Looking Ahead: Urban Meyer and Brian Kelly Battle Over Class of 2016 and 2017 Prospects

By Andrew Ellis on December 13, 2015 at 7:15 am
Austin Mack chose the Buckeyes over Notre Dame and several other schools.
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On Thursday we touched on some current Ohio State and Notre Dame players that Urban Meyer and Brian Kelly were both pursuing. Today we look at some of the more notable names for the 2016 and 2017 classes.


AUSTIN MACK • WR • FORT WAYNE, IN • COMPOSITE RANKING: No. 77

Austin Mack and his good friend Auston Robertson were familiar faces around Columbus in 2014 and early 2015. The duo was thought to be a package deal for some time and they were mostly looking at the same group of schools—Ohio State, Notre Dame, Michigan, and Michigan State.

Mack had been sitting atop the Ohio State wide receiver board for a long while, but their interest in Robertson began to fade. The two scheduled their announcements to take place at the same event, Fort Wayne's RAS Football Camp. 

Mack visited Notre Dame numerous times earlier this year and made a trip to South Bend just a week before announcing his intentions to play for Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes. Since the announcement, the nation's ninth-ranked wideout has been one of the most active recruiters for the Buckeyes. He signed his financial aid agreement in August and is set to enroll early at Ohio State where he could very well be a candidate for early playing time in 2016.

TOMMY KRAEMER • OT • CINCINNATI, OH • COMPOSITE RANKING: No. 48

The recruitment of the nation's sixth-ranked offensive tackle also came down to the Buckeyes and Irish. In the end, Ohio State just couldn't overcome the connection that Kraemer had built with Notre Dame offensive line coach Harry Hiestand; a name that is well-known throughout the Queen City thanks to his time spent as offensive coordinator ta the University of Cincinnati. 

Leading up to his Notre Dame pledge in October of 2014, Kraemer named a top group of Notre Dame, Ohio State, Boston College, Duke, and others. An unofficial visit to Notre Dame last September seemed to seal the deal for the Irish. If Brian Kelly were to bolt—perhaps to the New York Giants where he has a number of connections—then this could definitely be one to keep an eye on.

JAKE HAUSMANN • TE • CINCINNATI, OH • COMPOSITE RANKING: No. 116

It hasn't been easy for Ohio State when going head-to-head with Notre Dame for Cincinnati prospects, so landing one of the nation's top tight ends was quite the victory for the Buckeyes. Moeller High School's Jake Hausmann—the nation's third-ranked tight end—committed to Ohio State on January 25th.

Hausmann is one of the most complete tight ends in the class, capable of run blocking as well as catching passes. He also has gone up against some of the state's top competition. Things were looking up for the Irish when the 6-foot-5, 235 pounder took three unofficial visits to South Bend back in the summer and fall of 2014. However, as the four-star pointed out to Rivals.com's Marc Givler, the relationships in Columbus were just too strong.

"Ultimately it was the people," Hausmann told BuckeyeGrove.com. "Everyone on that team has welcomed me from day one and I can't wait to be a part of it." 


DAELIN HAYES • LB • ANN ARBOR, MI • COMPOSITE RANKING: No. 121

Daelin Hayes took a trip to Southern California during the summer of 2014. Shortly thereafter, he was a Trojan commit and was looking to transfer to a California high school. That school would end up being Ventura's St. Bonaventure where he played in two games before transferring back to Michigan due to a custody issue. 

Despite the move back to the Midwest, Hayes remained firmly committed to the Trojans. However, the departure of Steve Sarkisian caused him to re-open his recruitment. Despite offering early on in the process, the Buckeyes were late to get into the game for the country's ninth-ranked outside linebacker. After a late November unofficial visit, there was reason for a bit of optimism; especially when Hayes made plans for a return trip.

That return trip was eventually canceled and the writing was on the wall for a Notre Dame commitment. The Irish had been one of his top schools and was a rumored landing spot even when Hayes was still committed to USC. On Thursday, the four-star announced for the Irish, where he plans to enroll early. 

DAMAR HAMLIN • DB • PITTSBURGH, PA • COMPOSITE RANKING: No. 148

The Buckeyes have struggled to infiltrate the Pittsburgh area, as many of the local recruits elect to stay home and play for the Panthers. The recruitment of Damar Hamlin is shaping up to possibly end the same way, but the Buckeyes and Irish continue to be right at the top of his list. 

The Buckeyes and Irish are hoping to land Pittsburgh's Damar Hamlin.

The nation's twelfth-ranked corner has been to Columbus numerous times—most recently for the Michigan State game—but has also taken several visits to Pittsburgh and South Bend. The Buckeyes have a huge need in the secondary, so securing a commitment from the 6-foot-1, 175-pounder would go a long way in helping to fill that void. Right now both Ohio State and Notre Dame appear to have some catching up to do. Fellow defensive back Paris Ford—a close friend of Hamlin's—committed to Pitt over the Buckeyes and Irish back in October.

JORDAN FULLER • ATH • WESTWOOD, NJ • COMPOSITE RANKING: No. 128

The recruitment of one of the nation's top athletes appears to be fairly wide open. For the Buckeyes to make a push here, they absolutely have to get the 6-foot-2, 190-pounder back in Columbus as he hasn't been in town since April. Fuller has been pretty non-committal when it comes to possibly taking an official visit to Ohio State. Fresh off of a New Jersey state title, the focus can now shift to the recruiting process. 

Fuller is at Notre Dame this weekend for his first official visit. Ohio State, Penn State, Rutgers, Michigan, and UCLA are other schools hoping to secure an official. With his older brother Devin at UCLA, they may be the team to keep an eye on here. The Buckeyes are looking at Fuller as a safety prospect. 

ISAIAH PRYOR • SAFETY • LAWRENCEVILLE, GA • COMPOSITE RANKING: No. 31

The second-ranked safety for the 2017 class committed to Ohio State in late July. Wanting to make an early decision, he and his family took a number of visits during the spring and summer and were admittedly very high on the Fighting Irish as well. Pryor took visits to Ohio State, Georgia, Stanford, California, Texas, Notre Dame, and others before ultimately choosing the Buckeyes. 

TYRELL AJIAN • ATH • MANSFIELD, OH • COMPOSITE RANKING: No. 189

The Buckeyes already have a ridiculous haul of 2017 defensive backs, and they are in the running for a few others, including Lamont Wade and Jeffrey Okudah. In a typical year, an in-state player like Tyrell Ajian may have already been offered by the Buckeyes. But as we sit here today, that is not the case.

Ajian camped at Ohio State twice over the summer, but was a bit banged up while doing so. The Wolverines offered in March and the Irish followed suit in June. Notre Dame has been the perceived leader ever since the four-star visited South Bend in early September. Depending how things go with the Buckeye secondary, this could end up being one to watch if there is enough room. 

JERRON CAGE • DT • CINCINNATI, OH • COMPOSITE RANKING: No. 209

In 2014, Notre Dame beat out the Buckeyes for Ohio's top defensive tackle—Cincinnati's Daniel Cage. Urban Meyer and Ohio State answered in July of this year, landing a commitment from Daniel's younger brother Jerron. 

The younger Cage pledged to the Buckeyes just about a month after receiving the offer, but this recruitment may be one to watch all the way to signing day. Notre Dame offered in September and Cage has made multiple trips to South Bend since. The big question is—and probably will continue to be—are these visits merely to see big brother or is there something more to it?

COLE KMET • TE • ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL • COMPOSITE RANKING: No. 243

The Irish are sitting pretty with 2017 tight end recruiting, and it's difficult to see anyone landing a better pair. The nation's sixth-rated tight end, Cole Kmet committed to the Irish in October; joining Brock Wright, the nation's top tight end for the 2017 class. 

While the Buckeyes currently have two tight ends in the fold for 2016, they definitely were hoping to add Kmet to their 2017 haul. The four-star visited Ohio State in the summer and made a return trip in late September before pledging to the Irish.


New names will inevitably be popping up, especially as it pertains to the 2017 class, as Brian Kelly and Urban Meyer will continue to see a lot of one another. 

People often ask about these bowl games and how they influence recruiting—especially for two schools who are constantly going head-to-head. The answer is probably very little, but it's fun to sit back and speculate how a win over a recruiting nemesis—in a game like the Fiesta Bowl—would influence things as we move forward.

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