Looking at 247's 2014 Rankings

By Alex -21 December 2012
41 Comments
- Football

Just looking at the top 50, it's crazy how many players OSU is in on. I've bolded guys I think we have a very good shot at

#1 Da'Shawn Hand
#2 Leonard Fournette (claims grew up OSU fan, but probably stay in south)
#3 Lorenzo Carter
#4 Andrew Brown (hasn't visited yet)
#7 Quin Blanding
#8 Jabrill Peppers
#9 Edward Paris (still thinks he stays in the south)
#10 Jalen Hurd
#11 Damian Prince (a little higher than others, but need the visit this off-season)
#13 Raekwon McMillan
#15 Tony Brown
#19 Braden Smith (hasn't visited yet)
#20 Laurence Jones
#22 Jalen Tabor
#23 Kc McDermott
#25 Malik McDowell
#29 Marshon Lattimore
#33 Caleb Henderson (don't think OSU offers)
#38 Nick Watkins (think he stays south)
#39 Clifton Garrett
#46 Khairi Clark (visited for camp in summer with no offer after)
#47 Jamarco Jones
#50 Dante Booker Jr.

Optimistic Buck... on 21 Dec 2012 - 12:14pm #

I'm going to say we get at least 5.

johnny11 on 21 Dec 2012 - 12:23pm #

if we could get Fournette that would be crazy. I didn't even know the staff was pursuing him? Kid is an amazing blend of size, speed, and overall ahtleticism. Either way Hurd is a beast too and i'll take him as well. We definately are looking good so far. I also saw in Gene's quick bits how jones said Urban wont let anyone commit from this class until after NSD 13, which is what i thought with Johnson and snoodgrass "delaying" their decision.

Hayze on 21 Dec 2012 - 1:13pm #

What?! Leanard Fournette grew up an OSU fan! Definitely not getting my hopes up but this kid is a pure talent (from what I've seen I like him a little bit more than Hurd, not that Hurd's bad or anything). If we could get him to visit that'd be a win all in itself. Crazy.

I also read a post on 247 (apparently its blowing up on twitter) that Marcelys Jones wanted to commit but Meyer told him to wait until after the 2013 signing day. It would honestly not surprise me if Marcelys Jones, Dante Booker, Lonnie Johnson, Thaddeus Snodgrass and Marshon Lattimore all commit shortly after signing day.

Also Alex: any reason you didn't bold Laurence Jones? According to 247 we are in his top 3 (with Bama and LSU) and I've read on multiple LSU boards that the kid grew up a big OSU fan and that they think we'll be the thoughest competition for them to land him. Unless you got him and Fournette mixed up.

Lincoln on 21 Dec 2012 - 12:39pm #

Quite a list, Can't wait for the dominos to start falling on that class.

Ahh Saturday on 21 Dec 2012 - 1:03pm #

That list is just nuts. Only thing that could make it better is to have D Prince's name in bold. Make it happen Urban!

Unky Buck on 21 Dec 2012 - 1:09pm #

From the sounds of it, we have a really good shot at 4 of those recruits as we speak in McMillan, Lattimore, Garrett, and Booker. With Urban's continuously growing legacy, you have to think we should be able to add anywhere from another 1-3 of those names on that list. You could probably end the class right there with 7 of those names and still be considered the best class in the nation...let's hope for the best here...

buckeye76BHop on 21 Dec 2012 - 1:12pm #

Bank this statement: "The 2014 class will be sick as hell!"

"There's nothing that cleanses your soul like getting the hell kicked out of you."
"I love football. I think it is most wonderful game in world and I despise to lose."
Woody Hayes 1913 - 1987

millertime2011 on 21 Dec 2012 - 1:12pm #

No mention of Trevion Thompson? I thought he was pretty high on us.

bucknut8 on 22 Dec 2012 - 5:10pm #

Yes Trevion Thompson is pretty high on OSU as Ive read in several places.

Heres his 247 profile. He has OSU in top 3 on here.

http://247sports.com/Player/Trevion-Thompson-19057

#Buckeyes

gwbuckeye on 21 Dec 2012 - 3:37pm #

#20 Laurence Jones...do not be surprised if we pull him from the South...BIG OSU fan and early offer

partisan on 21 Dec 2012 - 4:15pm #

Maybe I'm the only one that thinks we have no shot with Quin Blanding.

Otherwise that list looks amazing.

Hayze on 21 Dec 2012 - 4:40pm #

Like most recruits, if we get him to visit we have a shot.

However, he will be a very very hard pull from UVA.

kareemabduljacobb on 21 Dec 2012 - 4:49pm #

Agreed, from reading a bunch of UVA fans postings they think to seem they have him in the bag. So who knows.

buck-I.8 on 21 Dec 2012 - 6:06pm #

UVA will never have anyone "in the bag". A school of that level, in my opinion, should always be wary of the Bama, OSU, Florida, etc. offers

jestertcf on 21 Dec 2012 - 4:32pm #

#13 Raekwon McMillan

this kid is a monster...... how ridiculous are those other 12??

~Because we couldn't go for three~

partisan on 21 Dec 2012 - 4:38pm #

Loving the fact that our top 3 LB targets are all in the top 50.

However I do question rankings that don't have Demarre Kitt in the top 150. That surprised me when I was scanning the list. Other surprise for me was Barker being roughly 30 spots higher than Watson.

toad1204 on 21 Dec 2012 - 4:39pm #

Goosebumps. Guessing this can be attributed to both Meyer and having a early start to recruiting. Hopefully the dividends paid are in a NC(s).

Nothing like dancing on the field in 02...

sir rickithda3rd on 21 Dec 2012 - 4:52pm #

wow the recruiting wheels sure seem to be in motion

mark may wins douchebag of the year... again

jestertcf on 22 Dec 2012 - 12:51pm #

...along that same line of thinking. The wheel in the sky, also, keeps on turning.

~Because we couldn't go for three~

kareemabduljacobb on 21 Dec 2012 - 4:56pm #

How many scholarships will we have to give out for the '14 class??

Optimistic Buck... on 21 Dec 2012 - 5:07pm #

Thought that it was expected to be smaller....18-19? But we do have a young team and if some of these guys don't see the field, there could be even more attrition next year.

FormerBuck on 21 Dec 2012 - 5:05pm #

2014 will be in the 23-25 range, regardless of what you read here

Triv on 21 Dec 2012 - 5:11pm #

I was thinking 22ish but I agree it will be more than expected

Sorry Urban, Woody is still my favorite

buck-I.8 on 22 Dec 2012 - 1:15pm #

Meyer classes will always be larger than their "capacity", just because of the way he runs his system. Like we've seen with Rod Smith, he has no issue telling kids they won't work out and they aren't the right fit, but he doesn't force them out, he gives them the choice. For a number of guys formerly on the team, their choice has been to transfer rather than adopt the system, and this is inevitable in the future.

Buckeye110893 on 21 Dec 2012 - 6:19pm #

I would have to think that most those guys, especially the ones in bold, will be making there way through columbus this summer for FNL. I think this is the year FNL really starts showing immidiate dividance in terms of commitments and a ton of buzz. I think it is safe to say the Urban Train is not only moving, but steamrolling all over the country.

crusher on 22 Dec 2012 - 2:07pm #

There are going to be quite a few guys committing after this years class is signed. I'm going to guess anywhere between 6 and 10 players commit by the end of february.

A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men

buck-I.8 on 22 Dec 2012 - 2:10pm #

With the profile of the guys we're recruiting, I'd say there's almost no chance of that happening. I'd guess more like 2-4

OSU2002Grad on 22 Dec 2012 - 2:16pm #

Dream lists are just that. If Ohio State gets 4 of those guys, it's a good year. Have to think we are sitting good with Hurd, McMillan, and Booker. Everyone else up there seems to be wide open.

OSU2002Grad on 22 Dec 2012 - 2:24pm #

And Lattimore. Forgot about him. We are sitting good with 4. Will be tough to pull another from that list. We'll see.

buck-I.8 on 22 Dec 2012 - 2:40pm #

We lead for Hurd, MacMillan, Garrett, Lattimore, Booker Jr. and arguably Jamarco Jones. Also though I don't think he'll get offered, but Henderson has said he'd consider committing on the spot if given an offer.

Phillips.449 on 22 Dec 2012 - 3:20pm #

Thanks for posting this Alex! Picking up a handful of the bold dudes would be great. Looking forward to some grey box action in the near future!

bucknut8 on 22 Dec 2012 - 5:15pm #

Alex, is there a way you could do the same thing as you did w/ the top 50 but instead w/ the top 150? Im curious to see what you think about other top prospects in the country. Thanks

#Buckeyes

TheTenYearWar on 22 Dec 2012 - 5:17pm #

What does "very good shot" mean? There is zero chance OSU lands McDowell.

Buckeyevstheworld on 22 Dec 2012 - 6:04pm #

Ohio State having another huge year might land 10 of them.

Are there any big threat WRs on that list?

"YOLO" = I'm about to do something extremely ignorant/stupid & I need an excuse to do it.

buck-I.8 on 22 Dec 2012 - 6:25pm #

Other than Lattimore, whose position is unknown, #31 Trevion Thompson of South Carolina likes OSU without visiting, so we'll see what happens if we can get him in for a visit.

Other options: #59 Shaq Davidson has been in contact with the staff since last year, #72 Mark Andrews has been in contact, but would be used more like Stoneburner as a split TE, #79 Josh Malone is being targeted, #87 Artavis Scott loved his visit, #112 Derek Kief is a Cincy kid who has visited and has some interest (again would be more of a split TE, kid is big and fast), #119 Dareian Watkins is still interest, #127 Jalen Brown was just offered and likes OSU, #144 Thad Snodgrass, as we know, wanted to commit but was told to wait. #174 Myles Autry loves OSU, and would be slot WR, #177 Demarre Kitt has us on his short(ish) list, #211 Saeed Blacknail loves OSU and was recently offered, #229 Dominique Booth has been on campus a few times.

BuckeyeKrime on 22 Dec 2012 - 7:03pm #

With Kitt we are number two right behind Clemson. He recently said that he wants to go to the same school as Deshaun Watson though, which I guess bodes well for Clemson.