Recruiting Notebook: Ohio State Commits, Targets in the New Scout 300, Tyjon Lindsey's Southern Swing, In-Depth With J.K. Dobbins and More

By Tim Shoemaker on July 18, 2016 at 10:10 am
Tyjon Lindsey at Auburn
via @tyjonlindsey
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We've discussed, at length, the talent level in Ohio State's 2017 recruiting class and how it has a chance to be one of the all-time best in recent history, so it should hardly come as a surprise when different recruiting services update their rankings and the lists are flooded with Buckeyes commitments and targets.

Scout produced its updated Scout 300 rankings over the weekend and, as expected, it's Ohio State heavy.

For the most part, the summer camp season is in the rearview mirror and prospects now turn their attention toward their upcoming seasons. The Buckeyes still have their annual Friday Night Lights camp scheduled for this week, but the majority of the camp circuit is behind us. It's a pretty good time of the year to update the recruiting rankings as we head into the fall.

Of Ohio State's 14 commits in the 2017 class, 12 are ranked in Scout's updated list of the top-300 prospects in the country and eight are in the top 100. The only two who are not in the new Scout 300 are quarterback Danny Clark and kicker Blake Haubeil.

Here is where Ohio State's current commits stand, via Scout:

Ohio State's 2017 Recruiting Class
SCOUT
RANK
PLAYER POSITION POS.
 RANK
14 Wyatt Davis OG 1
23 Josh Myers OT 5
26 Tate Martell QB 2
41 Haskell Garrett DT 3
53 Shaun Wade CB 4
72 J.K. Dobbins ATH 4
75 Isaiah Pryor S 6
94 Jake Moretti OT 15
106 Marcus Williamson CB 11
153 Brendon White ATH 9
206 Jerron Cage DT 14
275 Antjuan Simmons OLB 22
NR Danny Clark QB 26
NR Blake Haubeil K

Those are where the committed players currently sit, but there are plenty of Ohio State targets scattered throughout the updated rankings, as well. Top-100 prospects which the Buckeyes are currently pursuing, and in good position with, include: running back Cam Akers (No. 4 overall), linebacker Dylan Moses (No. 6), cornerback Darnay Holmes (No. 8), safety Jeffrey Okudah (No. 11), cornerback Lamont Wade (No. 17), offensive tackle Trey Smith (No. 20), wide receiver Trevon Grimes (No. 24), linebacker Baron Browning (No. 25), defensive end Chase Young (No. 28), wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones (No. 33), defensive tackle Jay Tufele (No. 35), wide receiver Tyjon Lindsey (No. 37), cornerback Jamyest Williams (No. 51) and cornerback Amir Riep (No. 91).

As you can see, there's still quite a bit of talent left to be had. The full, updated Scout 300 list can be seen here.

Tyjon Lindsey Visits Auburn, Alabama

One of Ohio State's top remaining 2017 targets, wide receiver Tyjon Lindsey, is scheduled to be on hand this upcoming weekend for Friday Night Lights. It's a key visit for the Buckeyes as it's likely the last time Lindsey gets to campus before his scheduled decision date of Aug. 22.

But before the Corona, California star makes his way to Columbus, he made a southern swing over the weekend to a pair of SEC powers: Auburn and Alabama.

Multiple reports indicate Auburn made quite the impression on the five-star wide receiver, but is it enough to overtake Ohio State or Nebraska — the two presumed co-favorites — to land Lindsey? That's difficult to say right now, but it certainly means Lindsey's upcoming visit to Columbus is even more important.

Going In-Depth With J.K. Dobbins

Ohio State running back commit J.K. Dobbins was one of the stars of The Opening and cemented himself as one of the very best in the country at his position. But like most, there's more to Dobbins than just making defenders miss on the football field.

Time Warner Cable in Austin, Texas recently did an excellent feature story on the La Grange High School star about life away from the football field. You can check it out here [there's no way to embed, sorry], and trust it's worth your time.

Pair of In-State 2018 LBs Visiting for Friday Night Lights

Friday Night Lights isn't all about the uncommitted prospects in the 2017 class. There will be plenty of 2018 targets, and beyond, there as well.

Dallas Gant and Christopher Oats, a pair of 2018 in-state outside linebacker prospects with offers from Ohio State, are both scheduled to be in attendance at Friday Night Lights this weekend, according to multiple reports.

Gant is a four-star prospect out of Toledo who is rated as the No. 4 outside linebacker in the country and the No. 74 overall prospect in the 2018 class. Oats is also a four-star recruit and the nation's No. 8-rated outside linebacker and No. 127 overall player. 

The Buckeyes already have Antjuan Simmons in the fold at linebacker for the 2017 class and are heavily pursuing Baron Browning and Anthony Hines, but if they can't land either of those prospects, linebacker becomes a huge position of need in 2018 even if 2017 athletes Isaiah Pryor and Brendon White end up at linebacker when they get to Ohio State.

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