Ohio State makes the cut for big four-star safety target

With everything else going on in the college football world, it seems like it’s been awhile since we got any positive news — especially on the Ohio State recruiting front. Ryan Day and company got all their heavy lifting done early, and are now just looking to fill in a few remaining pieces as they try to add to the nation’s No. 1 class.

On Sunday, they got one step closer to their next potential new addition, as four-star safety Derrick Davis Jr. listed Ohio State in his top seven schools.

Davis, the nation’s No. 2 safety and the No. 52 overall player in the 2021 class according to the 247Sports Composite, trimmed his list down from over 25 overs down to seven programs, with the Buckeyes making the cut alongside Clemson, Georgia, LSU, Penn State, Pitt and USC. The 6-foot-1, 194-pound DB has been linked to Ohio State for quite some time now, and as of late it seems he is mostly deciding between the Buckeyes and the Nittany Lions.

Still hoping to be able to make his official visits if this COVID-induced recruiting dead period is ever lifted, there is no timetable for Davis’ decision as of right now. In speaking to 247Sports, the safety discussed why each of these schools made the final cut. While he acknowledged that Penn State is definitely near the top of his list, as he was able to make several prior visits to campus, he remains high on OSU.

“They’ve been around for a while,” Davis said. “Like I said with Penn State, (assistant) coach (Matt) Barnes, he’s been on me for a while, trying to get me there. I just like how they recruit me.”

There are only a handful of players still out there on Ohio State’s radar as they look to close out the 2021 class, and Davis is near the top of that list. Especially after losing Devonta Smith to Alabama back at the end of June, Kerry Coombs would love to add one more talented DB to the mix. There are currently four Crystal Ball predictions for Davis, three of which are in favor of Penn State, but this recruitment is far from over.

Just ask OSU running back commit TreVeyon Henderson:

Quick Hits

• Ohio State also made the cut for a four-star tight end late Sunday night when Dametrious Crownover dropped his top five schools via Twitter. The Grandview, TX native listed the Buckeyes alongside Baylor, Nebraska, Texas and Texas A&M. With the team still looking to add another tight end to the 2021 class, position coach Kevin Wilson would love to haul in the nation’s No. 10 TE.

• On Thursday, Ohio State offered three-star small forward Lucas Taylor. The No. 27 SF and No. 122 overall player in the country according to the 247Sports Composite, Taylor currently holds offers from over 26 different schools, including the likes of Arizona State, Marquette, Providence, Xavier and many others.

• On Saturday, Ohio State linebacker commit C.J. Hicks announced he will be playing in the Under Armour All-American Game. Hicks, one of three early commits in the Buckeyes’ 2022 class, has been a huge focal point of next year’s cycle. Outside of reportedly leading the charge in terms of helping recruit more talent to Columbus, Hicks was one of the top performers of Saturday’s Elite Underclassmen Camp in Obetz, Ohio. According to Birm’s analysis, there is every chance the Dayton native earns a fifth star before things are said and done.