• Florida State offered Reilly Gibbons
• Arizona offered Quincy Wilson
• Maryland offered Nick Richardson
• Malik McDowell will visit Michigan next Sunday
• Moral Stephens & Jeffrey Holland attends Junior Day at Florida State
• @SWiltfong247 Lombard (Ill.) Montini Catholic DL Dylan Thompson is decked out in #OhioState gear. #OSU #Buckeyes 
• @adamgorney The more I talk to West kids the more #OhioState is brought up. Buckeyes doing work out here in 2014 class.
• @SWiltfong247 Top50 OT Jamarco Jones having his way with the pass rushers at Core 6 Athletes Showcase 
• @SWiltfong247 Jamarco Jones top OL and top performer thus far. Ka'John Armstrong, JB Butler and Evan Mallory also doing well on OL at Core 6. 
• ‏@SWiltfong247 Overall MVP Jamarco Jones. Other MVPs were Malik McDowell, Dominique Booth and Clifton Garrett. 
• @BillBankGreene Clifton Garrett now 227 pounds and moving better than last year when he was 15 pounds lighter. Pure stud LB.
• @adamgorney #OhioState and #ASU showing new interest in four-star Juju Smith from Long Beach (Calif.) Poly. 
• @adamgorney Tyler Luatua names some early favorites #USC #Alabama #NotreDame #Michigan #OhioState

ESPN $ - Richt does homework, offers 2014 CB '14 GA CB Kalvarez Bessent

• Plans to visit Alabama, Florida, Ohio State & Ole Miss. Grew up liking Florida, Ohio State & Alabama.  

BG$--Jones invades Cincinnati '14 IL OL Jamarco Jones

• Jamarco enjoyed the camp and loved his time on campus with the coaches and players. He is planning an August decision. 

BG$--Garrett talks Ohio State visit and Core 6 '14 IL LB Clifton Garrett

• Clifton definitely enjoyed hanging out with the players outside of the football aspect of tOSU.

Rivals$--Illinois LB 'psyched' after early contact with UK '14 IL LB Clifton Garrett

• Clifton says he was impressed with UK's message and will definitely give them a look.

ESPN $ - Jersey RB Hilliman plans several visits '14 NJ RB Jonathan Hilliman

• Penn State on 2/23, Notre Dame on 3/23 & Ohio State on 3/30. Also has interest in visiting Alabama, Michigan, Stanford, Tennessee, USC & Vanderbilt. 

Ohio State football: Buckeyes seeking players with versatility on field (dispatch)

Urban Meyer and his Ohio State staff hit the recruiting trail each year seeking to fill specific needs, but they also are looking for a few good men.

They are known as “athletes” in the parlance of modern college football, players who could end up at any number of positions through their college careers. The Buckeyes signed at least three this year — Darron Lee of New Albany, Christopher Worley of Cleveland Glenville and Gareon Conley of Massillon. They have one on the hook for 2014 and some more in their sights.

“It depends on where you’re at” in terms of stocking the cupboard, Meyer said. “The only thing I can relate it to is like when we were at Florida where we had a lot of ‘athletes,’ right now we’re behind on ‘athletes’ at Ohio State.

“Like on special teams, and guys with what we call ‘safety bodies,’ that’s why we had so much trouble on special teams. So this year we went out and tried to find those ’tweener guys who can play a lot of positions.”

cont...

Rutgers recruiting: Manalapan's Saeed Blacknall, a national recruit (nj)

Wednesday, Manalapan (N.J.) wide receiver, Saeed Blacknall, picked up offers from two of the most prestigious football programs in the country: Ohio State and Florida State. He is now up to 10 offers and has officially been cast as a national recruit. The 6-3, 200-pounder with 4.4-second 40-yard dash speed, has become highly coveted due to his ability to fly and adjust to the football while in mid-air.

"Most of these schools say they love my speed. I ran a 4.45 at Rutgers, but right now, I'm doing indoor track and I got a lot faster," said Blacknall. "Schools also like the way I adjust to the ball, my route running and the way I can turn little plays into big plays."

cont...

Ohio State Will Play for 2013 BCS National Championship (rant sports)

Ohio State has the best chance of ending the seven-year run of winning the BCS National Championship by SEC schools in year two under Urban Meyer.

The Big Ten conference was much maligned in 2012 despite the 12-0 Buckeyes, but with Braxton Miller returning after a sophomore season that had him in the mix for the Heisman trophy and an influx of defensive talent; the conference is in a prime position to have its first national champion since Ohio State won the 2002 game.

Looking at the 2013 schedule, it’s easy to envision the Buckeyes going undefeated for the second straight year barring a lengthy injury to Miller or a multitude of injuries along a young defense.

The toughest road game before a trip to Ann Arbor in the season finale to take on their “rivals” as Miller affectionately refers to Michigan is a week six game at Northwestern. Normally, the wildcats aren’t considered a tough venue, but after winning 10 games in 2012, they can’t be taken lightly.

cont...

Core 6 Athletes Cincinnati Recap (247sports)

CLEVES, Ohio - Core 6 Athletes hosted its first-ever event outside of the Chicago area on Sunday, heading to the Cincinnati suburbs for its second Showcase of the winter.

There was a plethora of talent on hand including three Top50 prospects in defensive end Malik McDowell, linebacker Clifton Garrett and offensive tackle Jamarco Jones, who all lived up to their big-time billings.

Several other BCS prospects shined as 247Sports takes you inside the event.

1. Jamarco Jones: The Chicago (Ill.) De La Salle offensive tackle was named the overall MVP by staff and media following a dominant effort. The 6-foot-5, 290-pound Jones took on the best pass rushers at the event in McDowell, Dylan Thompson and Chris Slayton and won the majority of his reps. He was at his best holding off the speed rushers coming from the edge. Jones has a good body-type and won’t have to redistribute his weight much at all on the next level. Ranked by 247Sports as the nation’s No. 4 offensive tackle and by the 247Composite as the country’s No. 43 prospect overall, Jones visited Ohio State again last week and is high on several schools including the Buckeyes, Florida, Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame and Vanderbilt.

2. Clifton Garrett: The 6-foot-3, 228-pound linebacker has excellent size. When you compare the size to what he shows on film, he is an elite linebacker prospect. Performed very well in 7-on-7, owning the middle of the field and using his long body to break up several passes. Ohio State remains the team to beat for the nation’s No. 2 outside linebacker following his visit on Saturday, however he continues to work through the recruiting process slowly and plans on visiting several SEC schools in the spring.

cont...

Michael’s Sunday Recruiting Rundown: February 17 (the ozone)

After National Signing Day was over the first official weekend of the 2014 class began with a bang when OL Kyle Trout, DE Lawrence Marshall, and ATH Parris Campbell committed to the 2014 class. Close to a fifth of the spots were already taken (or so we thought) and there are still 50 recruiting weekends to go.

Then, three days later, Marshall announced he would be de-committing from Ohio State,  taking the 2014 class back down to four. Marshall was first spotted at the MSU vs. Michigan game in East Lansing and then was reportedly at Michigan for a visit.

Wednesday night he de-committed officially. He told me that he was going to slow down the recruiting process and Ohio State is by no means out of it, but he was back in East Lansing again this weekend for another visit with the Spartans.

cont...

Across The Field: Northern pipeline? (espn insider)

So is a Michigan recruiting pipeline forming? It looked like it on Sunday, when a second Michigander committed to the Buckeyes' 2014 class. But then Lawrence Marshall did some reconsidering. This is Across The Field, a regular feature on BuckeyeNation where we point you to noteworthy Buckeyes coverage here and elsewhere. Think something should be included? Send it to espnkendrick@gmail.com.

BuckeyeNation Week in Review

• The Buckeyes picked up three commitments for 2014 on a weekend when they hosted top juniors from across the country.
• No. 3 in the class was ESPN Watch List offensive lineman Kyle Trout, No. 4 was defensive end Lawrence Marshall and No. 5 was running back Parris Campbell Jr.
• But that number went back to four when Marshall decided he'd committed too quickly. Still, Ohio State's success up north could be changing the recruiting landcape.
• It certainly seemed like a successful weekend.
• The junior standouts are getting ready for camp season, and there are three big ones in the Midwest this weekend, including a SPARQ combine in Massillon, Ohio.
• You've got to aim high, right? Brad Bournival unveiled his "dream team" for 2014, both on offense and defense.
• Deshaun Watson is the only quarterback to get an OSU offer so far. Looks like Urban Meyer and Tom Herman are being very picky in terms of QBs in this class.
• The Buckeyes' class of receivers/athletes was the best in the country, according to RecrutingNation's Tom Luginbill.
• Austin Ward began a series looking at the roster heading into spring practice. So far, we've examined quarterbacks, running backs, receivers and tight ends.
• One of the top cornerbacks in the country has Ohio State on his short list.
• So does one of the top safeties.
• Three receivers received offers this week: one from Florida, one from New Jersey, and one from Cincinnati.
• Another Georgia prospect received an offer, but the Buckeyes will have some work to do to land RB Nick Chubb.
• The Big Ten is open to a scheduling alliance with another conference even as it increases the number of conference games. And there won't be any more FCS opponents, either.
• Ohio State moved up a spot in the Way Too Early Top 25. And the Buckeyes are an 8-1 pick to break the SEC's stranglehold on the national championship trophy.
• Urban Meyer likes to tell this colorful Woody Hayes tale on the banquet circuit. (A tale that OSU later clarified to be a bit embellished.)

Football

• Woody Hayes was born 100 years ago this week, and Ohio State marked the occasion with an 800-pound bronze statue outside the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. (OSU, Dispatch)
• Meyer prepared a test for the players on the legendary coach. (Land Grant Holy Land)
• Part of Urban Meyer's appeal to Ohio State fans is that he gets Ohio State history so well. (Eleven Warriors)
• A look inside the Buckeyes' football facilities. (Plain Dealer)
• Ohio State signee Vonn Bell's father said Tennessee's late push was too little, too late. (Chattanooga Times Free Press)
• And new Buckeyes linebacker Mike Mitchell brings a unique skill set to Columbus, writes Doug Lesmerises. (Plain Dealer)
• A look at the best seasons for freshmen in Ohio State history. (TheOzone.net)

Basketball

• No. 1 Indiana came to town and humbled the Buckeyes, and they floundered before putting away Northwestern.
• 2014 power forward David Bell is a fast-riser, and now a Buckeyes pledge.
• Indiana's team play showed Ohio State its deficiencies, writes Bill Livingston. (Plain Dealer)
• Deshaun Thomas needs more help, writes Michael Arace. (Dispatch)
• Sad news about Mama Lighty, who was a fixture around the Ohio State program even after her son David finished his eligibility. (Plain Dealer)
• The Big Ten has never been better; will it translate in March?

The Gang's All Here

• The Buckeyes will miss their star junior pitcher and first baseman for at least two months. (Lantern)
• After a loss to No. 1 Penn State, the No. 5 OSU wrestling team is looking toward the national duals. (Lantern)
• Ohio State's tweaked logo is going over about as well as New Coke. (Eleven Warriors)
• And the cost was $45,000. (Columbus Business First)
• And finally, there's the story of a 65-year-old Buckeyes fan getting pulled over by police in Tennessee because of her Ohio State sticker. No, it's not that kind of leaf. (Dispatch)