Ohio State hoping for Signing Day surprise

Ohio State’s 2021 recruiting class has been pretty much solidified for months now. In fact, the class has slowed down so much that focus has been able to be shifted towards the junior class — one where the Buckeyes have already been able to acquire 10 verbal commitments.

Wednesday brings National Signing Day; A day which used to be the busiest day in college football recruiting, but has been replaced by the early signing period in the past couple years. However, this signing day will not go under the rug for the Buckeyes, as the program is working on some final touches to the No. 2 class in the nation.

News trickled down last week that Ohio State’s biggest remaining priority, J.T. Tuimoloau, would not be making a decision this signing day, and will look to take his recruitment into the spring months. While the news was not the sigh of relief Buckeye Nation was hoping for, Ohio State is still viewed as the favorite to land his commitment, it just won’t be tomorrow.

However, the Buckeyes are still hoping for some fireworks on Wednesday as four-star outside linebacker Raesjon Davis is set to announce his future school of choice at his high school at 11:30 a.m ET.

Davis is not a new name for those that keep up with Ohio State recruiting. Ever since his de-commitment from LSU, the Buckeyes have been heavily involved in his recruitment alongside Oregon and the favorite, USC.

I will be honest with you, I have been on the side that Davis will be committing to USC for a long time, and I didn’t even peg the Buckeyes as being an actual threat to the Trojans. However, the past two weeks have made me second guess myself multiple times. Davis’ recent visit to Ohio State couldn’t have gone better. In fact, following the weekend visit two weeks ago, Davis and his family were considering a second visit this past weekend to Columbus. If this visit would have come to fruition, I would have completely switched my guess to the Buckeyes, but as it did not occur we are stuck in a limbo of sorts guess what Davis’ future has in store.

USC is still the favorite to land his commitment, but the Buckeyes have made the race incredibly close, which alone is a testament to the recruiting prowess Ohio State has garnered under Ryan Day.

Davis recently spoke with Ryan Young of Rivals, and told him a decision has been made and that it was made in the days following his visit to Ohio State.

“I would say like two days ago, just thinking about it and just talking it over with my parents multiple times, just keep going over it in my head and picturing myself [there],” he said Thursday. “So it was like two days ago I was like, ‘I know where I want to go,’ so I started telling my parents and stuff like that.”

The timing seems favorable for Ohio State but it is far from a guarantee. The visit to Columbus could’ve been the missing piece to committing to the Buckeyes, but at the same time, it could’ve just as easily confirmed that USC was the school for him.

While the odds favor the Trojans tomorrow, the Buckeyes certainly have a chance in adding another commitment to their 2021 class, helping them further cement the group as one of the best in program history.