Ohio State recruiting: More offers to top prospects

The Ohio State Buckeyes and the rest of the college football world are nearing the February signing day. While the Ohio State staff looks to finalize their last couple of class spots, the future classes of 2020 and 2021 are really taking priority here as a larger group. Coach Day and his newly assembled staff have literally been all over the country, and are hoping their efforts pay off in the end. Thursday was a big day on the recruiting trail, as a handful of recruits made their Scarlet and Gray offers known.

Three offers to 2020 offensive players

A four-star from Baltimore, Maryland, Traeshon Holden has the perfect frame that Brian Hartline is looking for in his receiver room. At 6-foot-3, 195 pounds, Traeshon can be put out wide or in the slot, and still be a dynamic playmaker for any top level program. As it stands now, Holden is the 45th best receiver in the class, the 11th best player in Maryland for the 2020 class and a top 250 player regardless of position in the country. An impressive résumé, Holden holds offers from nearly 20 schools with West Virginia thought to be front runner.

With Coach Hartline on the full time duties, the receiver recruiting has really been successful. If Traeshon is a guy that Hartline really wants in the 2020 class, it’s probably pretty clear that he would at least hear what Hartline has to say. After this season especially, receiver prospects all over the country have to be impressed with what the current coach and former NFL player himself is doing in Columbus.

Staying on the offensive side of the ball, another top player in the 2020 class that was offered yesterday by Ohio State was another Maryland native in Blake Corum. A 5-foot-10, 180-pound running back, Corum checks in as a high four-star graded player and a top 20 running back in the country for his class. A bit undersized in comparison to some of the recent running backs the Buckeyes have had, Corum is certainly not done growing. When you also look at the depth the Buckeyes have a running back now, the position will be a clear priority in this upcoming 2020 class. If Corum is to be on that radar, look for a trip to Columbus to definitely take place in the near future.

The final prospect on the offensive side of the ball to receive an Ohio State offer yesterday was yet another DMV area native in Jimmy Christ. A 6-foot-7, 280-pound offensive tackle, Jimmy grades out currently as a higher three-star prospect and the 10th best player in Virginia for his class. With nearly 30 offers, Jimmy is on the radar for several notable programs across the country. Time will tell how serious of a prospect Jimmy will be for the Buckeye staff, but with offensive line needing some serious depth in the coming classes you can be the staff will be taking their best shot at his recruitment.

Cali defensive back gets Buckeye nod

Now that the offensive side of the ball has taken much of the talk already, the Ohio State staff still made the defensive side a priority when they dished out an offer to California native Clark Phillips III. A current high school cornerback, Clark already has above average size for the position—checking in at 5-foot-11, 180 pounds.

With nearly 30 offers from some of the top programs around the country, it’s easy to see why Clark is evaluated as the sixth best corner in the country and the ninth best player in a loaded state of California for the 2020 class. Knowing that the defensive secondary could use some much needed depth in the future with several key guys getting closer to their college careers being completed, the Buckeyes are wasting no time in doing their best to restock. With Clark’s abilities on the field, it’s clear why he’s one of those targets.

Like any California native near the five-star threshold, getting him to come to Columbus will not be easy, but if anyone can sway him, new co-defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley should have a shot considering he just left San Francisco to come to Ohio. Time will tell, but you certainly shouldn’t doubt this staff’s chances.