Is it too late for the Buckeyes add a top defensive player to their 2021 class?

The Buckeyes play in by far their toughest contest of the year tonight against a team nobody is giving them a real chance to beat. However, never underestimate an underdog Ohio State team with a chip on their shoulder. They have every ability to win this game, and it’s because of the incredible talent on their roster.

Like Clemson, the Buckeyes recruit at an incredible rate, and these games further prove what Ohio State says to be true — that recruiting is the forefront of the program’s success. Win or lose, because of their recruiting efforts, the Buckeyes will be in as good of shape if not better in the coming years with more games likes tonight’s sure to come.

Trending away or not so fast?

Ohio State’s 2021 class is light on the linebacker position, only having one signee thanks to in-state prospect Reid Carrico. Al Washington has really stepped it up in the 2022 class with already a loaded crop of guys in the fold and likely another spot still up for grabs. Still, the Buckeyes this late in the game for 2021 realistically have two spots open, and one has been reserved for the top defensive-end in the country, J.T. Tuimoloau. The other remaining opening has been rumored to be for either an offensive line target, with that being slim in terms of chances, or the nation’s fourth-best outside linebacker in 2021, Raesjon Davis.

Davis is no stranger to Ohio State fans who follow recruiting. The long-time LSU pledge de-committed from the Tigers in the past two weeks after being verballed to LSU for almost an entire year. With the shake up and negative rumblings in Baton Rouge, Davis obviously felt it was time to cut his ties and look elsewhere. All that did was give Ohio State the feeling that they really could still be in the mix, since even during his time as a Tiger commit Davis never let it be denied that he was still interested in the Buckeyes.

Since Davis re-opened his recruitment, the nearby USC Trojans have been the talk of the town. Every Crystal Ball prediction since his de-commitment from LSU has been in favor of USC, and guys in the know such as Director of Recruiting for 247Sports Steve Wiltfong have given the clear notion that the leaders are now the Trojans, with Oregon lurking and the Buckeyes being at best a dark-horse in this recruitment the rest of the way.

Yes, the once positive feelings for Ohio State have trended downwards, but until Davis signs, anything can still happen.

Yesterday, Davis took to his Twitter account to tweet “#GoBuckeyes” and while that is certainly worth paying attention to, it could simply be in regards to Ohio State’s match-up against Clemson later this evening. Then again, maybe the Buckeyes really are still in the thick of this recruitment. What you can take away right now is that Ohio State has long been a program Davis has been interested in and they will continue to recruit him until the very end. In doing so, you can’t ever count out this staff.

USC does have likely have the inside track right now, and that could be due to distance from home this late into the game. Regardless, Davis will make his call in the coming weeks.

Making the cut for 2022 offensive tackle

Yesterday the Buckeyes found themselves on yet another top schools list for an elite national prospect. The No. 3 offensive tackle in the class, Tyler Booker, trimmed his list to 10 schools after having nearly 30 offers from many of the best programs in the country. Also checking in as the 36th-best player in the country per the 247Sports Composite rankings, it’s been a relatively new courting between Ohio State and the IMG Academy product as he was offered by the Buckeyes just this past October.

Seeing all that they’ve needed to see to this point, Booker is clearly on their radar and a player they would love to add to the fold with his position being one of need in every cycle.

Making the cut besides Ohio State included Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Penn State, Jacksonville State, Oregon, Miami, LSU, and Texas A&M. An impressive list of schools still in the running for his services, it’s likely Florida right now that has the best shot at his commitment at this juncture. Ohio State is in on several offensive tackles in the 2022 cycle, but there’s plenty of time and work to be done on their offensive line haul before they’re satisfied.

Quick Hits

• In case you needed another reminder to be excited about Ohio State’s five-star 2021 QB signee Kyle McCord, take a look below at his senior season film he tweeted out yesterday. It’s safe to say the Buckeyes are in great hands moving forward.

• 2022 commit Gabe Powers, the top player in Ohio and second ranked outside linebacker in the nation, committed to play in the Under Armour All-America game for the 2022 class. A huge honor, this game is one that only the best in the country are invited to compete in.