Buckeyes continue to send out new offers on the recruiting trail

It’s the end of January, which means recruiting for the Buckeye football program is a top priority. As it always is, the coaching staff has been hard at work scouring the country for the top talent at any and every position.

With the 2020 class now fully intact thanks to the reaffirmation of Cameron Martinez, it’s all eyes to 2021 and beyond. Ohio State is already at nine commits in their next cycle, so the momentum is solid and continuing. The recruiting advantages seem to be endless right now for the OSU coaches. Whether you want to mention former Buckeyes suiting up each Sunday in the NFL or boasting the fact that the Rookie of the Year is also a former OSU star, it’s a great time to recruit at Ohio State.

Buckeyes making moves in Georgia

Recruiting nationally is always going to be a theme for the Buckeyes, but there’s some states that seem to be a big priority. When you’re speaking of the Southeast, Georgia has always been a talent-rich region the Buckeyes love to make their presence known in. The Peach State is easily a top five area for producing elite players, and one the Buckeye program has gone back to over and over again.

Whether it’s on offense or defense, Georgia players have given Ohio State a lot to be proud of in the past, present, and definitely in the near future. In fact, yesterday the coaching staff was in town as they sent out another new offer to Atlanta native Nathaniel Wiggins of Westlake High School.

A 6-foot-2, 170-pound 2021 prospect, Wiggins is listed as an athlete by 247Sports, playing on both sides of the ball for his prep team. Lining up at wide receiver and at defensive back, Wiggins does not have a definitive position he will play at the next level, but as it’s been seen time and time again, taking a top athlete and letting nature take it’s course is a strategy that tends to work out.

Ranked currently as No. 37 athlete in the country and the No. 36 best player in Georgia for the 2021 class, Wiggins is a high three-star prospect, but obviously highly regarded with over 20 scholarship offers. With bids from programs such as Auburn, Clemson, Florida State, Tennessee, and now Ohio State among others, it’s not far fetched to believe that Wiggins could easily see a rankings boost moving forward.

Ohio State is loaded at the receiver position in the 2020 class of course, and is also off to a great start in 2021 with guys such as Jayden Ballard and Marvin Harrison Jr. already in the fold. Knowing there are other top guys at the position, it’s likely Wiggins would trend toward the defensive side of the ball if OSU is in fact a key player in this recruitment moving forward.

With how the Buckeyes love the long and lengthy corners, it’s probably a good bet this athlete will be recruited as a defensive back. Getting Wiggins to campus will be the first priority, but once again the Buckeyes are taking their brand back into Georgia in 2021.

Staff paying visits to two of their top prospects

In no surprise to anyone who follows Ohio State recruiting, the running back position may just be the biggest priority in the 2021 class. In fact, landing two backs in this upcoming cycle seems to be a must, and with the ability to sell top guys the opportunity to come and compete for the job right away, you’d think a the Buckeyes will find success coming up.

The formula will likely be landing an in-state star as well as a national guy, and while there’s many highly-touted prospects OSU is in on, getting an early head start in building relationships is going to be the key.

In fact, yesterday Bill Kurelic of Bucknuts.com reported that Brian Hartline would be on the trail checking in on North Carolina native Evan Pryor, the nation’s sixth best running back in 2021. It’s interesting that Hartline is the one checking in on Pryor, but when you consider he was named the best recruiter in the country in 2020 by 247Sports, it’s looks like the Buckeyes are just bringing out the big guns for this one.

As mentioned countless times, Ohio State needs to get back to landing elite running back prospects, and if Brian Hartline and Tony Alford as well as Ryan Day are teaming up on this one, there’s a lot to be excited for.

In addition to seeing Pryor, Ohio State also sent Kevin Wilson to Tennessee to check in with Hudson Wolfe, the No. 8 tight-end in the class for 2021. Wolfe is a 6-foot-6, 235-pound product who can impress with both his blocking skills and his receiving skills. A total package type of player, Wolfe owns offers from the likes of Alabama, Florida, Auburn, Georgia, LSU, and many more alongside Ohio State, proving the caliber of prospect he checks out to be.

Look for the Buckeyes to get Hudson on campus to help their stock, but if the current OSU tight ends — Jeremy Ruckert and Luke Farrell — impress with greater production at the position in 2020, it could certainly help their standing with another elite prospect.