Ohio State offers two 2019 prospects

Entering the second week following the completion of the regular season, the Ohio State football coaches are using their extra time away from the field to enhance recruiting efforts.

This year’s recruiting cycle is quickly coming to end as recruits will now be able to commit to their school of choice earlier than ever before. As part of the NCAA’s new early signing period, high school seniors will be able to sign their letters of intent beginning Dec. 20 lasting through Dec. 22. They can also choose to sign during the signing period starting the first Wednesday in February.

Currently, the Buckeyes hold 19 verbal commitments in this year’s class and will only have room to add a few more recruits. Because of this, Urban Meyer and the Ohio State football coaches are also looking at strengthening next year’s class.

Ohio State offers 2019 4-star WR

The Buckeyes have just one verbal commitment in the 2019 recruiting cycle in four-star OT Doug Nester, but not to fret, the coaches are actively building relationships with potential prospects.

They did just that Monday when the school offered four-star WR DeMarcco Hellams (Hyattsville, MD/DeMatha Catholic.)

Hellams just capped off his junior season of high school football and has already built an impressive offer list. While the Buckeyes are getting in early in Hellams’ recruiting process, the blue-chip WR already holds 21 offers from programs like Clemson, Louisville, North Carolina, Penn State, Michigan, Michigan State, Wisconsin, and Notre Dame.

Penn State is the early front-runner to land Hellams as he has made his way to Happy Valley three times already and has not visited any other program yet. However, that will surely change as he enters his senior season.

The Buckeyes only hold one verbal offer from a WR in this year’s class in four-star WR L’Christian “Blue” Smith, but they are the favorite to land fellow four-star Kamryn Babb. However, as Smith projects as more of an H-back than a true WR, look for the Buckeyes to make receiver a position of high importance in next year’s class.

Hellams is viewed as the No. 18 WR in the 2019 recruiting cycle, according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings, as well as the No. 2 player from the state of Maryland and is the No. 110 overall player regardless of position.

Have the Buckeyes found their QB of the future?

Continuing to focus on next year’s recruiting class, the Ohio State coaching staff sent a scholarship offer to dual-threat QB Max Duggan (Council Bluffs, IA/Lewis Center.)

It is no secret that Meyer views it as a necessity to sign at least one QB per recruiting cycle. He understands the importance of the position and offers only those that he believes have the potential to lead his team on the field. Therefore, when Ohio State offers a QB, you know Meyer has done his homework.

Duggan is a four-star prospect and viewed as the No. 9 dual-threat QB in the 247Sports Composite Rankings as well as the No. 3 recruit from the Hawkeye state and the No. 301 player in the entire class.

However, do not let the low overall ranking fool you: Duggan can play. Not only is he quick with his feet, he is also quick with his release. He has solid arm strength that will only improve at the next level, and above-average accuracy.

More important may be his ability to lead on the field. While he missed five games for Lewis Central during his junior season due to a broken right thumb, he still led the team to a 9-2 record. Even more impressive was his stat line of 47-of-81 for 720 yards and eight touchdowns to one interception as well as rushing for 513 yards and nine touchdowns on 83 carries.

In relation to the 2019 recruiting cycle timeline, Ohio State is getting involved in Duggan’s recruitment early on. However, he has already acquired 15 scholarship offers from programs like Iowa, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Penn State, Georgia, Ole Miss, Iowa State, North Carolina, and UCF. He also visited Alabama this past summer but has yet to receive an offer.

Look for Ohio State to continue building a relationship with Duggan over the coming year as well as hopefully getting him on campus on multiple occasions.

Quick Hit:

• Ohio State five-star TE verbal commit Jeremy Ruckert was named the Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of New York.