• Final three for Taivon Jacobs of Ohio State Maryland and WVU Decision coming on Thursday AM.
• Louisiana-Lafayette offers Demetrius Knox & Andrew Brown LOL
• Michigan State offers Tony Brown
• Vernon Hargreaves III unofficially visited Vanderbilt & Tennessee yesterday
• Mason Cole & Quincy Wilson attends Florida State camp, Mackensie Alexander didn't make the trip to the FSU camp, but he is visiting elsewhere
• Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary LB Dante Booker ranked state's No. 1 prospect in 2014 class by Rivals
• Junior RB Mikel Horton transferred to Lakota West, Lakota East coach Rick Haynes confirmed. 
• Virginia Tech offers Jeb Blazevich

BN $ - Elder Very Interested In Ohio State '13 TN ATH Cornelius Elder

• OSU is talking to him about slot or DB...thinking about visiting for a game. 

Rivals $ - Brady on the move '14 FL WR Tyre Brady

• By Birmingham...moving to Houston but hopes the OSU staff continues to recruit him although unlikely to make FNL...will be playing at the same school as LSU commit Chris Hardeman.

Scout $ - Worley Poised for Big Finish '13 OH LB/S Chris Worley

• By The Bank....Will be playing Safety this coming season & has been working on his coverage skills. Talks about his interest in Arkansas, Illinois & Ohio State and says he plans on visiting tOSU again soon. 

Rivals$--Jacobs is set to decide '13 MD WR Taivon Jacobs

• Taivon says tomorrow will be a difficult decision and he loves all three finalists. He does note a prior relationship with Coach Zach Smith and tOSU as his dream school. 

Rivals$--Da'Shawn Hand recaps Alabama visit '14 VA DE Da'Shawn Hand

• Da'Shawn loved Alabama and bonded with the staff. As usual, he is playing it close to the vest and is ready to visit other schools. He will be in Columbus 7/27.

Scout$--Hand Enjoys ?Bama Visit '14 VA DE Da'Shawn Hand

• Da'Shawn was impressed with Alabama's engineering program and the coaching staff. 

Scout$--Country's No. 1 CB calls SEC visit 'great' '13 FL CB Vernon Hargreaves III

• Vernon says Tennessee was impressive but he is not ready to commit to anyone yet. He will cut his list after finishing his visits. 

Scout$--Irish On Point With Byrne '14 OH OL Jimmy Byrne

• Jimmy has a strong relationship with Coach Hiestand and says he will try to attend spring games at ND, Michigan, and tOSU next year before deciding. 

Rivals$--Heels now in the mix with Mizzell '13 VA RB Taquan "Smoke" Mizzell

• Taquan says Virginia is his leader, followed by West Virginia and UNC. He still has interest in Clemson and Ohio State, but he has dropped Notre Dame from consideration. He may visit WVU and tOSU before announcing on 8/21. 

Rivals$--Quick taking it slow '13 KY WR James Quick

• James says Louisville and tOSU lead with Oregon in third. He does say distance will likely be a factor. 

Free Scout - Film Study: Marcus Baugh

Peach State LB to take first look at Clemson

Clemson coaches will look to make up ground on Ohio State on Wednesday when linebacker Raekwon McMillan of Liberty County High School in Hinesville, Ga. -- considered one of the top prospects in Georgia for the 2014 recruiting class -- will get his first look at campus.

The Buckeyes have emerged as the leader for the 6-foot-3, 235-pound rising junior, though family members have been longtime University of Georgia fans and Clemson remains firmly in the race to land his services.

McMillan visited Ohio State in the spring, and he’ll return July 27 for the Buckeyes’ “Friday Night Lights,” an elite prospect camp in the mold of what Urban Meyer staged for years at Florida. He has been to Georgia and South Carolina this year, too, but he told TigersNow.com that it’s Ohio State out in front.

“I’m starting to build a relationship with the coaches, so you could say that,” McMillan said. “They’re the team that’s recruiting me the hardest.”

Former North Carolina interim head coach Everett Withers recruits McMillan for Meyer’s Buckeyes staff.

Assistants Kirk Olivadotti and Tony Ball recruit him for Mark Richt’s Georgia staff. His coach at Liberty County High, Kirk Warner, played tight end at Georgia in the late 1980s.

“I didn’t grow up a Georgia fan, but my family was,” McMillan said. “They’ve been on me hard. They’ve got a good chance. I’m pretty interested in anybody who’s showing high interest in me right now. Basically, it’s going to be based off the coaching staff and whether or not I build a strong relationship with them.

“I just don’t want to go anywhere I’m going to feel that I’m not at home.”

McMillan said 16 schools have offered him scholarships – Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Miami, Notre Dame, Texas, South Carolina, North Carolina, N.C. State, Georgia Tech, Ole Miss and Georgia State as well as Clemson, Ohio State and Georgia.

Last week McMillan listed Clemson in his top three, where Alabama formerly stood, and he said he’s looking forward to his first visit to Clemson.

“A lot of people have been telling me it’s real nice, that Clemson has some real nice facilities and it’s a great college environment,” McMillan said. “I just want to see it for myself for the first time. They’ve had some big-time recruits coming in. They’ve got Robert Nkemdiche and Ryan Jenkins. I know Ryan Jenkins from some of the Georgia camps we went to, the Nike Football training camps.

“Clemson is on the rise in the ACC. They won the ACC championship but fell, sort of, in the game against West Virginia. But they’re on the rise, so I’ll be looking at that.”

Unlike Jenkins and Nkemdiche, who are a year older, McMillan does not plan to make an early commitment.

“I’m going to make sure I know where I’m going first,” he said. “I’m probably just going to commit at the Under Armour All-American Game. I’m just taking it slow right now, trying to have fun, not trying to get stressed with all the fans on Twitter and stuff like that.”

J.T. Barrett (Wichita Falls, Texas/Rider) will use this week’s Elite 11 finals as a proving ground of sorts.

Not that the 2013 dual-threat quarterback has to turn a lot of heads as he has a scholarship from Ohio State already in hand, but the 6-foot-1, 205-pound Barrett is ready to show off his arm.

Playing in a run-heavy offense, Barrett’s wing was used just as much as his feet in 2011.

'14 OH 4-Star Athlete Dareian Watkins Talks Friday Night Lights, Potential Ohio State Offer With LGHL

The recruiting game is not a battle, but rather a war. Few can say that they're battle tested more than Urban Meyer. One of the many fogs of war is in-state recruiting.

In-state recruiting is arguably the most important aspect to a program like Ohio State when it comes to securing the best overall class of athletes to commit to your institution. The state of Ohio is filled with talented young players, waiting for their shots to fulfill their dreams of playing major college football. One of many jobs that Urban is tasked with is making sure Ohio State puts a fence around the state.

Unfortunately, no matter what level of program or coach you have, you can't ever land every single prospect that you want. This means that not every star athlete receives an offer, and certainly not right away.

With that in mind, Ohio State may want to investigate further what an in-state 2014 athlete by the name of Dareian Watkins brings to the table. Watkins is a 6'2" 184-pounds and hails from Galion, Ohio. According to 247Sports' Top 247, Watkins ranks as the 6th best prospect in Ohio and 96th overall in the nation. His versatility makes him even more likely to receive an offer, as he's more than capable of playing multiple positions on the field.

Last season, as a sophomore quarterback, Watkins led the Galion Tigers to an 8-2 record. Watkins finished the year completing 71/104 throws (good for a 68% completion percentage) for 1,254 yards with 16 touchdowns to only 4 interceptions. A dual-threat quarterback, Dareian also rushed for 559 yards on 100 carries with 10 touchdowns to go along with his spoils through the air.

As far as his college recruitment process has gone, I spoke with Watkins to ask him about the chances of Ohio State offering and where he thinks he projects at the next level.

Who is recruiting you from Ohio State? What's your take on them?

Greg Gillum had been working with me since my freshman year in high school. He knew my dad from when he coached at Galion High School. My area recruiter now is Coach Hinton and I have spoken with Coach Herman. I'm just getting to know both them and they seem like great guys. I'm looking forward to getting to know them better.

What position is Ohio State recruiting you for?

OSU is recruiting me as an "athlete" but I think my performance at camp has moved me up their board as a QB. I will probably play some WR at FNL.

Do you think Ohio State will offer you in the near future?

I have not received an offer from OSU, as you said, but the coaches have been impressed with my accuracy and how much my arm strength has improved.

Which schools have offered you to this point?

So far my offers are from Illinois, Ohio U, Bowling Green, Akron, and Toledo. I have other schools that say they are close and that I just have to be patient.

Of all the schools currently recruiting you, who is recruiting you the hardest?

I would say that Illinois, Georgia Tech, and Akron are recruiting me the hardest right now.

What is the biggest factor for you in making a decision?

I want to choose a school that my whole family is comfortable with. I think recruiting is mostly about relationships, so it's going to come down to who I feel most comfortable with.

What are your greatest strengths?

I think my best strength is versatility. I can play QB, WR, CB, S, or even Punter.

What would you like to improve the most on?

I would like to become a better student of the game. I am new to the process of film study and I have a *lot* to learn.

Do you have any goals for next season?

My only goal is to be 15-0 and win a state championship.

Do you have any favorites as of right now? Which school(s)?

It's too early to have a clear favorite but I feel I have a strong relationship with all the coaches at Illinois. I really enjoyed my trip there.

What do you think of Ohio State and Urban Meyer?

Ohio State is going to be a national powerhouse under Coach Meyer. They were under Coach Tressel, too. The Buckeyes will always be one of the elite programs in college football.

You're attending Friday Night Lights. What are you most looking forward to there?

I'm looking forward to playing multiple positions at FNL against some of the best athletes of 2013 and 2014.

Are you planning on making a visit to Ohio State other than FNL?

I'm sure I will attend a game at OSU this fall. I want to be front and center for the Ohio State/Michigan game.

Is there anything else you would like to say to everyone out there in Buckeye Nation?

I'd like to let Buckeye Nation know that I appreciate their support and I know how important the Buckeyes are to the entire state of Ohio. Buckeye fans are what make Ohio State a special place.

Devon Allen, Derrick Green Among Star Recruits Visiting Michigan in July

There has been no question that the Michigan Wolverines have been trying to add a top-flight wide receiver prospect to close out their 2013 recruiting class, and even though they are the favorites to land 4-star wideout Laquon Treadwell (Crete, Ill.) the coaches are keeping themselves in the mix for Rivals250 recruit Devon Allen (Phoenix, Ariz.) in case they miss out on their top target. 

Allen, who is the nation's No. 129 overall prospect and No. 15-ranked player at his position, is going to be making multiple visits at the end of July. One stop on the 4-star receiver's itinerary is Ann Arbor for Michigan's annual Barbecue at the Big House. 

"First on the 27th we're going to Ohio State [for Friday Night Lights]," Allen informed Tim Sullivan of TheWolverine.com on Tuesday. "Then on the 28th I'm going to Notre Dame, and I'm going to Michigan for the barbecue on the 29th." 

The rising senior is not only a standout on the football field, but is also making nationwide noise running track for Brophy Prep. At the junior national track meet in June the 6'1", 190-pounder ran the 200-meter dash in 21.04 seconds, which was good enough for a fourth place finish in the event.  

"I want to go to a school that will allow me to run track and play football," Allen told Rivals.com on July 9th. "As of now, there is no one saying I can't do both." 

As far as a decision goes, Allen does not plan on committing to a school until after he takes all five of his official visits this fall.  

"I cut my list down to 15 maybe two weeks ago, and then after these visits, in late July or early August I'm going to cut that down to maybe five or ten," Allen said. "Then I'll start scheduling my official visits." 

Michigan fans should not interpret the Wolverines recruitment of Allen as a sign they are falling behind other schools pursuing Treadwell. Even though Treadwell thought he would be ready to decide shortly after The Opening last week, the Crete Monee High School wideout decided he would take visits to Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and possibly Auburn before making a decision about his future. 

Treadwell has reiterated that the Wolverines are still the team to beat, and several of the current Michigan commits believe it is not a matter of if, but when the nation's No. 39 overall prospect will eventually don the winged helmet. 

"People think he's going to commit; it's just a matter of time, and I think that's completely true," one commit told TheWolverine.com at The Opening. "His parents gave him the green light to commit now, so I think it's only a matter of time before he says he's part of the maize and blue." 

Another prospect who will not be making a final decision in the near future and will be attending the Barbecue at the Big House is 5-star running back Derrick Green (Richmond, Va.). 

The nation's No. 12 overall prospect and No. 1-ranked running back stopped mentioning Michigan among his favorite schools last month, however, Rivals analyst Mike Farrell believes the Wolverines are firmly in the mix for Green's services. 

"He really wants to go to the barbecue," Farrell said. "He's looking at depth chart and fit, and now that he's done his homework, both are favorable for Michigan. I don't think he's a Clemson type of back, and I could see him as an OSU back, but not really in Urban Meyer's system. I could see him somewhere like Wisconsin where they play power football." 

One of the main reasons the Wolverines may be trailing in Green's recruitment at the moment is because the Hermitage High School star has not had a chance to meet Michigan head coach Brady Hoke, which will be an important part of his visit to Ann Arbor later this month. 

"We'll see how he likes Coach Hoke. That will be important," Farrell said. "But I think Michigan has a real chance, even if the leaders in his head might be OSU and Clemson. That could change, and maybe someone like Alabama and Auburn will get involved, but I really think Michigan is in his top five." 

Green's recruitment appears to be wide open still, and Michigan's odds at landing him are as good as anyone else's right now.  

Other top prospects who have said they will be attending the barbecue later this month are class of 2014 standouts Michael Ferns (Saint Clairsville, Ohio), Mason Cole (Tarpon Springs, Fla.) and Cass Tech athlete Damon Webb (Detroit, Mich.). 

Finally, inside linebacker Clifton Garrett (Joliet, Ill.) recently revealed his top five schools to BuckeyeGrove.com. Michigan made the cut along with Notre Dame, Ohio State, Michigan State and Illinois.

Ohio State will soon find out whether it has landed another recruit from the 2013 class.

Wide receiver Taivon Jacobs (Forestville, Md./Suitland) told BuckeyeNation he will announce his decision at noon ET Thursday.