11W Recruiting Mailbag: The Questions at Quarterback, 2018 Needs and More

If Ohio State only takes 1-2 WRs for the '17 class, how many will they take in 2018? – BuckeyesVsTheWorld

Birm: A year ago, it felt like we could be looking at one of the Buckeyes' most epic wide receiver hauls of all-time but numbers being what they've are, reality is setting in and with it, a slight settling of those high hopes.

Still, if you can bring in Trevon Grimes, Jaylen Harris and Tyjon Lindsey in this class, you have to, right? There are definitely some question marks about Harris and Lindsey and though Grimes has not backed off his statements that the Buckeyes are at the top of his list, there's nothing that's a certainty in recruiting, especially not for a Florida five-star.

In 2018, the Buckeyes will likely return every current wide receiver on the roster except for Corey Smith and Dontre Wilson, and if they land two big-timers in 2017 that gives them a little flexibility in 2018 to once again shoot for the stars and try to land one or two more five-star caliber kids next year.

If Shaun Wade comes back next weekend for his second visit, do you think we have a good chance of keeping him in this class? – APortis0214

Birm: Speaking of Florida five-stars, I do think that there's a much better chance for the Buckeyes to hold on to Shaun Wade right now than there was say, two months ago. Ohio State got to spend some important time with his parents this past weekend in Columbus and will get to continue building their relationship with Shaun himself when they see him and his teammates this week for a one-day camp visit.

Wade didn't commit to Ohio State 18 months ago just for fun. He is clearly happy and comfortable with his choice and it's a matter of cementing that opinion throughout his family if the Buckeyes hope to hold on to him until he enrolls in school next January.

Martell going to keep eliminating one-by-one or just commit soon? – KBonay

Birm: I am of the impression that Martell's decision will come this summer, though he says right now that it's 50/50 he'll decide before the season.

His top seven-turned-top five is likely really a top two or three, and the Buckeyes, Cal and maybe USC are are the top of the list. Martell is an intense competitor (he's not lost a high school game or a seven-on-seven game in years) and it's not hard to imagine that winning a recruiting championship may matter to him. A summer decision – especially if he's thinking about being a Buckeye – could have a huge impact on the rest of his potential class.

Who is going to be the most surprising member of this class yet to sign?  One who maybe is coming in under the radar a bit? – BKShepherd

Birm: I don't know if it's a "surprise" at this point because we've talked about him so frequently, but the Buckeyes really do believe they've got much more than a fighting chance to land Mississippi five-star running back Cam Akers. Tony Alford's work on Akers and his family has been well-publicized to this point but he's a guy that really could end up in the Ohio State recruiting class.

As far an "under-the-radar" guy goes, that's hard to say for a few reasons. Numbers are so tight that there won't be many flyers taken in this class but also, it's June 7th and "under-the-radar" guys are just that: under the radar. Last year in June we'd never heard the names Jahsen Wint or Rodjay Burns, but come February they were signed and delivered. 

New names will emerge, that's a pretty safe guarantee.

What position do you feel will be the biggest need in the 2018 class and why? – JDunc686

Birm: Ohio State will sign a couple of really good offensive linemen in 2017 with Josh Myers and Jake Moretti (and perhaps one more before February) but I think that position – along with the defensive end spot – will be of major importance in 2018. The odds are that right now Sam Hubbard and Tyquan Lewis end up in the 2017 NFL Draft and the Buckeyes will probably only bring in one defensive end in the 2017 recruiting class. They'll need to land a couple big-timers at that spot next year.

Obviously without naming names are you aware of any silent verbals? – RyanHambyHands

Birm: There are absolutely a few players out there that aren't currently committed to Ohio State publicly that have told the coaching staff that they intend to choose the Buckeyes. Will that bind the player to Ohio State? Nope. Will it guarantee that when their decision is public that the Buckeyes will be the choice? Nope. 

Just means the Ohio State staff in a good spot with those players and feels good about where they stand.

Do we even have a real shot at Jay Tufele? – BuckyBaller

Birm: Of course, he's listing them at the top of his list, although he's never visited the school to this point. Normally a player of Tufele's magnitude – he's the country's third-ranked defensive tackle – wouldn't be a realistic option until he's made a visit but let's be honest, 2017 has been weird.

Ohio State landed Haskell Garrett, the country's fourth-ranked defensive tackle from Nevada, and JK Dobbins, a Top 50 player from Texas, without ever receiving a visit from them. The things that were once, are no more. Players, their coaches and their parents are far more savvy about the recruiting process than they used to be and are directing the events much more than they used to.

Tufele is from Utah, where Urban Meyer ruled. He's close with Buckeye sophomore Branden Bowen and he's planning on visiting Ohio State this summer. We'll find out real quick if he's as serious about the Buckeyes as his most recent statements have indicated. 

How would you rank the top 5 programs in the country right now, taking into account on-field success, coaching, recruiting, player development, etc.? As a follow up, are the Buckeyes really in a simply reload position year in and year out now under Urban? – JohnnyKozmo

Birm: As much as you wish it weren't so, there's no doubt that right now the program to beat around the country is still Alabama. The Crimson Tide have won 450 straight recruiting national championships, four of the last seven actual national championships and are showing no sign of slowing down. They've dominated, and they're set to continue to do so. 

Beyond Nick Saban and the Tide, the list gets a bit tight, but I think Ohio State has shown it belongs in the conversation at No. 2, as does Clemson and Florida State, but I'd give the Buckeyes the slight edge and put Dabo Swinney's Tigers at No. 3, Jimbo's 'Noles and No. 4 and right now I think it's Brian Kelly and Notre Dame at No. 5.

There's no doubt that Meyer's Buckeyes are in a solid position to hold on to that second slot if Meyer sticks around for another handful of years, and right now there's no real sign that he's going to slow down.

If for some reason Martell and Mond both go elsewhere do we just go with one QB (Clark) and go after 2 QBs in 2018 or do we renew interest (if there was any) in guys like Johnson, Robinson and Clifford? – TraSmith4

Birm: I think that there's no doubt the interest in TCU commitment Shawn Robinson – which hasn't ever really waned – would kick back up a notch or two. Robinson's an excellent fit for the Ohio State offense and will continue to be recruited by the Buckeyes no matter what.

Sean Clifford, the Penn State commitment from St. Xavier in Cincinnati, is an interesting possibility. He's someone the Buckeyes have kept tabs on and he's really been incredibly hot this summer and that has not gone unnoticed. He's emerged as the best quarterback in Ohio and one of the best in the Midwest and certainly would be worth a second look if things go south with Martell and Mond.

How well are the chances that Ohio State lands all 4 of their big targets from Texas (Dobbins, Okudah, Browning, and Wilson) You have to imagine if OSU signs Okudah, getting Browning might be easier. – BucksLan

Birm: I'd say not good, but that's because I really don't think the Buckeyes are a realistic option for Marvin Wilson at this point. Yes he immediately moved Ohio State into his "top three" when they offered but he's not been a realistic option since. 

If signing day were today, I truly believe they'd and Okudah, Browning and Dobbins, and that's a fairly crazy thing to say all things considered. Could landing those three help in reeling in Wilson? Of course, but it's just not likely.

Jackson Carman a lock, or as close to a lock as possible? – Sobchak

Birm: I don't like to use the word "lock" but yes, it'd be a major surprise if Carman ended up anywhere else. The country's 20th-ranked prospect in the 2018 class is Ohio's second-best prospect and like the top-ranked player in Ohio – Westerville's Jaelen Gill – there's been no shortage of attention paid to him by the Buckeyes.

They're not taking a potential commitment for granted and I'd not be surprised if the Fairfield star ends up being the first pledge in the class at some point.

If 18.5 is the over/under on players in this class what are you taking – BuckeyeBoy31

Birm: With 13 in the class right now, I'm putting my money on the over. I think it'd be a bit of a surprise if it ended at less than 20.

It's going to be a fun run to February.

Best underrated prospect in Ohio? – Def D

Birm: My favorite player in Ohio that's kind of "not talked about" enough is Springfield's Danny Davis. It's hard to call him "underrated" since he's a four-star prospect for the Wildcats but because he's not really vocal about his recruitment and there's some questions about whether or not he'd prefer to play football or basketball he's kind of left out of some conversations he'd otherwise be in. 

Davis is a rare athlete and he's got all the physical tools to be very high-level Division One football player if he were to really dive into the game and that's why Zach Smith and the Buckeyes have maintained communication with him throughout the last year. If he's healthy this summer and wants to have a chance to take someone else's spot in the 2017 recruiting class – say someone like Jaylen Harris – he'll need to show up at camp and step out of the shadows.

People on 11W always pay attention when you or Steve Wiltfong put in a Crystal Ball for a prospect the Buckeyes are pursuing. Which recruiting insiders get your attention when they make a pick? – Ahh Saturday

Birm: I certainly pay attention to Steve as far as national guys go. If he's got a beat on something it's worth paying attention to most of time as he's incredibly dialed in with a number of programs around the country. Beyond that, there are so many guys that have great insight into the programs that they cover that it'd be silly to try and list them all individually. 

The recruiting industry is a non-stop, around-the-clock industry and it's really great to be a part of this ever-growing fraternity, that much I'll say.