MOVING ON UP

Ohio State recently welcomed Chesterfield, Virginia, Lloyd C. Bird four-star defensive end Hakeem Beamon and his mother, Felecia, to campus for an unofficial visit.

“The trip went very well,” Beamon told Eleven Warriors. “I went on a tour of the football facilities and campus; met with coach [Urban] Meyer and coach [Larry] Johnson and had some really good conversations; and really enjoyed getting to see practice.”

The 6-foot-3, 245-pound Beamon is considered the 20th-best defensive tackle and No. 318 prospect overall, but — much like New Jersey four-star Tyler Friday last cycle — the Buckeyes are recruiting him at defensive end.

As mentioned, Beamon and his mother spent a considerable amount of time with Meyer and Johnson.

“We talked about the program as a whole and the opportunities and all the support for the players,” Beamon said. “With coach Johnson, we got to talk about my development. I really liked that.”

Beamon — a one-time North Carolina commit — holds more than a dozen offers from programs such as Alabama, Arkansas, Maryland, Penn State, South Carolina, Virginia and Virginia Tech, but two schools in particular stand out at this time.

“Ohio State and Alabama are my Top 2,” Beamon said. “[The Buckeyes] are there because of the strength of their program, the support system and opportunities coach Meyer offers. The staff seems genuine. Coach Johnson is a legend [and] I know that he could develop me and help me to be my best.”

WAR CHANT

Monroe, North Carolina, Sun Valley four-star quarterback Sam Howell will have a major announcement this evening.

Though it could certainly be a top schools list that would undoubtedly include Ohio State, it’s much more likely — as a source close to the signal caller indicated to Eleven Warriors — he’ll be committing to Florida State instead.

The 6-foot-1, 217-pound Howell, who is considered the fourth-best pro-style quarterback and No. 152 prospect overall in the Class of 2019, is one of the Buckeyes’ top targets this cycle. He’s been to campus twice before, most recently for an unofficial visit with his parents in mid-March.

“Obviously, coach [Urban] Meyer has had a great career and a program like Ohio State has a chance to win a national title every year,” Howell’s father, Duke, told Eleven Warriors. “I think all quarterbacks dream of that.”

Howell had built a strong relationship with offensive coordinators Kevin Wilson and Ryan Day, which dates back to his only other trip to Columbus for a one-day camp last summer. But the staff has yet to go “all in” on a quarterback this cycle, and that allowed the Seminoles to make a significant push in his recruitment during an unofficial visit over Easter weekend.

Howell has long wanted to make a decision before the beginning of his senior season, but was unsure if he would take official visits before announcing his intentions. Ohio State was in the running for one if that was the route he ultimately chose.

If Howell does commit to Florida State this evening, I doubt the staff gives up their pursuit entirely — he’s one of the nation’s best quarterbacks and Day is a big fan of what he brings to the table. But that said, it could also mean the Buckeyes focus more of their efforts on Texas four-star signal caller Grant Gunnell.

GET THE DEMATHA PIPELINE FLOWING

Hyattsville, Maryland, DeMatha Catholic four-star safety Nick Cross was one of four prospects with an offer from Ohio State invited to The Opening Finals on Sunday afternoon after he posted a 4.41-second laser-timed 40-yard dash and recorded two interceptions in one-on-one drills at the regional event in New Jersey — all while wearing gloves emblazoned with a giant Block “O”.

The 6-foot-1, 207-pound Cross is considered the 10th-best safety and No. 184 prospect overall in the Class of 2019, as he recorded 92 tackles, one interception, one sack and one forced fumble for the Stags last season.

He holds more than 30 offers from programs such as Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Penn State, Stanford and Virginia Tech, but I placed a 247Sports Crystal Ball prediction in favor of the Buckeyes following his unofficial visit last weekend.

“It was great,” Cross told Eleven Warriors when asked about his first trip to campus. “The overall prestige, the high standards… everything [stood out].

Cross, his parents and younger siblings got a tour of the Woody Hayes Athletic Center; watched practice; spent time with head coach Urban Meyer and co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach Alex Grinch; and viewed a unique presentation on how to create his own brand within the program. He also spoke briefly with defensive end Chase Young, his former teammate at DeMatha.

“They really were just great,” Cross said.

Cross — who will be joined in Dallas this summer by Maryland four-star linebacker Shane Lee; New Jersey four-star defensive end Antonio Alfano; and his teammate, four-star wide receiver DeMarcco Hellams — hopes to make a decision on his future before his senior season begins. And I wouldn’t be surprised if he pledged his services to the Buckeyes the next time he’s on campus, though a trip to Florida on April 14 is the only official visit he has planned at the juncture.

KNEW THIS WAS COMING

As first reported last week by Eleven Warriors, Ohio State hosted Park Hills, Kentucky, Covington Catholic four-star tight end Michael Mayer for an unofficial visit on Monday afternoon. And, as expected, he left campus with an offer from the Buckeyes in hand.

“It would mean a lot because coach Meyer is a great coach,” Mayer said on Thursday. “Ohio State is obviously a big football school. It would definitely mean a lot because they’re one of those schools that are competing for national championship every year.”

The 6-foot-5, 235-pound Mayer is considered the fifth-best tight end and No. 226 prospect overall in the Class of 2020, as he hauled in 14 catches for 235 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Colonels to the state championship last fall. He now holds a dozen offers from programs such as Alabama, Cincinnati, Kentucky, LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame and Penn State.

I hope to catch up with him in the coming days to gather his thoughts on the visit, so stay tuned to Eleven Warriors for more.