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10:58 am
March 9, 2016
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Ohio State has taken a more national approach with its recruiting under Urban Meyer, and as the 2017 cycle nears the critical summer season, it’s clear that the coaching staff is trying to raid the talent-rich state of Texas.
It started in early March when the Buckeyes secured a commitment from 4-star all-purpose back J.K. Dobbins—Texas’ No. 6 prospect for the class of 2017. Dobbins had offers from all the in-state players—Baylor, Houston, TCU, Texas and Texas A&M—in addition to national brands such as Florida, Notre Dame, Stanford and USC.
One look at Dobbins’ highlight reel makes it easy to understand all the attention he’s receiving. Rated the No. 47 overall prospect and the third-best all-purpose back nationally, his blend of speed and vision make him an absolute nightmare to corral near the line of scrimmage.
“I can do more than just have speed,” Dobbins said of his game, according to Ari Wasserman of The Plain Dealer. “People think that’s what I’m about. But I can run through the middle, through the trenches, and I can pass block, too. I am a three-down back. That’s what most people would like to say.”
Dobbins was the most recent member to join Ohio State’s No. 1-rated class, but Meyer’s efforts in Texas haven’t stopped there. Ohio State is trying to add more top talent from The Lone Star State by poaching 5-star prospects Jeffrey Okudah and Baron Browning.
Both are elite prospects—Okudah is ranked the No. 2 Texas product and Browning the No. 3—and both would be huge boosts to the Ohio State defense. The chances of that happening received a huge boost over the weekend with the pair making the trip north to visit the Ohio State campus.
Okudah, who’s rated the No. 1 safety in the 2017 class, has been high on Ohio State for months, and he’s even gone as far as naming it the favorite in his recruitment.
“The tradition at Ohio State. It’s just a surreal atmosphere,” Okudah told Rivals (h/t Ari Wasserman of The Plain Dealer). “The coaching staff, Coach (Urban) Meyer wins a lot of games. Coach (Greg) Schiano, a former (NFL and college) head coach, I know he can develop me and get me to the next level.”
That’s why the Buckeyes are the favorite to land his commitment, according to 247Sports’ Crystal Ball Predictions.
Browning, on the other hand, is a different story as Ohio State just entered the fray in his recruitment. The standout linebacker has offers from all the major hitters in college football, highlighted by Alabama, Clemson, Florida State, LSU, Notre Dame and USC. But Texas, Baylor, TCU and Texas A&M are all getting serious consideration from the nation’s No. 2 outside linebacker, and Ohio State is trying to throw its hat in the ring.
His visit to Ohio State last weekend was a home run, according to Jeremy Birmingham of Eleven Warriors:
What stood out to me was ‘real life Wednesdays.’ You could tell they really care about the players and want you to succeed on and off the field. Urban Meyer, he’s straight forward like everybody else on the staff. On the phone, we were joking around a lot, but in person, he was more direct and up front, but still able to joke.
If Meyer can somehow get Okudah and Browning to join Dobbins in his class, Ohio State’s grip on the No. 1 spot might be unbreakable by national signing day.
All recruiting information via 247Sports.
David Regimbal is the lead Ohio State football writer for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @davidreg412.
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