The 11W Recruiting Mailbag is your one-stop-shop for all things Ohio State recruiting. Got a question? Ask it, and if we can answer it, we will.
I'll just get it out of the way, Walker? – KevinJ
11W: We mentioned the other day that the 2-3 days following the Antonio Williams commitment would probably be the timeframe to watch. Will Walker come out and publicly make a statement? It's possible, but I don't think it really matters one way or another. I just do not see Kareem Walker in this class. I realize he came out and said he is "100-percent committed" just a few short days ago, but he also made it pretty clear that he isn't too fond of another running back signing with Ohio State. It's a strange situation, especially when you consider every other school he's looking at has at least one back already in the fold. He's also made comments about the benefit of having another back alongside him (less wear and tear on the body, longer career post-college, etc). The Matt Falcon news is interesting and it definitely could help Michigan's chances, but you have to keep an eye on those SEC schools as well.
Walker's DePaul Catholic squad will be in Cincinnati this Friday to face off against Elder. Could this be another Bruce Judson situation where he is waiting until after his team's game in Ohio to make some sort of announcement? It's certainly possible.
Did Hill really decommit because he wanted to play on defense? Do you see him playing defense in college at Michigan State? – VA-Buck
11W: I think that George Hill, first and foremost, wanted to play somewhere that he knows he was going to fit in and get a chance to play early in his career.
Ohio State was very honest with Hill about where things stood as to his chances for getting on the field and that there wasn't really a spot that they felt he was going to be ahead of other guys, at least not for a few years, and other schools offered an easier path.
From what I know of George, he's a kid that keeps to himself for the most part, so he's not going to say much about the process. I know that he's a hard worker and boy can he run; he's going to be better served being a program that he can get into, find a position immediately and try to develop into a football player.
What's up with Antwuan Jackson? It's been quite on that front for some time. – BayArea_Buckeye
11W: Everything continues to be status quo on the Antwuan Jackson front. He is looking to visit Ohio State for the Nov. 21 showdown with Michigan State. The Buckeyes really like where they stand right now and getting him back for a relatively late official visit is pretty big news; especially when you consider that he will be enrolling early. He has mentioned that Georgia is moving up his list a bit, but this is definitely an Ohio State/Auburn battle. As of right now, I have Antwuan Jackson IN.
What does recruiting a player already committed to the class look like versus pursuing an uncommitted player? – BroJim
11W: Good question, and one that kind of changes depending on the situation. When you have a player that's committed like say, Austin Mack, it's pretty simple. Mack has signed his mid-year final exemption, he's actually 100-percent committed to the program and there's no questions about it. When he visits, he's basically on his own, doing his thing, talking to the coaches and players as though he's a part of the team.
Anyone else, even committed players who visit that aren't on as solid ground as guys like Mack, Jonathon Cooper or Danny Clark, are treated as uncommitted prospects. They're closely engaged with by the support staff, given and kept on a very tight schedule and get a bit more of the recruiting pitch than the "here's what you need to do to get ready for your career" stuff.
Who do we end up with alongside Mack at wide receiver? – KBonay
11W: The Donnie Corley recruitment has been a bit of a strange one and I don't think anyone truly knows where things stand with him right now. Regardless, I still think Binjimen Victor is the most likely candidate to sign with the Buckeyes. The Gators just have so many wide receivers committed already and they are in a great spot for Nate Craig-Myers. Some were a little concerned that Victor took his official visit for the Penn State game since he's still yet to use his Florida visit. I don't think that's anything to worry about as the PSU visit had been planned for some time. Austin Mack is building a nice relationship with him as well, so that can't hurt.
Out of the new LB offers to go out in the last month or so, who's showing the most interest, and what are the chances of getting another LB in this class? – JohnnyKozmo
11W: I think the chances of landing another linebacker are pretty good because usually Urban Meyer gets what Urban Meyer wants, and right now he wants another linebacker in the 2016 class.
Who is the most likely target of the recent offers? I still think it's California's Mique Juarez, but he's not been to campus yet. Until he makes an official visit, it's hard to go all in on a prediction.
If it's a local guy, the debate between Malik Harrison, A.J. Rose and Jonah Morris would be an interesting one to watch.
Wayne Davis and Kareem Felder are our two cornerback commits. You've had good coverage on guys the staff are recruiting, how do you see it playing out at this position? – BuckGuyFan1
11W: I think Davis and Felder may very well be the only true corners that the Buckeyes sign for 2016. Damar Hamlin seems to be trending toward Pittsburgh and Jordan Fuller is projected more as a safety. With Marcus Williamson and Shaun Wade already committed for 2017 (and things looking very good for Lamont Wade), Ohio State isn't going reach for someone they don't think is worthy.
I can see two more defensive backs joining this class, but they will probably be safeties or bigger corners who project at safety.
If Ohio State misses on all big defensive tackles in 2016, how dire is this position looking? - BBB
11W: I don't think it would be as bad as people think. It's reasonable to think someone like Dre'Mont Jones or even Jashon Cornell will go the Adolphus Washington route and end up moving inside. Malik Barrow was looking like the best defensive tackle in America before suffering the ACL injury.
Jerron Cage is already on board for 2017 and the Buckeyes are in good shape for guys like Darnell Ewell and Cam Spence too. A lot of this may depend on guys like Robert Landers and DaVon Hamilton and how they develop. Hamilton was one of the most impressive-looking kids this summer so it will be interesting to see how he progresses. Landers was singled out on Monday by Joey Bosa as a player who we should expect to see playing soon in the absence of Tommy Schutt.
How do you do it? I mean, how do you interact with and follow all these kids whose commitments are often shallow and the opposite of what the word actually means? I get real tired of it real quick, and it's not my job. – RosyCheeks
11W: There are times when it gets exhausting, no doubt. However, where my frustrations come in may be different than you'd expect. I have no issues – ever – with a kid making sure that his college choice is right for him and his family, and neither should anyone else. If a kid wants to make 100 visits to 100 schools to have 99 backup plans in place? Good for him, that's solid thinking because let's be honest with ourselves: The majority of the college coaches they'll deal with would bolt in a second if a greener pasture presented itself.
What frustrates me is that there are so many outlets and people involved in the recruiting business these days, the majority of which follow no standard of ethics in their interactions. Kids are wary of really saying anything of value to people, because there are too many people in the "media" willing to sell a kid out for a story and it doesn't lend to positive relationships actually developing, instead it's become more of a drive-by interaction with families, coaches, and the players.
What's your thoughts on the wide receiver situation for 2017? A lot of big names on the board that like Ohio State, but none have pulled the trigger yet. What is your feelings on the final count and who will be in it? – BuckeyeBulleit
11W: Ohio State's 2017 wide receiver haul will be one of the best position groups in the nation. It'll also be probably the best wide receiver crop Ohio State's had in recent memory. You have to remember that it's only October of 2015. These kids are a year and a half away from signing their letters of intent.
I still feel really good about Trevon Grimes, Jaylen Harris, and Javonte Richardson if he ends up getting offered (and he could end up at safety). The slot position is interesting because Emmanuel Greene doesn't seem to be in any hurry to decide and the Buckeyes are pushing hard for Tyjon Lindsey, though he will be a tough pull with his best friend Tate Martell having already committed to Texas A&M. A player like Tarik Black, who seems to be trending towards Michigan but Ohio State continues to monitor him closely.
Right now I will go with four wide receivers for 2017: Trevon Grimes, Jaylen Harris, Javonte Richardson, and Emmanuel Greene, although it's almost a certainty another name or two will show up in the next few months.
Would you compare the 4-star RB Matt Falcon's situation at Michigan to Jamel Dean's here, or is Jim Harbaugh trying to make more room for someone else (i.e. Walker?) – APortis0214
11W: I'm not privy to exactly what Harbaugh and Michigan's intentions are, but it certainly appears – at least superficially – that issue between the Wolverines and Matt Falcon is being expedited in order to clear space for Kareem Walker or any other running back Michigan likes better. After all, Harbaugh's history with this kind of maneuver is well-documented.
I have talked to many people at Ohio State and around the Jamel Dean situation and there's one small thing that I think people overlook or choose to ignore and that's this: the Buckeyes really wanted Jamel Dean to be able to play. They recruited and subsequently signed Damon Arnette only because they saw Dean's situation for the first time up close and personally when he was checked out by the program's medical staff after he enrolled. If Ohio State had wanted to get rid of Dean, they'd have done so at any other point in his recruitment; he was a public commit for over a year and had multiple setbacks with his injury.
The bottom line, and ugly truth, is that this is a vicious business where your replacement is always a year away and in some cases, sooner. Michigan's 2016 recruiting class will almost certainly have more decommitments of this type before February.
Anything (anyone) to watch regarding the USC situation? – Hovenaut
11W: I wrote about this the day that USC let Steve Sarkisian go, so here you go.
