recruits, they also spoke with many defensive recruits. Per reports, linemen Luiji Vilain, Fred Hansard, Corey Malone-Hatcher, Corey Beals, Eric Crosby,linebackers Avery Roberts, Baron Browning and defensive backs such as Lamont Wade, Jaylen Kelly-Powell, Ambry Thomas, Devon Hunter, and William Poole III, who received an offer from the Buckeyes, all had a coach from OSU slide in their direct messages throughout the day.

Buckeyes hit up Ross

The aforementioned prospects were just some of the recruits the staff talked with. Another top junior to hear from OSU was three-star defensive back Ahman Ross of The Bolles School in Jacksonville, Florida.

"(I heard from) Mark Pantoni. He was telling me great things about the university and how he loved my film and things of that nature," the 5'10, 190-pound, Ross told Land-Grant Holy Land on Tuesday.

The Buckeyes weren't the only staff to contact Ross yesterday. Miami, Marshall, and Georgia State were also among the schools to reach out to the Sunshine State standout.

Florida State and Miami have reportedly offered Ross during the process, and are currently atop his list. If the Buckeyes decided to offer a scholarship of their own, things could change in a hurry.

"I would say Miami and FSU (stick out), but a Buckeye offer would mean a lot. It would change the game and they would definitely be at the top. I can't say number one but you don't overlook a program like this," said Ross.

At the moment, Ahman is currently ranked the 39th safety, and 464th overall prospect in the talent-rich class of 2017, according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings.

Carter plans OSU visit

Kobi Simmons isn't the only guard Thad Matta and the rest of the Ohio State basketball coaching staff will play host to soon. Four-star class of 2016 shooting guard Tyson Carter will check out what the Buckeyes have to offer on October 9th, according to the Starkville High basketball squad's Twitter page.

Before making the trek from Starkville, Mississippi to Columbus, the 6'4, 170-pound Carter will visit Mississippi State on September 11th, Memphis on September 18th, Arizona State on September 25th, and Miami on October 2nd.

Looked as a long shot to be the final piece of the puzzle for the Buckeyes, Carter is currently pegged to follow in the footsteps of his father, Greg Carter, and play his college ball close to home at Mississippi State.

Want to see Tyson in action? Check out these highlights: