One of the key developments inside of the Ohio State football program during last season's national championship run was undoubtedly the emergence of the wide receiver group, highlighted by Devin Smith, Evan Spencer, Michael Thomas and Jalin Marshall.
Even with Smith and Spencer departing for the NFL, this year's group should still be a strength for the offense, thanks to the work that Zach Smith has done creating quality depth. The Buckeyes are likely to try and land three to four "true" wide receivers in 2016. Maple Heights athlete Kierre Hawkins and Cincinnati Moeller's Jake Hausmann have both already committed and likely to be talented pass-catchers, but neither is a pure wide receiver.
There are a few top prospects that were initially high on Ohio State that have already committed elsewhere, and it appears that right now there's little to no chance for the Buckeyes to make their way back into the discussion with Virginia's Scott Bracey, Florida's Nate Craig-Meyers and Sam Bruce, and others.
So, let's focus on the players who are most likely to wind up in Columbus, starting with – coincidentally – a non-pure wide receiver.
DEMARIO MCCALL
Ohio's top remaining uncommitted prospect, Demario McCall isn't necessarily a wide receiver, but he's also not necessarily a running back, so this is the list he falls on. The country's 50th-ranked player overall, McCall is a dynamic ball-carrier, able to hit the big play at any time.
McCall is projected, and expected, to end up a Buckeye, but the list of schools vying for his attention is growing. Ultimately, Alabama, Florida State, Oregon and West Virginia are a few of the big names that could upend the Buckeyes, although it is unlikely he ends up anywhere other than Columbus.
AUSTIN MACK
Austin Mack has been Ohio State's top wide receiver target since last summer when the Buckeyes hosted the Fort Wayne, Indiana product during a one-day camp. He's got the size and speed combination that makes him a much more appealing prospect than his ranking (No. 28 nationally at wide receiver) indicates.
The country's 128th-ranked prospect overall, Mack will announce on June 7 and the Buckeyes are the clear-cut favorite at this point, but Notre Dame, Tennessee, Florida State, Michigan and others are still vying for his attention. Mack will be back on campus at Ohio State on April 10. No matter where he commits in June, I expect the Hoosier state's second-ranked player to take at least three of his official visits come fall.
DONNIE CORLEY, JR.
One of Michigan's premiere prospects, Donnie Corley is the country's 20th-ranked wide receiver and a player that was very close to committing to Ohio State in January, but due to travel difficulties, his father wasn't able to make the visit to Columbus with him and it put a damper on those plans. Since then, the Detroit product has added a number of big offers and the race for his eventual commitment has intensified ten-fold.
Ohio State, Michigan, Notre Dame and Michigan State are the teams most commonly associated with Corley, but ultimately I think Michigan is the biggest threat. If the Buckeyes are able to get Corley – and more importantly his entire family – back on campus it would be a major boost in their pursuit of the 6-foot-2, 180-pound wideout.
BINJIMEN VICTOR
When Binjimen Victor visited Ohio State last summer, the Coconut Creek wide receiver got an extended view of Columbus: he was on campus and in the city for almost a week. When he left, the Buckeyes were one of his favorite schools and he a top target for their coaching staff. Since then, the Buckeyes have maintained their interest, but Victor has not returned to Columbus, although he says he intends to.
Victor has already earned an invitation to Nike's The Opening after a strong showing at a Miami regional camp and the Buckeyes, led by Zach Smith and Tony Alford, will have a fight on their hands until signing day. Victor is one of the country's premiere "big" wide receivers and at 6-foot-4 he's the ideal outside threat that Urban Meyer is looking for.
JOSHUA HAMMOND
Another Florida standout, Joshua Hammond intends to visit Columbus to spring or early this summer. A three-star prospect with a five-star offer list, Hammond is from Hallandale, a school the Buckeyes almost struck gold at in 2015 with linebacker Sh'Mar Kilby-Lane. At 6-foot-1, 180 pounds, Hammond is likely a bit undervalued nationally. He's ranked only as the country's 58th-ranked wide receiver, despite offers from Ohio State, Notre Dame, Florida, Miami, Florida State, LSU and many others.
Hammond's brother, Frankie, played at Florida for Urban Meyer and is now a member of the Kansas City Chiefs.
JUSTIN LAYNE
Ohio's top pure wide receiver in 2016, Cleveland Benedictine's Justin Layne has a Buckeye offer but has – as of now – held off on making any college decisions. There's some thought that the longer Layne waits, the less likely it is he ends up at Ohio State and there's likely some truth in that. The 16th-ranked wide receiver nationally, Layne is everything you look for physically at 6-foot-3 and 180 pounds. He's a natural pass-catcher and is also an excellent defensive player for the Bengals of Benedictine, where he teamed up with 2015 Buckeyes signee Jerome Baker.
Layne is also considering Michigan State and recent speculation has the Spartans as the team most likely to steal the state's top wide receiver. Michigan State already has a commitment from Cam Chambers, a four-star wide receiver from New Jersey that was at one time a Buckeye target.
AHMIR MITCHELL
The Buckeyes have already landed the top running back in New Jersey for 2016 (Kareem Walker) and are one of the top schools on the list of Ahmir Mitchell. A 6-foot-2, 190-pound athlete, Mitchell isn't a pure wide receiver but that's the position Ohio State and most others are recruiting him for. He's the country's 88th-ranked overall prospect and another star from the Garden State, a region Ohio State has made a concerted effort to penetrate this recruiting cycle.
Mitchell has a short list already – six teams – and the Buckeyes are high on his list. Ohio State trailed only Rutgers on Mitchell's list, which was released in order in early March. Notre Dame, Virginia Tech, Ole Miss and Michigan rounded out his top schools.
