Numerous top prospects invade Ohio State for game against Illinois

Over 100,000 fans took in J.T. Barrett, Billy Price, Tyquan Lewis, Jalyn Holmes, Tracy Sprinkle, and the rest of the senior Buckeyes take part in their last home game as Ohio State student athletes on Saturday against the Fighting Illini of Illinois.

As Ohio State ran away to a huge victory, fans weren’t the only ones excited to have a chance to watch the longtime Buckeyes play on the Ohio Stadium turf one last time. Playing host to more than the Fighting Illini, Urban Meyer and the Ohio State coaching staff also played host to a solid group of prospects.

While no big time verbal commitments happened over the weekend, the experience did help give the recruits a better feeling on what it would be like to suit up in the Scarlet and Gray.

Below are just some of the prospects that made the trek to Columbus in the rain to see the Buckeyes in game action:

5-star DE Tyreke Smith

Class: 2018

Town: Cleveland, OH/Cleveland Heights

Offers: Ohio State, Penn State, USC, Alabama, Oregon, etc

Breakdown: Unofficially visiting Columbus once again, the Buckeyes would love to add the in-state talent to Larry Johnson’s stout rotation along the defensive line.

4-star DT Tyler Friday

Class: 2018

Town: Ramsey, NJ/Don Bosco Prep

Offers: Ohio State, Michigan, Miami, Penn State, Alabama, etc

Breakdown: Thought by some as a lean to arch-rival Michigan, Ohio State got the opportunity to show Friday what it would be like to play for the Buckeyes. While OSU is looking to add another defensive lineman or two to the 2018 class, Friday might not end up in Columbus when it is all said and done, but the visit definitely gave him a lot to think over before he announces his college commitment.

4-star QB Jarren Williams

Class: 2018

Town: Lawrenceville, GA/Central Gwinnett

Offers: Ohio State, Miami, Auburn, Alabama, Kentucky, etc

Breakdown: With longtime OSU pledge Emory Jones flirting with the Crimson Tide of Alabama, Ohio State has started to show interest in numerous other 2018 signal callers. While the Buckeyes have been in on Williams, a former University of Kentucky commit for quite sometime, they will need to fight off the likes of Miami and Auburn to snag his talents.

4-star OT Michael Tarquin

Class: 2019

Town: Belleview, FL/Belleview

Offers: Ohio State, South Carolina, Miami, Michigan, Clemson, etc

Breakdown: Visiting Ohio State numerous times this season, Tarquin made the trek up from Florida once again. Already holding a verbal commitment from fellow 2019 offensive tackle Doug Nester, some around the recruiting scene believe it’s only a matter of time before the four-star standout follows in Nester’s footsteps and gives the Buckeye coaching staff his word.

3-star OLB Dezman Cooper

Class: 2019

Town: Reynoldsburg, OH/Reynoldsburg

Offers: Miami (OH)

Breakdown: Like others, Cooper is no stranger to the Ohio State campus. One of the top overall junior prospects in Central Ohio, Cooper has yet to pick up a scholarship offer from the Buckeyes, but is definitely on their radar.