Projecting how Ohio State’s 2020 class will close

Just weeks ago, Land-Grant Holy Land’s own Patrick Mayhorn projected how Ohio State’s 2020 recruiting class would look as it came to a close.

Fast-forward to today and the class looks much different. Since July 3, Ohio State earned verbal commitments from the likes of four-star center Luke Wypler, four-star wide receiver Mookie Cooper, four-star safety Lathan Ransom, three-star athlete Cameron Martinez, three-star outside linebacker Mitchell Melton and three-star offensive guard Josh Fryar.

Of the players we mentioned as possible future Buckeyes earlier this month, just one chose in favor of a different school in four-star defensive tackle Vernon Broughton, who committed to Texas.

With 21 verbal commitments in the class, there looks to be a limited amount of spots remaining. We will now look at who I think Ohio State gets to cap off a tremendous class. Like Patrick’s list, this list is ordered by position, not likelihood to commit, commitment date, or anything like that. Mainly, because all of the remaining targets have all announced decision dates and they are all very soon.

HB Bijan Robinson: Robinson has long been an Ohio State target and if you have been following this year’s recruiting class at all, he is a name you will be well familiar with.

Robinson is the biggest target remaining for Ohio State in this year’s class. The five-star running back has been recently trending towards the Buckeyes but we can’t get ahead of ourselves and assume it is a done deal, as there are no certainties in college football recruiting.

That being said, where there is smoke, there is usually fire and the smoke surrounding Robinson is colored Scarlet and Gray. The 247Sports Crystal Ball Predictions favor Ohio State with 100 percent of the 14 predictions made being for the Buckeyes.

Commitment Date: Aug. 2

The Pick: Ohio State

HB Jaylon Knighton: The second running back Ohio State assistant coach Tony Alford is focusing on is four-star Jaylon Knighton of Florida.

Knighton’s recruitment has not been as strongly connected to Ohio State as Robinsons, but as of late, it is looking like the Buckeyes will be the team he selects in the near future. He took an official visit to the program back in June and since then, Ohio State’s chances at landing him have increased significantly.

That being said home state schools Miami and Florida State are still in the mix and things could get dicey in the coming days leading up to his recruitment. As it looks today, the Buckeyes will be his selection, but this is the type of situation where a verbal commitment may not solidify everything. Some will be on the fence about where he will play college ball until he signs on the dotted line.

Commitment Date: July 29

The Pick: Ohio State

OLB Kourt Williams: More likely to play the bullet position than a true LB role for Ohio State, Williams will soon be choosing where he will be playing college ball.

Because the Buckeyes are recruiting him to play the new bullet position, the team has a leg up on the competition for Williams, mainly Texas A&M, Penn State and Oklahoma.

There has been a lot of talk surrounding Williams and his commitment date as of late and Monday, he put the questions to rest by making it known he will be announcing his decision tomorrow.

With such little time between the announcement and his decision date, Ohio State looks to be the choice.

Commitment Date: July 24

The Pick: Ohio State

DL Kedrick Bingley-Jones: Bingley-Jones is the first on this list where I believe Ohio State will not be the school of choice. While at one point he looked like an Ohio State lean, now the four-star DE is trending towards staying at home and playing for the Tar Heels.

New North Carolina head coach Mack Brown has appeared to overtake the Buckeyes in this scenario, proving he still can compete with the best recruiters in the country.

Commitment Date: Aug. 3

The Pick: North Carolina

DL Jacolbe Cowan: The first recruit on this list yet to announce a commitment date is four-star DT Jacolbe Cowan. While he has kept his recruitment close to the vest, he took an official visit to Ohio State last month and it appears to have gone as well as possible.

This scenario feels like one where if Ohio State feels they have room for Cowan in this class, he will be a Buckeye.

Commitment Date: N/A

The Pick: Ohio State

S Makari Paige: More or less a back-up plan in case Williams spurns Ohio State, Paige still has a shot to be a Buckeye in the future. He officially visited the program last month and we expect the visit went well. That being said, Paige will likely be heading to Ohio State’s arch-rival Michigan when all is said and done.

Commitment Date: N/A

The Pick: Michigan