Finishing Touches: Zach Smith and Ohio State Still Searching for Final Piece to the 2017 Wideout Puzzle

By Andrew Ellis on January 21, 2017 at 8:10 am
James Robinson will be in town for an official visit this weekend.
James Robinson
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It would be an understatement to say that #ZoneSix was a major disappointment in 2016. For Urban Meyer and the Buckeye offense, the good news is that change is on the way, both in terms of scheme and personnel. 

The arrival of Kevin Wilson will surely bring some welcome changes to the Ohio State passing game, and the talent is there for a resurgence to take place in 2017. Zach Smith is already set to welcome in a pair of four-stars in Fort Lauderdale's Trevon Grimes and Cleveland's Jaylen Harris, both of whom will bring some needed size on the outside. 

The decommitment of slot wideout Tyjon Lindsey now has the staff turning their focus to a number of other talented receivers from across the country. While signing day is less than two weeks away, the Buckeyes seem to be set on bringing in one more pass-catcher for the 2017 class.

Top Remaining 2017 WR Targets
Prospect Measurables Hometown Rating Composite Rank
James Robinson 6-foot-3, 196 pounds Lakeland, FL ★★★★ No. 114 (No. 14 WR)
Oliver Martin 6-foot-1, 188 pounds Iowa City, Iowa ★★★★ No. 169 (No. 28 WR)
Josh Palmer 6-foot-2, 200 pounds Fort Lauderdale, FL ★★★ No. 821 (No. 118 WR)
Elijah Gardiner 6-foot-5, 185 pounds Kemp, Texas ★★★ No. 1200 (No. 170 WR)

Lakeland's James Robinson is a name that Ohio State was actively pursuing early on in the process. When the focus switched over to Grimes, Harris, Lindsey, and Donovan Peoples-Jones, the Gators seemed to take over his recruitment, as indicated by a crystal ball that reads 85% in Florida's favor.

At one point, the Gators also lost touch with the Under Armour All-American, and while they're right in the thick of things now, it may be costing them as the state's fifth-ranked wideout has been looking all over the country lately.

From the Orlando Sentinel

"They have a very good chance. That's my dream school and I've always loved them," Robinson said of UF. "It's just really ... the relationship ... once it fell off, it was kind of iffy knowing if they were going to stay or not.

Robinson clearly has the size to be a productive wideout, and though he's been a bit inconsistent, the Buckeyes recently started pushing again for the four-star, and it didn't take long for things to start moving in the right direction. He will be in town this weekend for an official visit. Thus far, Robinson has officially visited Florida, Oklahoma, and UCLA. He's also considering an official to Ole Miss later this month.

The top player in the state of Iowa is also expected to arrive in Columbus on Saturday for an official. Oliver Martin's recruitment has been one that Michigan and Notre Dame fans have been watching closely for months, and now it's time for Buckeye fans to start doing the same. 

The Iowa City standout doesn't quite have the size that Robinson has, but he makes up for it with excellent route-running skills and a reliable pair of hands. He's also one of the better athletes in the country. This past summer, the 6-foot-1, 188-pounder recorded one of the higher SPARQ scores at The Opening (133.02). Early enrollee Baron Browning – who is recognized as one of the physical freaks of the class – finished with a score of 131.91. 

Martin's stock recently skyrocketed with the updated 247Sports rankings. He's now viewed by 247 as the No. 7 wide receiver in the country and the 47th-best overall prospect. For comparison's sake, the aforementioned Grimes somehow now checks in at No. 14 at the position. Martin has the look of someone who's versatile enough to play on the outside or in the slot at the next level.

Martin is a childhood friend of Michigan State quarterback commit Rocky Lombardi, another Iowa product. However, it's the Wolverines and Fighting Irish who have been going back and forth for the top spot in the crystal ball predictions. 

It may very well be too little, too late for the Buckeyes, but Urban Meyer and Zach Smith met with the Oliver family on Thursday, and it obviously was enough to to convince them to check out Columbus before signing day. Michigan State, Iowa, and Notre Dame have already received officials. It remains to be seen who will get the final visit following this weekend's trip to Ohio State, but a trip to Ann Arbor seems likely.

The Buckeyes are also looking at a teammate of Trevon Grimes, though an offer has yet to come through. Josh Palmer holds offers from schools like Michigan, UCLA, Tennessee, and Penn State, and his recruitment has really heated up after decommitting form Syracuse last week. 

The Bruins are the crystal ball favorites right now, and he's scheduled to be in Los Angeles this weekend. The Ohio State staff was at St. Thomas Aquinas this past week and the three-star wideout is tentatively scheduled to be in Columbus the weekend before signing day. Obviously a lot can still change with Robinson and Martin on campus, but the Buckeyes may get the last shot. 

Another new name has also emerged out of the Lone Star State. Kemp, Texas is home to three-star wideout Elijah Gardiner, a Missouri commit since this past November. Though Gardiner resides just about three hours north of Austin, there hadn't been a lot of contact until this past week when Tom Herman extended an offer. 

The Buckeyes have also been in contact with the 6-foot-5, 185-pounder, but right now it appears that they're still evaluating Gardiner and have yet to put an offer on the table. The staff has put a ton of effort into the state of Texas this cycle, and this could be another one to watch over the next few weeks. 


It's been less than two weeks since Tyjon Lindsey decommitted and ultimately pledged to Nebraska. While the Buckeyes appear set on adding another wideout, it certainly doesn't look like they're all that interested in adding another 5-foot-9, 160-pound slot receiver. The bulk of the remaining targets are more physically imposing, outside receivers with Martin being the most likely candidate to find himself in the slot role. 

A few weeks ago, it looked like defensive tackle and offensive line would be the positions to watch as signing day nears. Now, both running back and wideout can be added to the list of signing day storylines. 

The passing game is in need of some fine tuning, and we should continue to be on the lookout for another addition between now and Feb. 1.

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