Wellllll, Game 1 of Warriors-Cavaliers did not go to plan. That's fine. It's a lot easier to beat LarBon Jim, the Kang, in one game than it is four over the course of seven.

LeBron James is 1-7 in NBA Finals Game 1s in his career pic.twitter.com/pODiMHJEpw

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 2, 2017

Though Ohio lives to fight another day, it's refreshing to know our governor has her constituents' back by providing a rallying cry:

Rihanna: "it doesn't matter, bitch", as she passes Cavs locker room. pic.twitter.com/6DJDBL25Gj

— Tony Zarrella (@TonyZ19) June 2, 2017

ICYMI:

• Four-star DE Andrew Chatfield committed to Ohio State last night.
• In Chatfield, the local team landed one of the most versatile athletes in the country.
• Heat Check: Ohio State has the No. 2 class of 2018 and two top 50 prospects are set to announce in join.
• Keith Byars, Jim Otis, and Chris Ward nominated for the College Football Hall of Fame.
• Help put a life-size statue of Woody Hayes in his hometown of Newcomerstown, Ohio.

Word of the Day: Souse.

 AUBURN ON SOME BULLSHIT. Ohio State made a run for four-star DT Antwuan Jackson in 2015-16. For whatever reason, Jackson chose to enroll at Auburn instead.

But after one season at Alabama's second most famous football school, Jackson is looking to move to greener pastures. Unfortunately, he can't land at Ohio State because the NCAA's draconian transfer laws allow schools to block grown men from making certain decisions about their life.

From thestate.com:

Jackson said he doesn’t know what he’ll do if his appeal is denied. Going to junior college for a season is on the table as well as schools in other Power 5 Conferences like the Big 10, Big 12 or ACC.

“My question was: Why are they blocking Ohio State for no reason?” Jackson said. “They just put Ohio State on there for no reason. My question to them is why are they blocking me from a Big Ten school when they don’t have anything to do with Big Ten schools? Why didn’t they block me from Michigan or Indiana or any other Big Ten school? Why would they do that immediately?”

Also included in that list: Any SEC school, Clemson, Mercer, and Georgia Southern. (Auburn apparently couldn't beat Mercer or Georgia Southern this fall if Jackson transferred there.)

But this is another example of the NCAA's ham-fisted policies when it comes to players. Coaches can leave in the dead of night for a sack of money. Yet when it comes to players controlling their destiny, you get things like Bill Snyder rambling about why it's actually good his school banned a player from transferring to 35 other schools:

Bill Snyder goes on a dissertation about the decision to deny Corey Sutton the opportunity to transfer. @KCTV5#KState#KstateFBpic.twitter.com/qTUkfnb7bO

— Andrew Carter (@Andrew__Carter) June 2, 2017

For guys that get paid millions of dollars to coach football teams, they seem insecure about their ability to win if a menial player transfers to another school. Somehow that's gross professionalization of an amateur sport while their ballooning salaries are not.

Let's move on before I take my shirt off.

 SLOB SPRING CLEANING. Three offensive position groups face scrutiny from fans this season: Wide receivers, the line, and J.T. Barrett.

Of the Slobs, the right guard spot is the most volatile. Demetrius Knox looked to separate himself during spring yet missed the end of spring practice due to the always ominous "academic issues."

That leaves the door open for guys like Matt Burrell.

From Kyle Morgan of theozone.net:

The void at Right Guard will be heavily contested throughout Fall camp and one that could even fluctuate as the season rolls along. Redshirt Sophomore Matthew Burrell used a solid Spring to propel himself into the conversation, and displayed a well-rounded skill set in April’s Spring Game. Burrell uses good hand timing and placement, as well as the ability to independently use his arms and legs to anchor versus opponents. Furthermore, Matthew uses good lateral agility and footwork to match defenders in pass protection and is most successful when he utilizes good pad level at the point of contact. This is something Burrell will have to execute consistently if he hopes to win the starting spot.

Burrell is a guy I really liked when he committed. Coaches identified him as a "must-have" prospect of the now-maligned 2015 class. Billy Price raved about the growth of Burrell this spring.

If he transfers that into the summer, he could make be Ohio State's starting right guard when it kicks off its 2017 season on Aug. 31 against Indiana in Bloomington.

 TALENTED #TEEN COMMITS. Here's a thing to watch tonight: Four-star 2018 linebacker Teradja Mitchell will announce his collegiate commitment at 7 p.m. from the confines of Bishop Sullivan Catholic High School in Virginia Beach.

It's a fight between the local team and the Florida State Honey Barbecue Chickens.

Florida State is obviously the favorite, but my three wise cats say otherwise. Pick your GIFs accordingly, folks.

And for those uninitiated to Mitchell's powers, here's why he's one of the top high school inside linebackers in the country:

 ZEKE JUDGMENT SOON. It looks like the NFL's 12-month investigation into allegations of Ezekiel Elliott domestically abusing his then-girlfriend will be complete before the 2017 season kicks off in September.

From dallasnews.com:

Sources confirm that representatives for the Cowboys running back and the NFL Players Association have turned over phone records and other documents to the league. Those acquainted with the process view this as one of the final steps on the way to a resolution, one that should come before the regular season begins.

The league’s investigation into allegations of domestic violence by Elliott is now in its 12th month. Commissioner Roger Goodell has publicly stated there’s no timetable, that the process is driven by the need to be thorough “and to come to the right conclusion.’’

Politics and public perception has more to do with this prolonged investigation than exhaustive due diligence. A league that didn’t take the issue of domestic abuse seriously enough for too long needs to assure the public it now does.

Please remember: I did not type that third paragraph. Those opinions are not mine.

 THIS AUTHOR MUST HAVE A LOT OF SEX. Alright, which one of ya'll broke this author's fragile heart and prevented them from living a fulfilled life in the cradle of civilization?

Ohio State, famous for its "shattering mediocrity." (From a book I didn't like and don't recommend.) pic.twitter.com/efNIksnNZl

— Kaitlin Fochesato (@KaitFochesato) June 1, 2017

Columbus: Not for the weak at heart.

 THOSE WMDs. The best sportswriting advice I ever received... A visit to the robot factory in Ohio... Gregg Allman's over there... Sequence of Juno Spacecraft's close approach to Jupiter... Vietnam Veterans Memorial founder: Wall almost never got built... The joy of fax.

Urban Meyer is known as one of the most aggressive coaches in college football. But Ohio State's head coach and the Buckeyes did not rank at the top of one metric that helps measure such a mindset in their own conference.

In recent seasons, the Buckeyes have ranked near the middle of the Big Ten in fourth-down attempts, both a byproduct of having high-scoring offenses, various game situations where such plays arise and other things. As Michael Citro outlined two summers ago, Meyer tends to lean on his offense in those situations. But not as often as you might think.

Here are fourth down statistics from Big Ten teams in the 2016 season, ranked by the number of attempts:

To compare how things changed from one season to the next, here are the same categories from the 2015 season:

What all these numbers tell us is that for the most part, teams and head coaches are who they are when they face a fourth-down decision throughout the course of a game. Purdue, desperate for any opportunity to keep possession in the hope of scoring some points, went for it on fourth down more than any other Big Ten team the last two seasons. That didn't translate into many wins for Darrell Hazell — five total — and he lost his job because of it.

In his first season at Rutgers, Chris Ash went for it on fourth down fewer times than his predecessor Kyle Flood. The Scarlet Knights struggled to a woeful 2-10 season in 2016 and featured one of the most inept scoring offenses in the country. Rutgers scored only 15.7 points per game, second-fewest in college football. Does this mean Ash will change his philosophy in his second year as a head coach? We'll see.

Other first-year Big Ten coaches Lovie Smith at Illinois and DJ Durkin at Maryland showed a much different philosophy from their predecessors on fourth downs. Smith went for it nine fewer times, while Durkin pulled the trigger eight more.

Additionally, new Ohio State offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson's Indiana teams attempted at least 20 fourth down conversions in each of his six seasons in Bloomington. Meyer's Buckeyes eclipsed 20 attempts in every season since 2012 except two, his first year and 2015 when they tried 19 times.

Meyer led arguably the most talented team in the nation two years ago, with 12 draft picks on it a season after winning the inaugural College Football Playoff. The struggles with his offense the last two seasons have been well-documented here, primarily with the passing game. Yet the Buckeyes only went for it twice more in 2016 than in 2015 and remained extremely efficient in doing so, especially on a national scope.

Wisconsin is known for its steady ground and pound attack and went 10-3 and 11-3 in Paul Chryst's first two seasons at the helm. A powerful running game didn't yield too many fourth down attempts, however, just 20 total. That is as much or fewer attempts than seven Big Ten teams for just the 2016 season.

Seventy teams converted 10 or more times on fourth down in 2016. Nearly one-tenth of them (9/70) resided in the Big Ten, including Ohio State. In fact, the Buckeyes have double-digit fourth-down conversions in every season under Meyer except for his first, when they converted seven times on nine tries in 2012. Still remarkably efficient, the lower attempt number could be chalked up to Meyer still installing his system, recruiting players that fit it and really only trusting one player with the ball that season — quarterback Braxton Miller.

Meyer has shown that he isn't afraid to go for it on fourth down when he feels his team needs a jolt, should keep possession in the hope of eventually scoring a touchdown, or doesn't wholly trust his placekicker. Ohio State converted all three of its fourth-down attempts in the national championship game against Oregon two years ago, as well as its lone attempts against Indiana and Michigan that season. You might remember the latter:

Meyer's kicking game has been inconsistent at best in recent years at Ohio State. In his first two years in Columbus, the Buckeyes attempted only 21 field goals, making 17. Sean Nuernberger went 13-of-20 in the national championship season, combined with Duke transfer Jack Willoughby to make 10-of-15 in 2015 and then yielded to walk-on Tyler Durbin last season. Durbin was a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award as college football's best kicker after he made his first 10 attempts. He finished the season 17-of-22.

In conclusion, every coach has different philosophies about going for it on fourth down. It also requires a general bit of feel from the guy calling the shots on offense, how he feels his offensive line is playing, how he feels his defense is stopping the offense on the other side and the game's time and score.

To illustrate that, we close with Meyer's quote following the 2014 Michigan game, when he was asked about the run you see in the video above from Ezekiel Elliott.

“It worked so I'll take credit for that. That was mine,” he said. “We gave them a little set that we haven't been in before with the two backs in the backfield and a little motion over the top to try to hold the backers, because their backers are so downhill, and I simply asked our offensive line coach very charismatically, can we get it?

“And without hesitation, he looked me right in the eye and said we can.

“And a lot of conversation went into the play call about who we're going to run behind and you run right behind [Pat] Elflein and Taylor [Decker], and they're good players. And had all the confidence in the world.”

“In the end, it was the [Saturday] afternoons he couldn't cope with, and that terrible listlessness which starts to set in at about 2:55, when you know that you've had all the baths you can usefully have that day, that however hard you stare at any given paragraph in the papers you will never actually read it, or use the revolutionary new pruning technique it describes, and that as you stare at the clock the hands will move relentlessly on to four o'clock, and you will enter the long dark teatime of the soul.”

– Douglas Adams, Life, the Universe, and Everything

Schedules are out! Kind of! At the very least, this week we learned a few of the times of several marquee games that Ohio State will be playing in the 2017 season. The Michigan game will be at noon, as it should be (and more on this later), there are some very dumb night games, including, of course, the opener against Indiana, some less dumb night games (Oklahoma), and then three games rendered interminable by the fact that they take place in that long dark teatime which Douglas Adams so aptly described.

Matchups against Penn State,Maryland, and Army will all occur in a window of time designed for maximum malaise, as they will all start in the 3:30ish timeframe, a section of the day in which you're unable to get anything worthwhile done either before or after said game. I'll elaborate more on my Unified Theory of College Football Start Times in a bit, but don't forget: this isn't just for me, this is for all of those players out there who understand the inherent limitations in having to play a contact sport in the yawningest part of the day.

Nah 3:30 perfect https://t.co/CShqvKBlwJ

— QB KILLA (@JayHolmes_) May 31, 2017

Aw whatever Jalyn! You don't know what you're talking about! You don't understand the pain that my colleagues and I face, sitting on various couches and chairs to write about football, sometimes when we'd rather be jumping in piles of leaves or bobbing for apples or roasting pumpkin seeds.

Because really, if we're getting down to why a 3:30 start in college football is so toxic, we have to start with the premise that fall in Ohio is both fleetingly short and completely awesome.

In truth, my falls are all about clever time management as much as they're about football and anything else that you might want to do. Apple picking, picking out pumpkins, hay rides, haunted houses, various pie-related festivals and all the other trappings of fall in the Midwest are not optional. Like an enjoyment of football, they are federally mandated requirements that all must partake in. The problem arises, as it has every autumn in my adulthood, when Ohio State football and the closest thing that we really have to a unique culture begin to overlap and I have to start making decisions about how I'm going to spend the three or four Saturdays in central Ohio a year that are neither too hot, too humid, or too filled with bugs.

That's fall in Ohio. A beautiful pastiche of farmer's markets and iso running plays, and unfortunately one will always sacrifice time to the other. And that's fine, but I can't deny the pull of the apple orchard even as J.T. Barrett is kicking some ass in Ohio Stadium.

Plus, you know, a lot of these midseason games just suck out loud.

October 8th, 2016 in Columbus was an incredible day. 66 degrees, partly cloudy and a slight breeze as around 3:30 that afternoon, over 107,000 people in Ohio Stadium watched a wet fart of a game against Indiana in which the Buckeyes sleepwalked through the entire game and still won by three touchdowns. Urban Meyer dubbed it "awkward," and that's probably a generous assessment of well over three hours of constant boredom occasionally broken by a nervous sweat as you realize that time is linear and you couldn't go back and start the day over by hiking in Hocking Hills or something instead.

The thing is though, football itself is not the problem here, it's simply the timing. Like Liz Lemon eating a giant sandwich before meeting her boyfriend at an airport terminal, you really can have it all. And if you're smart, you will face no regrets over choosing a stomping of Maryland or Rutgers over two dollar popcorn and mulled cider bought at a petting zoo/farmer's market. But a 3:30 game doesn't help.

So below is my football starting time clock of maximum endeavor, which in the future, Gene Smith/Urban/Delany/whoever else has input on scheduling should definitely check out in an effort to make my fall Saturdays as convenient as possible.

Clearly the optimal times are earlier and later in the day, no shock there. But everyone knows the utility of a well-placed night game (away openers against Indiana absolutely do not count), so I want to extol the virtues of early morning games for a second:

• Early start times force fans and player alike to pretend to be functional human beings before noon on a weekend, a healthy endeavor
• Fun way to reinforce rare positive stereotypes about Midwest grit and hard work and just a couple of farm boys, milking cows and bailing hay and blah blah blah
• Really pisses off people in the SEC
• A mythical 11 am game leaves you with four or five perfectly good hours of sunlight with which to make a homemade Joey Bosa Halloween costume or learn how to cook a turkey

Avoid the red, powers-that-be. Any start between 2ish and 5 is too early to give any self respecting person enough time to really enjoy a morning of kayaking in one of Ohio's many rivers or lake-esque reservoirs, and too late to allow for the nap that will be necessary to want to go out and do anything else for the rest of what remains of the vanishing sunlight.

A 3:30 start is a slap in the face, because the games are too often interminable, end right as dinner is about to start, and kill any momentum that you might've had going on the best day of the week during the best season of the year. There are no replacements. Fridays are for high school football and trying to figure out which teenagers you could beat in armwrestling. Sundays are for mourning the fact that you're still somehow emotionally invested in the Browns and Bengals.

So that puts the burden on Saturday, as it alone can bear both our hopes and dreams for Ohio State football while also satisfying our desire to gawk at half-ton gourds. The solution? 3:30 is right out. Noon, night, or nothing.

It is my most fervent hope that through careful scheduling, Ohio State fans can become enriched by all of the wondrous fall activities that this state has to offer while also enjoying their beloved Buckeyes at their leisure. In doing so, we avoid the long dark teatime of the soul, and maybe catch on to a little of what even Jim Harbaugh seems to have realized.

Eleven Warriors is the largest independent college sports site on the internet, and we're dedicated to providing Buckeye fans with up-to-the-minute news, analysis, and humor through an easy-to-use and forever-free platform.

We can't do that without 12th Warriors, an elite cabal of readers that subscribes for $85 a year—less than 24 cents a day.

The reasons to join are clear.

1. $40 DRY GOODS VOUCHER
   Each subscription comes with a $40 voucher to our fabled Dry Goods. Home delivery.
2. PREMIUM FORUM ACCESS AND OTHER EXCLUSIVE OPPORTUNITIES
   ​The Premium Forum is as real as it is amazing. We also give 12th Warriors first crack at new t-shirts and invites to exclusive events wherever the Buckeyes may be playing.
3. BUYING LOCAL
   Eleven Warriors isn't based in Nashville, New York, Washington D.C., or Atlanta like our carpetbagging competitors. Your money stays in Ohio, as Woody Hayes intended.
4. INDEPENDENT SITE
   Our monthly hosting fee is the equivalent of a mortgage payment. We send three reporters to every football game and most basketball games while covering off-season events like combines and drafts, too. That coverage isn't lucrative; it's crucial to our credibility. Unfortunately it's not cheap and we can't rely on the coffers of our corporate overlords to underwrite it.
5. WE'RE NOT A #CONTENT FARM
   ​We pride ourselves on doing things the right way despite existing in the cesspool that is 21st century digital sports journalism. We don't clickbait social media. We don't arrange headlines as questions or optimize for search engines – you won't see “What time does the Ohio State game start?” over here.
6. PAY IT FORWARD
   ​The benefit that will feel best: Helping maintain a free fountain of information that thousands of Buckeye fans, that you will never meet, have come to rely upon.

Join today and become a pillar of a unique and thriving Buckeye community.

Ohio State's head coach is one of college football's best recruiters, and he's signed top-10 classes in every year he's been in Columbus. In fact, under Meyer, the Buckeyes have been outside the top-five just once (2015).

But that doesn't mean Meyer and Co. haven't had some recruiting misses along the way. There aren't many, but there are some. That's OK, too, because recruiting misses happen at every single college football program in the country. At a program like Ohio State, though, where nearly every single prospect who signs is a top-ranked recruit, those mistakes are a bit more magnified and often lead many to ask "what if?"

With that, let's take a look at some of the biggest recruiting misses at Ohio State under Meyer. These aren't necessarily ranked in any order but rather just a list of five players who came to Columbus with lofty expectations and simply didn't meet the hype.

Mike Mitchell — ★★★★ LB— Plano, Texas

A former top-100 prospect, it was a big deal when Ohio State landed Mike Mitchell out of the Lone Star State. In the 2013 class, Mitchell was the 56th-ranked player and the No. 6-rated outside linebacker.

As many do, Mitchell redshirted his first year in Columbus. However, he opted to transfer from the Buckeyes after just one season having never played a down. Mitchell wound up at Texas Tech where he recorded seven tackles in nine career games before opting to move on from that program, as well. Mitchell reportedly wound up at Southeastern University. 

Cameron Burrows — ★★★★ DB— Dayton, Ohio

Another top-100 recruit and the No. 2-ranked prospect in the state of Ohio in the 2013 class, Cameron Burrows was expected to be the next big-name defensive back to play for the Buckeyes. He came in as a corner but played most of his career at nickel or safety.

Burrows' career started on special teams and he recorded 28 tackles over his first two seasons in Columbus, but his final two years were hampered by injury and his career came to an end following the 2016 season without ever really getting started. He remains part of the program, however, as a student coach.

Evan Lisle — ★★★★ OL— Dayton, Ohio

A lot of people (OK, me) forget Evan Lisle was a top-100 prospect and an Army All-American coming out of Centerville High School in the 2013 class. Lisle was rated as the nation's No. 6 offensive tackle in his class, but never really found his footing at Ohio State.

He completed his four-year career without ever making a start. However, he graduated following the 2016 season and transferred to Duke, where he will use his final year of eligibility as a graduate transfer.

Kyle Berger — ★★★★ LB— Cleveland, Ohio

It's unfortunate when an injury derails a college career before it ever really starts, but that's precisely what happened with Kyle Berger, a four-star linebacker prospect who came to Ohio State by way of Cleveland powerhouse St. Ignatius.

Berger was ranked as the nation's 10th-rated outside linebacker in the 2014 class, but multiple knee injuries cut his career short following just two years in the program. 

Torrance Gibson — ★★★★ ATH— Fort Lauderdale, Florida

It was a huge deal when Meyer pulled one of the 2015 class' best athletes out of the Sunshine State as Torrance Gibson committed to the Buckeyes over a handful of other top programs around the country.

Gibson was a high school quarterback but moved to wide receiver during his first season in Columbus. He redshirted that first year and then when many expected him to take the leap in his second season, he was suspended for the fall semester at Ohio State and thus ineligible to play. Following the year, Gibson announced his intentions to transfer from the program. He is expected to redshirt again this season at Cincinnati under former Buckeyes defensive coordinator Luke Fickell.

Cavs in 7

As part three of the NBA Finals featuring the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors begins, Buckeyes took to Twitter Thursday night to show their support for "The Land".

Let's go @cavs#DefendtheLand#NBAFinals2017pic.twitter.com/87FNiehrx8

— Sean Buckley (@OSUCoachBuckley) June 2, 2017

#DefendTheLandpic.twitter.com/vmt3MWIlFJ

— Jordan Fuller (@j_fuller4) June 2, 2017

#ALLin216pic.twitter.com/REE64lpdpk

— Marshon Lattimore (@shonrp2) June 2, 2017

#DefendtheLand

— Jerome Baker Jr. (@Lastname_Baker) June 2, 2017

However, not everyone supports the Cavs.

Warriors in 5

— Eli Apple (@EliApple13) June 2, 2017

Also, this series can easily start an argument amongst friends.

How can you be from Ohio and not rock with with the Cavs

— Justin Hilliard (@JHilliard47) June 2, 2017

Easy

— Demetrius Knox (@Meech_Dream14) June 2, 2017

Boy you from Texas https://t.co/RDBQ3oGG4J

— Marshon Lattimore (@shonrp2) June 2, 2017

Springfield Ohio

— Demetrius Knox (@Meech_Dream14) June 2, 2017 

You aren't from Ohio stop flexing on twitter

— Brady Taylor (@beTaylor79) June 2, 2017

I was born in this state before you youngin

— Demetrius Knox (@Meech_Dream14) June 2, 2017

Tell these people the truth pic.twitter.com/OgAQDsIeAp

— Brady Taylor (@beTaylor79) June 2, 2017 

pic.twitter.com/t0x8XZyCpF

— Demetrius Knox (@Meech_Dream14) June 2, 2017

Campus Collection

Despite it being summer break for Ohio State students, there was some activity in the world of Twitter — and here are the tweets that made the cut this week.

We begin with guys freaking out about Gareon Conley's shoes.

Just copped the retro vapors .. somebody please get @Nike to start making these again #vaporcarbonflytd#GOATcleatspic.twitter.com/JJVXXjazha

— Gareon Conley (@_gconley8) June 1, 2017 

where you get them at fam https://t.co/DNUNpkpG5k

— Eli Apple (@EliApple13) June 1, 2017

They was black and blue at first tho and our eq dude just painted em black for me

— Gareon Conley (@_gconley8) June 1, 2017

Easily the greatest cleats to ever be made. Period. https://t.co/Uk8bDCgCyt

— Stephen Collier (@S13Collier) June 1, 2017

You feel me lol

— Gareon Conley (@_gconley8) June 1, 2017

Additionally, Drue Chrisman has a hot take.

I've said this once before and I'll say it again.. Waffle House is taking over the world

— Drue Chrisman (@DChrisman18) May 28, 2017

Marshon Lattimore doesn't feel like himself on a yacht.

Feel like Kyrie Irving on the Yacht lmao pic.twitter.com/5WbzpIQS73

— Marshon Lattimore (@shonrp2) May 27, 2017

What's your field goal percentage? https://t.co/riNo16mJji

— ichael Hill (@MichaelReal77) May 27, 2017

Chris Worley seems to be enjoying his internship.

Working the memorial tournament !! Lol pic.twitter.com/bM7FhGmtmc

— Christopher Worley (@TheRealJizzle35) May 31, 2017

Dre'Mont Jones apparently annihilated Liam McCullough at pool.

@LiamMcCullough2 sucks in pool

— Johnnie L. Dixon III (@YoungKing_JD5) May 30, 2017

@LiamMcCullough2 loss to @theofficial_80 2 times within 30 seconds smh

— Johnnie L. Dixon III (@YoungKing_JD5) May 30, 2017

And Malik Barrow received birthday wishes in the best way.

Happy Birthday @MalikB_54 Love you pic.twitter.com/V6n1sOrAbG

— Malcolm Barrow (@bigtime_76) May 21, 2017

Love you too pops!!! https://t.co/FqjeoytTPt

— Malik Barrow (@MalikB_55) May 21, 2017

Tweet of the Week

This week's Tweet of the Week goes to Sean Melton of men's gymnastics, simply for being awesome.

Gotta risk it to get the biscuit. pic.twitter.com/tyAt0WoVWx

— Sean Melton (@MeltonSean) May 31, 2017

Go Bucks!

COUNTING DOWN THE MINUTES

Decision day has arrived for Virginia Beach Bishop Sullivan four-star linebacker Teradja Mitchell.

The 6-foot-2, 243-pounder holds more than 30 offers from top programs all over the country, but is set to choose between finalists Florida State and Ohio State at 7 o'clock this evening.

We've detailed his recruitment quite extensively over the last two months, but here's one last refresher.

The Seminoles have long been considered the favorite for Mitchell, the second-ranked inside linebacker and No. 38 prospect overall in the Class of 2018, but the tide began to change when Mitchell made his second trip to Columbus in early April. The staff rolled out the red carpet and showed Mitchell how they'll not only prepare him for a long career in the NFL, but also set him up for life after football.

The staff felt extremely confident in its chances, especially after Mitchell accelerated his announcement plans from the fall to late May or early June. But a trip to Tallahassee in mid-May tempered the excitement a bit on Ohio State's end.

Florida State, surprisingly, did not put the full-court press on Mitchell and his parents that weekend, though. With most of the team out of town thanks to the semester coming to a close the week prior, the visit pretty much consisted of touring the facilities and meeting with academic advisers and the coaching staff — all things Mitchell had done previously.

Fisher and Haggins obviously felt confident in their standing, which makes a lot of sense given their relationship with Mitchell goes back two years. Mitchell's good friends, Levonta Taylor and Khalan Laborn, made the same move from Virginia Beach in recent years, as well. But that uneventful visit also gave Ohio State a renewed hope, despite having a quarter of the time invested.

As of early this afternoon, Mitchell had not informed either staff of his decision. He's kept everything close to the vest and most recruiting analysts believe it'll be the flip of a coin. However, my sources in the 757, whom I trust greatly, continue to feel as if Ohio State will be the pick.

The two programs — as Mitchell alluded to — offer similar things. They've both won a national championship in the last five years and are among the nation's leaders in sending players to the National Football League over that same span.

Given Florida State's success in Hampton Roads, this would typically go in the Seminoles' favor. But it's the off-the-field things, such as the Buckeyes' Real Life Wednesdays program, that resonated with Mitchell and his family.  

ANOTHER SWELL IS BUILDING

Last night, Ohio State landed a pledge from Fort Lauderdale American Heritage four-star defensive end Andrew Chatfield. It came as a surprise to some, but as I mentioned in his commitment article, he'd long coveted an offer from the Buckeyes — wouldn't you know, he actually tried to commit to the staff last year sans offer.

It wasn't until defensive line coach Larry Johnson and defensive backs coach Kerry Coombs watched him in person during the Patriots' scrimmage last week that the offer was handed out. And once that happened, it was only a matter of time before he made the call.

The assistants were also impressed by Chatfield's teammate, four-star defensive tackle Nesta Silvera, and offered him a scholarship that same night. And who wouldn't want to watch the two come off the same side of the football for at least the next four years?

#ESPN300 DT & #Canes commit @NJS_ERA (Nesta Silvera) was a wrecking ball tonight at American Heritage spring scrimmage pic.twitter.com/Obun1IoE4z

— Gerry Hamilton (@HamiltonESPN) May 24, 2017

Though he's been committed to Miami since February, those close to the program feel he's considering flipping his pledge from the Hurricanes to the Buckeyes.

Ohio State already holds a commitment from IMG Academy five-star defensive tackle Taron Vincent, but Silvera is better suited to play as a one-technique nose tackle. Pairing the two would make for one massive haul — both physically and because it would steal a prized recruit away from Miami, the only team ahead of Ohio State in the 247Sports Team Rankings.

Unlike Chatfield, Silvera has never been to Columbus, and could very well wait until he makes the trip this summer to make a decision on his future. Or he could easily do it on Twitter this evening and continue to build his relationship with the staff thereafter.

But no matter the timeline, the Buckeyes are clearly riding a wave of momentum in South Florida right now.  

IN A PEACH STATE OF MIND

Ohio State's coaching staff kept itself rather busy during the spring evaluation period, giving out offers almost left and right to prospects in all corners of the country. More than a dozen of them were handed out in Georgia, though, the latest one going to Buford offensive tackle Harry Miller.

Grateful to receive an offer from Ohio State! @BufordProspects@OhioStateFBpic.twitter.com/Faz9isB6Y3

— Harry Miller (@harrymiller76) June 2, 2017

The 6-foot-4, 310-pound Miller is not yet ranked by any major recruiting sites, but he plays for one of the best high school football programs in the country and will certainly be one of the top-rated prospects in the state for the Class of 2019 as a result. He's picked up 14 offers in the last two months, including from program such as Florida, Michigan, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas A&M and Virginia Tech.

What if I told you Ohio State's 2018 recruiting class could be even more star-studded than this year's haul, which featured a nation-high five five-star prospects?

Well, it's beginning to look more and more likely with each passing day, as the Buckeyes added its second four-star prospect less than 24 hours as Virginia Beach, Virginia, Bishop Sullivan linebacker Teradja Mitchell pledged his services during a ceremony at his high school Friday night.

C O M M I T E D 110% ...
To THE Ohio State University
SHHH ... #S1LVER8ULLETSpic.twitter.com/BCnpIcBvXC

— Teradja Mitchell (@WhosThatNumber7) June 2, 2017

The 6-foot-2, 232-pound Mitchell is considered the second-best inside linebacker and No. 38 prospect overall in the Class of 2018. He picked Ohio State over finalists Florida State.

Mitchell made his first visit to Columbus last November for the double-overtime win over Michigan and returned last month to watch a spring practice. Those close to the program felt good about the Buckeyes' chances, but a fourth trip in the last year to Tallahassee had things trending toward the Seminoles as of late.

"Both schools can develop me into the best person I can be. They both are championship contenders and they have great business programs," Mitchell said. "Wherever my heart feels is the best place for me [is where I'll go]. I've been praying to God about it and taking my time."

Mitchell becomes the 12th member of Ohio State's 2018 recruiting class, joining five-star defensive tackle Taron Vincent, five-star quarterback Emory Jones, four-star offensive tackle Max Wray, four-star defensive ends Andrew Chatfield and Brenton Cox, four-star linebacker Dallas Gant, four-star cornerback Sevyn Banks, four-star safeties Josh Proctor and Jaiden Woodbey, four-star running back Brian Snead and four-star all-purpose back Jaelen Gill.

Eleven Warriors will have more on Mitchell's pledge soon.

Ohio State landed a commitment this evening from one of the most athletic defenders in the country when Virginia Beach, Virginia, Bishop Sullivan four-star inside linebacker Teradja Mitchell pledged his services to the Buckeyes during a ceremony at his high school.

Let's take a look at what Mitchell — the No. 38 prospect overall in the Class of 2018 — brings to Columbus.

ON THE FIELD

Much like Ohio State linebacker Baron Browning, the 6-foot-2, 232-pound Mitchell is a hard-hitting defensive back in a middle linebacker's body. He's an athlete with great instincts who recognizes plays almost immediately and takes great angles when pursuing the ball carrier.

While very few passes get completed over the middle under his watch, Mitchell has great lateral movement in pass coverage and makes plays from sideline to sideline, so he's in on almost every play. Once the ball is released, he goes full speed and doesn't stop until he hits somebody.

Mitchell's size allows him to consistently overpower smaller defenders in blitzing situations, so he must continue to get stronger in order to take on much larger college linemen. And though his knowledge of offensive schemes is among the best I've ever seen from a high school linebacker, he too often tries to turn a simple tackle into a big-time hit.

Mitchell recently saw his stock drop after he showed up at Nike Football's The Opening Charlotte Regional last month a little heavier than expected and proceeded to run a 5.01-second 40-yard-dash with a vertical jump barely exceeding 30 inches.

Mitchell transferred from Bayside to Bishop Sullivan ahead of his junior season and recorded 106 tackles, 12 quarterback hurries, three sacks, three forced fumbles and two interceptions. He very nearly helped the Crusaders — in their first year as a private program — upset nationally ranked and undefeated IMG Academy in the final game of the year.

IN THE CLASS

Mitchell becomes the 12th member — and second linebacker  — of Ohio State's Supreme '18 recruiting class, joining five-star defensive tackle Taron Vincent, five-star quarterback Emory Jones, four-star running backs Jaelen Gill and Brian Snead, four-star offensive tackle Max Wray, four-star defensive ends Andrew Chatfield and Brenton Cox, four-star linebacker Dallas Gant, four-star cornerback Sevyn Banks and four-star safeties Josh Proctor and Jaiden Woodbey.

The number of linebackers Ohio State will bring on in 2018 is up in the air at this point in time, and mostly depends upon whether or not Jerome Baker and Dante Booker head to the NFL early. Starting middle linebacker Chris Worley is also set to graduate next spring, so the number could balloon to as many as four or five. 

Mitchell's pledge seemingly ends all hopes of a commitment from California four-star Solomon Tuliaupupu, who the staff has significant interest in but would also man the inside linebacker position. It may even have an effect on Georgia three-star Michael Harris, but that will ultimately be determined by the aforementioned factors and his performance at camp later this month. What works in his favor is the versatility to play both inside and outside.

THE INTANGIBLES

Much like Brenton Cox when he spurned long-time favorite Georgia for Ohio State, Mitchell had to decide between a school with whom he had an establish relationship and the one who made a late push.

Mitchell admitted Ohio State and Florida State were both on even footing in terms of academic and on-field success. The same thing goes for establishing a life after football. That usually doesn't favor the team who entered the race late, but the Buckeyes somehow came out on top for the second time in as many months. 

“Wherever my heart feels is the best place for me,” Mitchell said. “I've been praying to God about it and taking my time.”

Apparently, that place is Columbus.

After emerging drenched with the blood of my enemies as the victor of the War of Five Skulls in March 2014, I have written five to seven days a week about the local team with the longest break being about four days.

I will already be en route to the Canadian Rockies when most of you read this. I will not have my laptop or my phone. In fact, it's my goal only to think about Ohio State football while making daily sartorial decisions and explaining to Canadians why the one true local team is a 2017 title favorite despite a 31-0 loss to Clemson in January.

Next week, 11W returns to the old-school Skull Session method of five writers in five days. I won't spoil the lineup, but people tell me I might be unemployed by the time I come back. Oh well, it's equal odds I log off and never return from a life of illegal mountain hermitage.

ICYMI:

• Teradja Mitchell, the nation's No. 2 linebacker, committed to Ohio State last night.
• In Mitchell, the Buckeyes landed the nation's most athletic linebacker for the second year in a row.
• Urban Meyer, Ohio State and going for it on fourth down.
• Five highly touted recruits of the Meyer era who didn't turn out.
• Help put a life-size statue of Woody Hayes in his hometown of Newcomerstown, Ohio.

Word of the Day: Enervate.

 T-R-U-S-T. Trust is one of those things every coach talks about cultivating in his team during the initial press conference. (We're also going to get more aggressive on the defensive side of the ball this year too!) 

But talking trust and installing it are two different things. It's part of what separates Urban Meyer from an out-of-his-depth MAC coach Butch Jones at Tennessee. And it's what separates Ohio State from the Music City Bowl. 

Meyer is one of the first coaches in the system to install a system on it.

Average leaders have a quote, good leaders have a plan, great leaders have a system! Trust and Brotherhood are on purpose here!! pic.twitter.com/AU2W2IBEIp

— Urban Meyer (@OSUCoachMeyer) June 2, 2017

Hard to argue with the results at this point. The team GPA is high. Players aren't routinely getting arrested. Even better, they intern and do charity. That 2014 College Football Trophy still shines, too.

Hopefully, the next Ohio State coach is taking notes.

 GINN IMPRESSES BREES. The only acceptable opinion about Ted Ginn is he's the third greatest receiver in history behind Randy Moss and Joey Galloway. 

Ginn turned 32 in April after the Panthers released him. Now with the NFC South rival New Orleans Saints, it didn't take long for Ginn to impress veteran quarterback Drew Brees.

From espn.com:

Ginn did have one notable drop in team drills (something else he has been known for over the years). But it was an impressive day overall -- and a reminder of just how fast the former track star still is in his 11th NFL season.

“I could not be more impressed with Teddy,” Brees said of the former first-round draft pick, who is on his fifth NFL team after having the best two-year stretch of his career with the Carolina Panthers.

Brees praised Michael Thomas in June last year. ("He gets it.") We all saw how that went. It'd be awesome to see Ginn enjoy another late-career renaissance in NOLA.

 GET DUMPED THEN, SABAN. Sure, Nick Saban has won a lot of games at Alabama. But what the mainstream media fails to mention is he also lost 19 games in that same time span. 

While all of those 19 Ls were delicious (shout out to Louisiana–Monroe, who beat Bama in Tuscaloosa), some were better than others. Let's go to the judge's ruling.

From sbnation.com:

3. 28-27 vs. No. 1 Auburn in 2010

Bama was up by 24, flying like Liu Kang into the middle of Auburn’s astounding trapeze act, with the hated Cam Newton being humbled after Alabama’s PA had played “Take the Money and Run” and “Son of a Preacher Man” (references to ongoing NCAA allegations), and the student section had thrown these onto the field ...

... and Auburn won lmao.

2. 35-31 vs. No. 1 Clemson in 2016

Saban’s first-ever loss in a National Championship snuffed out a season that would’ve had a numerical case to rank as the greatest ever: being the first to go wire-to-wire as AP No. 1 in a 15-game season. Saban’s Tide finished one grueling second away from their fifth title in a decade and virtually undisputed status as the greatest dynasty ever.

[...]

1. Uncle Verne featuring Yung Joc. You already know.

Those were all extremely good moments. As soon as Cam Newton broke Alabama in half and entombed its student section in a dumpster behind a stadium concession, he switched from bad to good. 

But I want to appeal the judge's final ruling. The Kick-Six was probably more miraculous, but this tape speaks for itself:

 EXPECT TRAFFIC DELAYS. As anyone who works in the medical field at Ohio State can attest, Cannon Road is banjaxed most of the time. Getting that crucial corridor sorted is vital to the university.

Unfortunately, traffic will get worse before it gets better.

From Tom Knox of Columbus Business First:

A major road construction project on Ohio State University’s medical campus could cause a traffic logjam for workers, visitors and football fans through early 2019.

The $51.5 million straightening and raising of Cannon Drive from King Avenue to Herrick Drive is expected to start in July 2017 and last until April 2019.

Hey, at least it should be a massive upgrade when it's done. Not that that will stop people from complaining about being late to the Army kickoff.

Rendering from Ohio State, via Columbus Business First

According to the university's FAQ, the straightening and elevating are required for the future growth of the university.

• Creating 12 acres of developable land
• Serving as future flood protection
• Creating an eventual north-south connection between King and Lane Avenues
• Enhancing green space in the Olentangy River corridor

There's also a three-minute educational video if you're feeling kinky on a Saturday morning.

 SNYDER CAVES. Kansas State blocked Corey Sutton from transferring to 35 other schools! 35! For some reason this idiotic move made sense to Bill Snyder, who defended it at length Thursday night:

Bill Snyder goes on a dissertation about the decision to deny Corey Sutton the opportunity to transfer. @KCTV5#KState#KstateFBpic.twitter.com/qTUkfnb7bO

— Andrew Carter (@Andrew__Carter) June 2, 2017

Well, folks, it switched. Here's Snyder's boss on Friday:

Kansas State AD announces WR Corey Sutton has been granted a full release and is permitted to transfer to any school to which he requested.

— Ralph D. Russo (@ralphDrussoAP) June 2, 2017

This is why powerful people need somebody with everyday common sense in their coterie of advisers. They could have done this from the beginning and it would have been fine. Kansas State wouldn't have crumbled as a program. Instead, its iconic coach gave his program a black eye.

At least a rational decision prevailed.

 DRINKS ON GEE. Elwood Gordon Gee, the greatest threat to the Catholic Church since Martin Luther, isn't done making money yet. The 73-year-old West Virginia President earned a new side hustle Friday, which assuredly puts a nice chunk of change in his pocket:

West Virginia President Gordon Gee named the new chairman of Big 12 board of directors.

— Chuck Carlton (@ChuckCarltonDMN) June 2, 2017

Don't hate the player. Hate the game.

 BRING BACK INDIANOLA PARK. I would be a bad billionaire because instead of hoarding coins and stressing about the capital gains tax I would undertake vanity projects like restoring Indianola Park back to glory:

Jun 2 in University District History: Circus, boxing, patriotic pageant, more at Indianola Park for big Children's Hospital benefit. In 1917 pic.twitter.com/z7aRss6GLZ

— Univ Dist History (@UDHCMH) June 2, 2017

I probably wouldn't be a billionaire for very long. Oh well.

 THOSE WMDs. Documentary: This Drug May Kill You... Going out for lunch is a dying tradition... Most people will never understand my eating disorder... The X-Seed 4000... The immortal life of John Tesh's immortal NBA anthem "Roundball Rock."

Urban Meyer did not like the fact that he signed just seven players from the state of Ohio in his most recent recruiting class. The Buckeyes brought in 21 new players in what finished as the No. 2 class in the country.

“Fifty percent is kind of the mark that I've been trying to — I keep it right in front of me and I stare at it and make sure that we're doing right,” Meyer said on Feb. 1, National Signing Day.

While he and the Buckeyes will have to adjust their recruiting strategies, particularly with in-state kids, due to the recently adopted early signing period, Meyer's current team is an early Big Ten favorite. As long as he is at the controls, anything less than a College Football Playoff berth is deemed a disappointment.

Which is why Meyer, Mark Pantoni and the rest of Ohio State's staff zero in on the best prospects regardless where they live. Nineteen states are represented on the map you see below, which shows where those players set to be on scholarship for the 2017 Buckeyes grew up. Thus, those who ended their college careers at IMG Academy — safety Isaiah Pryor, cornerback Marcus Williamson and defensive tackle Malik Barrow — are instead lumped in with the states they are originally from.

More than 40 percent of the scholarship players hail from Ohio. Below is a state-by-state rundown, including the 21 members of the 2017 recruiting class.
Note: Dylan Thompson is listed but it is unclear if he remains on scholarship. He lost his scholarship after being ruled academically ineligible last year.

Ohio — 35

• Jerome Baker, Junior Linebacker — Cleveland
• Rashod Berry, Redshirt Sophomore Defensive End — Lorain
• Dante Booker, Senior Linebacker — Akron
• Joe Burrow, Redshirt Sophomore Quarterback — Athens
• Jerron Cage, Freshman Defensive Tackle — Cincinnati
• Parris Campbell, Redshirt Junior Wide Receiver — Akron
• Drue Chrisman, Redshirt Freshman Punter — Cincinnati
• Nick Conner, Redshirt Sophomore Linebacker — Dublin
• Jonathon Cooper, Sophomore Defensive End — Gahanna
• Gavin Cupp, Redshirt Freshman Offensive Lineman — Leipsic
• Luke Farrell, Redshirt Freshman Tight End — Perry
• Eric Glover-Williams, Junior Wide Receiver — Canton
• DaVon Hamilton, Redshirt Sophomore Defensive Tackle — Pickerington
• Jaylen Harris, Freshman Wide Receiver — Cleveland
• Malik Harrison, Sophomore Linebacker — Columbus
• Jake Hausmann, Redshirt Freshman Tight End — Cincinnati
• Kierre Hawkins, Redshirt Freshman Tight End — Maple Heights
• Justin Hilliard, Redshirt Sophomore Linebacker — Cincinnati
• Sam Hubbard, Redshirt Junior Defensive End — Cincinnati
• Dre'Mont Jones, Redshirt Sophomore Defensive Tackle — Cleveland
• Robert Landers, Redshirt Sophomore Defensive Tackle — Dayton
• Demario McCall, Sophomore Running Back — North Ridgeville
• Liam McCullough, Redshirt Sophomore Longsnapper — Columbus
• Thayer Munford, Freshman Offensive Lineman — Cincinnati
• Josh Myers, Freshman Offensive Lineman — Miamisburg
• Billy Price, Graduate Senior Center — Austintown
• Amir Riep, Freshman Cornerback — Cincinnati
• Erick Smith, Senior Safety — Cleveland
• Tracy Sprinkle, Redshirt Senior Defensive Tackle — Elyria
• Brady Taylor, Redshirt Junior Offensive Lineman — Columbus
• Denzel Ward, Junior Cornerback — Macedonia
• Brendon White, Freshman Wide Receiver — Powell
• Marcus Williamson, Freshman Cornerback — Westerville
• Jack Wohlabaugh, Redshirt Freshman Offensive Lineman — Bath
• Chris Worley, Redshirt Senior Linebacker — Cleveland

Texas — 7

• J.T. Barrett, Graduate Senior Quarterback — Wichita Falls
• Baron Browning, Freshman Linebacker — Fort Worth
• J.K. Dobbins, Freshman Running Back — La Grange
• Ellijah Gardiner, Freshman Wide Receiver — Kemp
• Demetrius Knox, Redshirt Junior Offensive Lineman — Fort Worth
• Jeffrey Okudah, Freshman Cornerback — Grand Prairie
• Kendall Sheffield, Redshirt Sophomore Cornerback — Missouri City

Florida — 7

• Damon Arnette, Redshirt Sophomore Cornerback — Fort Lauderdale
• Malik Barrow, Redshirt Freshman Defensive Tackle — Tampa
• Nick Bosa, Sophomore Defensive End — Fort Lauderdale
• Johnnie Dixon, Redshirt Junior Wide Receiver — West Palm Beach
• Trevon Grimes, Freshman Wide Receiver — Fort Lauderdale
• Binjimen Victor, Sophomore Wide Receiver — Pompano Beach
• Shaun Wade, Freshman Cornerback — Jacksonville

Michigan — 4

• Joshua Alabi, Redshirt Sophomore Offensive Lineman — Detroit
• Michael Jordan, Sophomore Offensive Lineman — Canton
• Damon Webb, Senior Safety — Detroit
• Mike Weber, Redshirt Sophomore Running Back — Detroit

Maryland — 4

• Dwayne Haskins, Redshirt Freshman Quarterback — Potomac
• Keandre Jones, Sophomore Linebacker — Olney
• Isaiah Prince, Junior Offensive Lineman — Greenbelt
• Chase Young, Freshman Defensive End — Hyattsville

Virginia — 4

• A.J. Alexander, Redshirt Sophomore Tight End — Burke
• Matthew Burrell, Redshirt Sophomore Offensive Lineman — Woodbridge
• Wayne Davis, Redshirt Freshman Defensive Back — Norfolk
• Jalyn Holmes, Senior Defensive End — Norfolk

New Jersey — 3

• Kevin Feder, Redshirt Sophomore Offensive Lineman — Ramsey
• Jordan Fuller, Sophomore Safety — Old Tappan
• Darius Slade, Redshirt Junior Defensive End — Montclair

Indiana — 3

• Austin Mack, Sophomore Wide Receiver — Fort Wayne
• Terry McLaurin, Redshirt Junior Wide Receiver — Indianapolis
• Pete Werner, Freshman Linebacker — Indianapolis

Illinois — 3

• Tuf Borland, Redshirt Freshman Linebacker — Bolingbrook
• Jamarco Jones, Senior Offensive Lineman — Chicago
• Dylan Thompson — Redshirt Junior Defensive Tackle — Lombard*

New York — 3

• Blake Haubeil, Freshman Kicker — Buffalo
• Malcolm Pridgeon, Redshirt Junior Offensive Lineman — Central Islip
• Jahsen Wint, Redshirt Freshman Safety — Brooklyn

California — 2

• Marcus Baugh, Redshirt Senior Tight End — Riverside
• Wyatt Davis, Freshman Offensive Lineman — Bellflower

North Carolina — 2

• Tyquan Lewis, Graduate Senior Defensive End — Tarboro
• Antonio Williams, Sophomore Running Back — New London

Nevada — 2

• Haskell Garrett, Freshman Defensive Tackle — Las Vegas
• Tate Martell, Freshman Quarterback — Las Vegas

Arkansas — 1

• K.J. Hill, Redshirt Sophomore Wide Receiver — North Little Rock

Georgia — 1

• Isaiah Pryor, Freshman Safety — Lawrenceville

Minnesota — 1

• Jashon Cornell, Redshirt Sophomore Defensive Tackle — St. Paul

Utah — 1

• Branden Bowen, Redshirt Sophomore Offensive Lineman — Draper

South Carolina — 1

• Mike Hill, Redshirt Senior Defensive Tackle — Pendleton

Kentucky — 1

• Sean Nuernberger, Redshirt Junior Kicker — Buckner

Ohio State's 2018 wide receiver board is slowly coming together. Kamryn Babb has long been the staff's top target, and the Buckeyes remain at the top of his recruitment. L'Christian Smith and his father met with Urban Meyer last month, and everything appears to be on track with the Dayton star as well. 

Babb would certainly bring a lot to Zone Six and Smith is one of the country's top overall athletes who possesses the size and hops to go up and get the ball over cornerbacks and safeties. Jaelen Gill has been committed since March and is expected to fill more of an all-purpose role as an H-Back.

The class is expected to number in the 23 to 25 range, and there's certainly a chance that Zach Smith could look to bring in a true slot receiver as well. One of the nation's best at the position resides just three hours southwest of Columbus, and the interest from the two parties definitely appears to be mutual.

Louisville's Rondale Moore checks in as just a three-star in the composite rankings, but 247Sports actually has him as the No. 79 prospect in the country and the 15th-ranked wide receiver. He holds offers from the likes of Alabama, Penn State, Michigan State, Georgia, and most recently Tom Herman's Texas Longhorns. 

The Ohio State interest really picked up a few months back and Moore made the trip to Columbus in early April. It was at that time that he received an offer from the Ohio State staff. At 5-foot-8.5 and about 175 pounds, this isn't the typical wideout that Zach Smith has been bringing in lately.

This past February saw the Buckeyes sign Trevon Grimes, Jaylen Harris, and Elijah Gardiner; all of whom will check in at over 6-foot-3 when they arrive on campus next week. The 2016 class saw the additions of Austin Mack (6-foot-2) and Binjimen Victor (6-foot-4). Needless to say, the roster isn't exactly filled with slot wideouts at the moment. 

Ohio State absolutely wanted Tyjon Lindsey last cycle, but things didn't work out as he was lured to a party in Lincoln that will be hosted by assistant coach Keith Williams; a guy who knows a lot about partying. 

Rondale Moore is in a similar mold as Lindsey, and while he's not as highly rated by most services, the athleticism appears to be on a different level. At April's Nike regional event in Chicago, Moore recorded the second-highest overall Nike rating. His testing numbers included a blistering 4.33 forty and 42.7-inch vertical. Like Lindsey, he's an undersized but shifty wideout who has solid hands. It's his top-end speed that really sets him apart. Lindsey recorded a 4.5 forty at The Opening last summer.

Earlier this week, a video surfaced of the 174-pound wideout squatting 530 pounds at the Trinity High School gym. The athleticism really is off the charts, and Moore should expect to see his recruitment continue to blow up as the 2017 season gets underway.

The recruitment really is just beginning for the Louisville product. Last season he only saw action in four games due to some eligibility issues surrounding a transfer. In those four games he recorded over 400 yards receiving and found the end zone nine times. He's poised to be one of the breakout stars for 2017.

Trinity is a powerhouse program in the area, and it's one that has drawn some Buckeye attention in the past. Ohio State was a finalist for James Quick back in 2013, but the wideout would ultimately side with the Cardinals. Rodjay Burns started his Buckeye career off right with a pick-six against Bowling Green, but the former Trinity corner has since transferred to Louisville. 2019 defensive end Stephon Herron Jr. is a teammate of Moore, and the Buckeyes are heavily involved there as well.

Louisville may be out in front for the hometown star right now, but one Buckeye crystal ball has already been submitted from Steve Wiltfong, and it's always worth paying attention when 247Sports' Director of Recruiting throws something out there.

It's premature to say that Rondale Moore could be the final piece to the wideout puzzle when that particular puzzle hasn't even really started coming together. 

But that very well may end up being the case.

Forwards Nick Schilkey and David Gust, defensemen Drew Brevig and Josh Healey, and goaltenders Christian Frey, Matt Tomkins and Logan Davis all wore the Scarlet and Gray sweater for the last time that night — leaving a large hole in coach Steve Rohlik's roster.

The future for this group of seven is bright, though, as Healey signed an entry level contract with the Calgary Flames in March and I'm sure a handful will have their names called 

With this in mind, you would think that Ohio State would have a difficult time repeating the success of a 21-win season, the program's most victories in eight years. However, the Buckeyes return an experienced core of players in all positions, including All-American forward Mason Jobst.

A Speedway, Indiana native, Jobst concluded his sophomore season atop the Big Ten statistics in the points (55) and assists (36), and tied for fifth in goals (19). At one point in the season, he went on a tear where he record a point in 14-straight games to help propel the Buckeyes to big results in the middle of the season.

Additionally outside of Jobst, forwards Dakota Joshua and Tanner Laczynski are bright spots of the Scarlet and Gray attack. Joshua was a massive asset to the Buckeyes down the stretch and finished the season with 35 points (12 goals, 23 assists) while the quick-handed Laczynski capped his freshman season with 32 points (10 goals, 22 assists)

On the defensive end, Ohio State also returns a solid group of blue liners. Defenseman Sasha Larocque finished seventh in the Big Ten with 68 blocked shots, while also posting nine points on one goal and eight assists. His teammate Matt Joyaux also pitched in 58 blocks and 11 points on three goals and eight assists.

The largest loss for the Buckeyes came at the goaltender position, where all three on the roster were lost to graduation. Despite this, Ohio State has two recruits at the position lined up to come in for the 2017-2018 season.

A large amount of turnover may cause the Scarlet and Gray to adjust to new relationships on the ice, but I see no reason why Rohlik's program shouldn't have another successful season.

The Buckeyes will open the year with a series at Wisconsin on Oct. 6-7, and will play Notre Dame twice next season as the Irish join the Big Ten conference in hockey. Ohio State commences its conference slate on Nov. 24-25 on the road at Michigan before hosting its next eight contests.

ICYMI: Buckeyes announced their 2017-18 schedule today.

Details: https://t.co/k8Bko2U9Vi

https://t.co/DR8P5ehqR3#GoBuckspic.twitter.com/ujuMKV7fCP

— Ohio State M Hockey (@OhioState_MHKY) May 4, 2017

The former Ohio State quarterback turned wide receiver appeared in 10 games last year for the Houston Texans and caught 15 passes for 99 yards and a touchdown.  

More is expected from Miller in Year 2, and in order to take the next step, he is getting help from one of the best to ever do it at the NFL level. According to the Houston Texans' official website, Miller is getting tips on how to play the slot from Wes Welker, who was recently hired as an offensive assistant.

From HoustonTexans.com: 

"The role he played is the type of role I'm playing in this offense," Miller said after Wednesday's practice. "So it's a great opportunity for me to learn from one of the greatest slot players to play the game. Especially in this type of system."

Welker's assisting receivers coach John Perry, and also helping special teams coordinator Larry Izzo and assistant Doug Colman. Miller, in year two as a pro, said he's taken advantage of being around Welker.

"I'm always in his ear, bugging him, as you can see after practice," Miller explained. "I was just asking him all types of questions. What did he see? What did I do wrong today? After every play, he's always correcting what I did wrong. Then I just go out there on the next play and fix it."

Throughout a 12-year NFL career, Welker caught 903 passes for 9,924 yards and 50 touchdowns. So yeah, seems like Miller is making the right decision here.

Admittedly, Urban Meyer had concerns about Billy Davis’ lack of recruiting experience when he hired him to replace Luke Fickell as Ohio State’s next linebackers coach, but the Buckeyes’ head coach still felt confident Davis would be just fine on the recruiting trail.

“It’s all work ethic and relationships and that’s the kind of person he is,” Meyer said in March.

Well, if the last two weeks were any indication, Meyer’s instincts were right.

Davis landed his first big recruiting win May 16 when Dallas Gant announced his pledge to the Buckeyes. Ohio State beat out Notre Dame to land the nation’s fifth-ranked outside linebacker.

Then, on Friday night, Davis landed what was perhaps an even bigger victory on the recruiting trail when the Buckeyes received a commitment from four-star linebacker Teradja Mitchell. Mitchell, the No. 2-ranked inside linebacker in the country, picked Ohio State over longtime favorite Florida State.

Two-plus weeks, two top-rated linebackers. Not bad for a guy who never recruited before.

“I’ve never done recruiting so it’s brand new to me,” Davis said in March. “But like I told Coach Meyer, that’s a positive. You tell me how you want it done and that’s how you’re going to get it done.”

Davis’ professional experience — he spent the last 26 years working in the NFL — appears to be resonating with recruits. Most kids who come to Ohio State want to go on to the next level and Davis has a proven track record working with NFL players. It makes sense.

So while Meyer admitted he had concerns about Davis’ lack of recruiting experience when he was hired, he felt confident he’d be successful because the two have known each other for quite some time. Meyer trusts Davis. He took a bit of a risk, yes, but it was a calculated one.

Ohio State is reaping the benefits right now.

“It’s all work ethic and relationships and he’s been great at both so far,” Meyer said of recruiting this spring. “But it’s about a motto: You’ve got to go get the guys.”

And so far, Davis is doing just that.

Like many other Division I women's basketball teams, the Ohio State women's hoops team practice against a squad of male students who fill the role of a practice squad for the Buckeyes, giving the team an opponent for scrimmages and a counterpart for conditioning drills.

We sat down with one of those players to talk about his time with the team.

Evan Sizemore graduated this May with a degree in sport industry, but before that he spent the past three seasons as a practice player for the Buckeyes. We caught up with him to discuss how he got the position, his relationship with the players and what it's like to get crossed-up by Kelsey Mitchell.

Why does the team want male practice players?

"I don’t want to speak on behalf of the coaching staff for this one, but I can say why I would want them if I was in there position. In my mind we were in the place of having walk-ons to practice against, and we were very low maintenance. We knew our place, and enjoyed doing what we did to help the team. Where if they have a walk on who has a good practice, they might want playing time. If we had a good practice or something we just joked about being unstoppable and kept it moving. We were treated very well, but we were way cheaper than having a couple more walk-ons on the roster. It also gave the girls a different look because they could scrimmage each other and then scrimmage a completely different group of people with different skill sets. So, it helps things not get stale."

How does one become a practice player? Do they have tryouts? Is there any special requirement?

"They do have tryouts a few weeks before training camp starts up. There are usually flyers around campus, and it spreads through word of mouth. You email one of the staff, or managers who are putting it together and show up. I’m pretty sure our requirements were almost the same as any athlete because we have to fill out all of the NCAA, Big Ten, and OSU forms, but I may be wrong."

How good do you have to be to be a practice player? Are you at risk of losing your spot if you start missing too many open jumpers?

"I would say that you have to be basketball competent. I think most of, if not all of us had played throughout high school and a lot of the guys were on the club team at OSU. I was probably the least skilled on the team honestly, but I worked hard on defense and passed the ball pretty well. I think we’re all glad that the coaching staff is pretty understanding with as much as they expect out of us, they are pretty lenient on our bad days. I had more bad days than most, but I think we all had our bad and good days. Switching to the 28.5 (inch ball) when you’ve been playing with a 29.5 (inch ball) most of your life can be a tough change for guys at the start."

What goes into a typical practice? What do you do to help prepare the team? Is it more than just scrimmaging?

"Way more than just scrimmaging goes into being a practice player. Especially during training camp. During training camp the practices are longer and more intense than during the season. So along with the scrimmaging, individual drills, and rebounding we also would be in on drills that helped with conditioning and be on the defensive end of fast break drills. During the season is where we would become more focused on scrimmaging and we would run offensive and defensive sets that the next opponent ran. We were basically the scout team during the season."

Did the players ever get irritated with you guys for playing too hard or did they like to be challenged?

"Well when you get 20 or so competitive people together in a gym for a six month period there are going to be times people get irritated. They liked to be challenged in general, but there were times people could end up playing out of control and that could cause agitation."

Who was the most annoying player to try to guard and how many times have you or somebody else been crossed by Kelsey Mitchell?

"The most annoying players to guard for me were our post players. The practice players aren’t the tallest bunch, so there were a lot of times I would be there 6’1” on a good day and have to guard Steph and Alexa. Which was no easy task, as was trying to score on those players.

"She pretty much crossed me into oblivion on the first play of my practice career, and I had to get tagged out of the drill by another practice player so I could tie my shoes and try to regain some of my dignity."– Evan Sizemore on Kelsey Mitchell

Kelsey is the hardest player to guard because there are just so many ways she can beat you. I think everyone on the practice team got crossed by her at least once, even though some would never admit it. My very first practice I came straight from class our video coordinator at the time, Myia, told me to come through and meet every one. So I show up in some old basketball shoes that I wear everywhere, basketball shorts, and a baseball tee. I’m meeting people while practice is going on, and Coach McGuff looks at me and tells me to jump into this fastbreak drill. I’m not about to tell the head coach no, and make a bad impression. So, I jump in before even having the opportunity to tie my shoes. It just happened that I was supposed to guard Kelsey coming downhill with the ball. She pretty much crossed me into oblivion on the first play of my practice career, and I had to get tagged out of the drill by another practice player so I could tie my shoes and try to regain some of my dignity."

How was your relationship with the team? Did you guys get along? Were you friends?

"I think it was good relationship with the team. We would joke around during down time and commiserate during the early practices. They would love to get on people who hadn’t been there in a while because they got a break the players didn’t."

Who was the player you got along with the best during your time there and why?

Shayla Cooper via Ohio State Athletics.

"Shayla Cooper for sure. She and I have the same type of personality where we love to joke and mess around, but when the whistle blows its game on. I remember when she first transferred here was when I started coming to practice, and she was injured and couldn’t practice. She just kept telling us how lucky we were she wasn’t out there and I just kept telling her she was lucky she couldn’t be embarrassed from over there. She always loved to joke with people before the play would start to kind of take them off guard when she would go straight into 100 percent."

Who wins one-on-one, you or Kelsey Mitchell? And is she as good in practice as she looks during games?

"Kelsey for sure. She is no joke. I remember her freshman year after the season I saw her playing with some of the football guys at the RPAC and she was putting them on skates too. We play her almost every day, know most of her moves pretty well, and still have fits stopping her. She is every bit as good in practice, and just has a hunger to get better every day that’s impressive."

What's your favorite memory from your time as a practice player?

"I think the memory that encapsulates my time as a practice player was the last practice before the Sweet 16 this year. At the end of practice there’s always a huddle, coaches say a few words, than we break it down. (OSU Coach Kevin) McGuff took time to thank us for everything, and let us know how much they appreciated the practice players. That may seem small, but it’s the little things like that they did almost every practice.

They never had to make us feel like a real part of the team because a lot of places I’m sure they don’t treat the practice guys that way, but it’s the culture that staff has created that makes it enjoyable and such a rewarding experience. They always will hit you with a good practice, or thanks for coming. And if you ever need help with anything they’re more than willing to help if they’re capable. So, I think that’s the biggest thing I took away from it was the way they treated us, and were willing to help and show gratitude however they could."

What's something you wish the average fan saw about the team that would maybe give them a greater appreciation for what they do?

"How fast this team really plays. Not only do they play with speed, but they usually play very efficiently with speed. Which is impressive on its own, but seeing it in practice every day and seeing the conditioning that goes into that is very impressive."

In the first quarter of Ohio State’s 2016 season-opener against Bowling Green, with the Buckeyes already comfortably leading 21-7, Falcons running back Fred Coppet took a handoff up the middle for a modest 2-yard gain.

Ohio State defensive end Jalyn Holmes and linebacker Raekwon McMillan were credited with the tackle on the play, but as players from both teams slowly rose to their feet, one member of the Buckeyes’ defense laid on the turf. And after a brief delay, Tracy Sprinkle got up and needed assistance getting off the field. He did not return to the game.

Afterward, Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer revealed Sprinkle suffered a patellar tendon injury that would require season-ending surgery. Just like that, less than 15 minutes into his first year as a starter for the Buckeyes, Sprinkle’s season was over.

“Tracy is the heart of the D-line, man, and it was hard dealing with that in the locker room,” Holmes said following Sprinkle’s injury. “He’s everything to the D-linemen and I just feel for him right now. He’s everything to us and it’s going to be hard to replace him but he’s going to be with us throughout the whole process.”

Of course, Ohio State did find a way to replace Sprinkle as a redshirt freshman by the name of Dre’Mont Jones stepped in and emerged as a breakout star toward the end of the season. Jones started alongside Michael Hill on the interior of the Buckeyes’ defensive line and recorded 52 tackles, which led all defensive linemen.

It would appear Jones somewhat cemented himself as a starter. This spring, Meyer said he turned into “a really fine player for us” while lumping Jones in with Ohio State’s four elite defensive ends: Holmes, Sam Hubbard, Tyquan Lewis and Nick Bosa. If that is the case, what does that mean for Sprinkle this fall?

Well, first things first, he has to get healthy. He was limited throughout spring ball as he continued to recover from his injury, but at the conclusion of spring practice, Buckeyes defensive line coach Larry Johnson updated Sprinkle’s status.

“He is going to be a bonus for us coming back,” Johnson said. “I actually think he is pretty close. We are still monitoring him a little bit. He got some work right down at the end of spring ball but now we will go full speed and see what happens.”

Sprinkle is expected to be full-go by fall camp and his return only adds more depth to a defensive line that might just be the best in the country. Johnson is known for using eight-to-10 man rotations up front and that certainly looks like it is going to be the case again in 2017.

Another fast-twitched pass-rusher on the interior, Sprinkle gives Ohio State a welcomed boost in 2017. He is another piece to the puzzle that Johnson will have a chance to utilize.

“I think that there will be the depth to rotate, that is one thing that we will be able to do,” Johnson said. “It is just a matter of a combination of when we are going to use them and how we are going to use them. Just moving through fall camp, we will make that decision,”

“From the spring game, it just shows that we have the depth and now just how we are going to use it."

Assuming there is one, who's a currently off-the-radar [to us normal humans] recruit who ends up either in the class or gets serious attention by National Signing Day. - JohnnyKozmo

There's absolutely no way anybody could have predicted last June that Ohio State would have flipped three-star wide receiver Ellijah Gardiner from Missouri just days ahead of signing day. And why would we? The Buckeyes were among the favorite for five-stars Trevon Grimes and Tyjon Lindsey and the assumed leader for four-star Jaylen Harris at this time last year.

But that's the beauty of recruiting. 

When Lindsey decommitted and eventually pledged his services to Nebraska, Ohio State director of player personnel Mark Pantoni and assistant Eron Hodges narrowed a list of 60 prospects down to 10. They evaluated each one, and after several meetings and an official visit, offered Gardiner a scholarship. He flipped just hours later. 

It's not often the staff has to scramble like that, though, so my answer isn't going to be as far off the grid as Kemp, Texas. Instead, I'll give you three names to keep in mind: Louisville three-star receiver Rondale Moore, Virginia four-star linebacker K'Vaughan Pope and Missouri three-star defensive end Daniel Carson, each of whom already have offers from the Buckeyes. 

Ohio State is expected to once again take three wideouts this cycle, and St. Louis' Kamryn Babb and Huber Heights Wayne's L'Christian "Blue" Smith are among the staff's top targets. But Moore, who only recently earned an offer from the Buckeyes, continues to shoot up the rankings after he ran a 4.33 40-yard dash and squatted 530 pounds. He's cut from the same cloth as Lindsey and could fill the gap in the slot.

Ohio State has added two linebackers in the last month in four-stars Dallas Gant and Teradja Mitchell, and names that continue to be linked the Buckeyes include Solomon Tuliaupupu, Michael Harris, Christopher Oats and Xavier Peters. Don't forget Pope, though. 

He and Mitchell live about an hour and a half apart, and linebackers coach Bill Davis stopped by to watch him practice during his last trip to Virginia. The two have built a strong relationship in a short period of time, and my sources — the same ones who were confident in Mitchell landing with the Buckeyes clear back in early April — expect the two to play alongside one another in college. 

Carson is the least likely of the three to end up in Columbus, based on the fact that Ohio State already holds commitments from a pair of defensive ends and remains in hot pursuit of five-star Micah Parsons and four-star Tyreke Smith. But he has the utmost respect and admiration for defensive line coach Larry Johnson, and the two talk almost daily. If the Buckeyes are willing to take seven defensive linemen this cycle, I believe Carson would jump at the opportunity. 

How do you feel about the team's positioning with a couple of highly rated prospects in the 2019 class out of Belleville, Michigan, Julian Barnett and Devontae Dobbs. Can Urban really steal two of the state's top prospects from Ole Jimmy? - BucksIan

Absolutely, and I'm confident in the Buckeyes' chances.

The Wolverines haven't made Dobbs a priority, and Jim Harbaugh's sole pitch thus far is the idea of staying home — "The best players in Michigan play for Michigan." They haven't offered Barnett yet, either, which seems crazy to be since he's among the Top 100 players in his class nationally. 

Ohio State defensive backs coach and area recruiter Kerry Coombs, meanwhile, reaches out to both prospects almost every day. Their relationships go back almost two years to the Sound Mind/Sound Body camp held in Detroit in late June 2015, and he'd love nothing more than to plant another flag in the state up north. 

Having already lost 14 of the last 16 games in the series, Michigan can't afford to lose two of the top three players in the state to its rival. I expect Harbaugh to turn up the heat in the coming months as a result. 

However, let's not forget both prospects were invited to Ann Arbor for the Wolverines' Spring Game in April, but decided to come to Columbus instead.

It might already be too little too late.

How big do you see this class, and how many current Top 100 recruits do you see in it? - FitzBuck

Though the early signing period in December got all of the headlines, one underreported but just as important part of the new NCAA legislation put a cap on the number of players allowed in each recruiting class. 

Programs are now limited to 25 scholarships per cycle, which effectively does away with oversigning by delaying a prospect's enrollment.

That said, Ohio State is about halfway done with its 2018 recruiting class, so long as everyone committed remains. As currently constructed, nine future Buckeyes occupy a spot among the Top 100 prospects in the country. 

Of those, I expect at least seven more to commit to Ohio State — Parsons, Anthony Cook, Jackson Carman, Tyson Campbell, Kamryn Babb, Matthew Jones and Jeremy Ruckert.

That number could balloon to as many as 10 if everything fall's the staff's way — Zamir White, Brennan Eagles and Tuliaupupu, anyone? There's no doubt we're talking the top-rated recruiting class at that point. 

With the pretty solid confidence in Emory Jones for this class, who do you think we have a better shot at, Michael Johnson Jr. or Roschon Johnson? Who do you like better. - Cpewster

To answer your question(s), Michael Johnson. He's already been to campus once, a trip of which he spoke highly. If he comes back again for an unofficial visit in the fall, there's no doubt in my mind Ohio State will be among the favorites to land him in 2019. Oregon and Michigan will be there, too.

However — and I say that with a ton of emphasis — I believe neither will end up in Columbus. Why? Because there's a kid in Allen, Texas, named Grant Tisdale who will be better than both. 

Tisdale has yet to start a game at the high school level, but played a considerable amount for the state runners-up. He'll be under center this full-time this fall, and rankings will soar as a result. 

Ohio State quarterbacks coach Ryan Day was in Texas this spring to watch Tisdale, and said the junior-to-be reminded him of starting quarterback J.T. Barrett. That's high praise for any kid coming out of the Lone Star State. 

Tisdale hopes to make it to camp this summer, most likely Friday Night Lights in July. If things progress how I anticipate, he may even end his recruitment then and there. 

What happened/is going on with Ohio State's pursuit of Palaie Gaoteote? - SeltsaC

Fans and recruiting analysts alike were surprised when Gaoteote committed to USC in mid-February. Everyone assumed his relationship with former teammate Tate Martell and cousin Haskell Garrett gave Ohio State the edge. 

I, however, was not one of them.

I'd long said the Trojans' resurgence and his Polynesian roots made it an uphill battle for the Buckeyes.

Gaoteote has not taken a single visit since, and remains 100 percent committed to USC. Ohio State continues to reach out to him, with Meyer and Davis leading the charge. But unless he takes a visit this fall, this one is over. 

Do coaches and recruits sit on announcing commitments as a strategy to get other recruits or keep other coaches/teams guessing? - Afonzai

I don't know of an instance in my brief time on the recruiting trail where the staff told a soon-to-be committed prospect to hold off on his announcement to gain an upper hand elsewhere. Nor do I think the staff worries too much about what other coaches are doing.

I do recall two situations, however, where a recruit accelerated his timeline to help the Buckeyes get things moving in a positive direction. 

When Jaelen Gill committed to Ohio State back in March, he mentioned how he'd known for a while he wanted to be a Buckeye. The staff did, too, and they decided together it would be best for him to make it public sooner rather than later.

It's hard to believe now, seeing as Ohio State sits No. 2 overall in the team rankings, but the Buckeyes held only three commitments at that point in time. Gill and his family offered their home to any prospects looking for a place to stay during their visit, and his pledge helped the class build some much-needed momentum.

Max Wray, meanwhile, planned to announce his commitment in May, but did so ahead of the Spring Game to get the day started with a bang... I mean, a boom. There were more than 50 prospects on campus that afternoon, and his pledge created a buzz among them that eventually led to Josh Proctor's announcement at halftime. 

How does the conversation develop between a recruit and the staff when the recruit is being offered, but the offer is not committable? - OH2MD

Typically, a verbal offer is just the first step in the process. It's saying, especially with out-of-state prospects, that the staff is simply interested in building a relationship with you.

It's a foot in the door, not an invitation to commit. 

The staff would be very clear if it were more than that, as we've seen in the past where an offer is extended and the prospect commits within hours, days or weeks. The key, as with any relationship, is communication. 

And while the staff has the be extremely honest from the very beginning in letting each prospect know exactly where they stand in the grand scheme of things, recruits also have to be very self-aware. 

I've had sources tell me a prospect got overeager and tried to commit with several higher-rated targets were still left on the board, and even some who have tried to make the call without an offer. I'm just glad it's not my job to tell a kid no when that happens — and, yes, it happens more than you think.

It's a little bit different for in-state recruits, though, given the fact that Ohio State slow-plays most of them. With most ready to commit on the spot, the staff will only offer those they're willing to take right then and there. 

What would be your five dream official visits if you were a recruit? - SFlaBuckeyes13

Honestly, I would have committed to the Buckeyes the moment I earned an offer and would have shut down my recruitment entirely. 

But for the sake of this discussion, let's just say I'm a top-rated recruit from Columbus. By the time my senior season rolls around, I've already been to Ohio State a number of times and have seen everything the campus has to offer, both academically and athletically. There's no need for me to use one of my five all-expenses paid visits to go somewhere familiar. 

That means my first stop is Hawai'i — that is, if they'd have me knowing the chances I'd actually end up there are slim to none. But you have to try, right? 

Next would be Oregon. Their facilities are among the best in the country, and being the uniform enthusiast that I am, I'm not going to turn down the opportunity to try on hundreds of different helmet and jersey combinations.

Florida State and Texas piqued my interest when I was younger, so they'd certainly get a visit. Something about the warm weather, their uniforms, beautiful women and history of sending players to the next level resonated with the teenage version of myself.

I'm not sure about No. 5, though. USC would probably get a look for all of the above-mentioned reasons, but it would also be tough to turn down an invitation from Alabama and/or Clemson given their recent on-field successes. 

Over the weekend, the rest of the Buckeyes' #Select17 class arrived.

As is tradition, Urban Meyer and Co. welcomed the newest members of Ohio State's football team with a cookout at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center on Sunday afternoon. You can check out some footage from the day's event in the video posted above.

Additionally, a few of the newest Buckeyes posted photos of their new lockers on social media accounts. Below are Trevon Grimes and Chase Young:

Its About that time .. Ocho #BeGr8Tpic.twitter.com/Ou1FZUzRZr

— GrimeTime (@Trevongrimes8) June 4, 2017​​

We here.... pic.twitter.com/LgOJFcSOOm

— CY2 (@youngchase907) June 4, 2017

2-0 VS FLORIDA STATE IN 2017

Ohio State inched closer to the top-rated recruiting class in the country when Virginia Beach Bishop Sullivan four-star linebacker Teradja Mitchell pledged his services to the Buckeyes over long-time favorite Florida State during a ceremony at his high school on Friday night.

“With Ohio State you get the best of both worlds as far as football and academics,” Mitchell told Recruit757.“Academics played a big part in my decision. Both schools could develop me into a first-round draft pick and contend for a national championship, so it came down to academics for me, and Ohio State has a top business school.”

The Buckeyes trailed for most of the process, but momentum shifted when the 6-foot-2, 232-pound Mitchell made his second trip to Columbus in early April. The staff's plan for him on the field and in life after football clearly made a lasting impression.

With Mitchell in the fold, Ohio State now holds commitments from nine of the Top 88 prospects in the country. The class' .9595 per-recruit average surpasses last year's haul, too, which is absurd given the fact that the 2017 recruiting class was arguably the greatest of all time. And to think it's still far from being complete.

That said, Mitchell plans to shut down his recruitment entirely. He's already started recruiting for the Buckeyes and hopes to enroll early with the goal of locking down a starting spot next year.

“I've done my research,” Mitchell said. “They have three linebackers that are supposed to leave for the draft next year. The opportunity is there. For Urban Meyer, you have to work for everything. I'm ready to go in there and get that spot.”

NOT TO WORRY

Mitchell's decision followed a similar path to that of Georgia five-star defensive end Brenton Cox, who also spurned the school with whom he had an established relationship for the one who made a late push. And though he too said he was shutting down his recruitment following his commitment in late April, Cox arrived at Alabama for a three-day unofficial visit this afternoon.

Naturally, it caused a bit of consternation in Buckeye Nation this weekend. But Cox told Cleveland.com on Saturday afternoon fans shouldn't worry about his pledge.

“I mean, it doesn't matter because I'm done with recruiting,” Cox said. “I'm straight. I was just going just to go... I'm not looking to decommit or go to Alabama. I'm going to Ohio State.

“This is my first time really doing this since I committed,” he continued. “I haven't really been going anywhere. I don't really know how it works, if they don't want me doing it. I don't know if there's a restriction of what I can do."

I've said it before and I'll say it again now: If the familiar and long-time favorite Bulldogs weren't able to land Cox in the first place, there's little chance he backs off his commitment to the Buckeyes. And unless the staff tells him he can't go on any more visits, I expect him see a few more schools before ultimately signing his letter of intent in December.

It's all just part of the process, and he should enjoy it without having everyone analyze every step he takes.

FALLING APART

When Dayton Dunbar three-star running back Tavion Thomas burst onto the recruiting scene back in February, it seemed like only a matter of time before he committed to Ohio State.

Never mind the fact that the Buckeyes already held a commitment from Florida four-star Brian Snead and were on the verge of landing Westerville South four-star Jaelen Gill, the narrative attached was that the staff couldn't afford to let a school like Alabama come into their back yard and steal away a prospect of Thomas' caliber.

That now feels like a distant memory, though, as Thomas did not include Ohio State in his Top 7 on Saturday afternoon. He instead listed Alabama, Cincinnati, Louisville, Oklahoma, USC, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

Top 7 videos cumin soon pic.twitter.com/5RSL52c4ZV

— lackofworries (@tavionthomas937) June 3, 2017

“Those are the only schools that have mainly been here for me during my recruiting process,” Thomas told 247Sports.“They have shown me a lot of love.”

There are a number of factors that contributed to Thomas' decision to leave Ohio State on the outside looking in, including the Buckeyes' pursuit of North Carolina five-star running back Zamir White — Tennessee three-star Master Teague III may have passed him on the priority chart, too. There's also concerns over his grades and he's reportedly a package deal with his teammate, four-star wide receiver Joseph “JoJo” Scates, who doesn't hold an offer from Oho State.

Scates, a former Michigan State pledge, also narrowed down his offers to Alabama, Cincinnati, Louisville, Oklahoma, Rutgers and West Virginia on Saturday night. The two plan to make a joint decision in July.

OF NO RELATION

Seemingly lost among the recent #BOOMs, Ohio State recently offered a scholarship to Lakeland, Florida, Kathleen four-star safety Brendan Gant.

Blessed to receive and offer from Ohio State University pic.twitter.com/7EcrdWPa2d

— BG33 (@TheReal_BGant) June 1, 2017

The 6-foot-1, 176-pound Gant is considered the ninth-best safety and No. 165 prosect overall in the Class of 2019. He holds nearly a dozen offers from programs such as Arizona, Florida, Florida State, Miami, North Carolina, Tennessee and Wisconsin.

Gant grew up a fan of the Gators, but the Seminoles are the early favorite to land his pledge.

EVERY STEP YOU TAKE

The Buckeyes also recently extended a scholarship offer to Arlington, Texas, Lamar four-star defensive tackle Bobby Brown. It's worth noting he doesn't play at the same high school as five-star cornerback Anthony Cook and four-star wide receiver Al'vonte Woodard, though the two Lone Star State schools share the same name.

I've just received a offer from the Ohio State Buckeyes pic.twitter.com/n7iCcEIk3I

— I hate OL's (@tre_brown8700) June 1, 2017

The 6-foot-4, 275-pound Brown is considered the 14th-best defensive tackle and No. 154 prospect overall in the Class of 2018, as he recorded 40 tackles, six tackles for a loss and three sacks for the Vikings last season. He holds nearly 20 offers from programs such as Alabama, Colorado, Florida State, Michigan, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas and Texas A&M.