Around the Midwest: Ohio States dilemma

The tight end dominoes in the state of Ohio's deep 2016 class started to fall this past weekend when Maple Heights' Kierre HawkinsClick Top of mindHere to view this Link. made his commitment to Ohio StateClick Top of mindHere to view this Link.. It also sets up an interesting, though envious, dilemma for the Buckeyes who are also strong contenders for the top two prospects at the position in-state -- four stars Jake HausmannClick Top of mindHere to view this Link. and Luke FarrellClick Top of mindHere to view this Link..

Farrell has stated as recently as last month that Ohio State is his No. 1. Hausmann has resisted naming any leaders, but both his parents are Ohio State grads and he grew up a Buckeye fan. Ohio State is undoubtedly a top contender for the nation's No. 1 player at the position.

By offering and taking Hawkins -- who, at the No. 13 player in the class at his position is certainly worthy of the offer he received -- the Buckeyes are showing they are willing to take multiple players at the position in 2016. It is highly unlikely, though, that they would take three at the position in the same class and also unlikely any would willingly agree to play a different position. So, we may be looking at a first-come, first-served situation with Farrell and Hausmann and that could hustle the timetable of either's decision process.

The SEC's poaching of Midwest prospects may be slowing after reaching a peak in the 2014 class when 23 prospects out of the region signed with schools in that conference. Of the 127 Midwest prospects that have made commitments to Power Five Conference schools in the class of 2015, just 10 are committed to SEC schools.

That trend appears to be continuing in 2016. Of the 12 Midwest junior prospects that have made commitments already, 10 have done so to in-region schools. Nebraska and Ohio State have been the main benefactors thus far, each having three commitments from Midwest prospects. The two that have not committed to in-region programs -- four-star Detroit linebacker Daelin Hayes and four-star Minnesota quarterback Seth Green -- are committed to Pac-12 programs USC and Oregon, respectively.

Rivals100 LB Jerome BakerClick Is this a byproduct of lower talent in the region, and thus less interest from SEC schools? That's possible. The region has just 28 four-star or higher rated prospects in 2015 compared to 45 in 2014. The class of 2016, though, is projecting as a stronger talent year for the region and should give us a better feel for how well in-region schools are protecting their borders.Here to view this Link.'s commitment flip Tuesday night was not unexpected, but it is nonetheless a major recruiting event for both FloridaClick Is this a byproduct of lower talent in the region, and thus less interest from SEC schools? That's possible. The region has just 28 four-star or higher rated prospects in 2015 compared to 45 in 2014. The class of 2016, though, is projecting as a stronger talent year for the region and should give us a better feel for how well in-region schools are protecting their borders.Here to view this Link. and Ohio State. The Buckeyes get the nation's No. 36 ranked prospect in 2015 and add one of the most dynamic defensive playmakers in the class -- a linebacker who is as good playing in space as he is coming up and stopping the run.

For Florida, this is another hit in what has been a bad week for the Gators and head coach Will Muschamp. For the most part the coaching staff has done a good job keeping their commits on board throughout the uncertainty of Muschamp's future in Gainesville. We will wait to see if this signals the beginning of an exodus.

The immediate question from Ohio State fans following Baker's commitment, though, was whether this would affect the commitments of either of their other four-star in-state linebacker commits, Nick Conner and Justin Hilliard. The answer is that as long as the Buckeyes' coaching staff communicates it clearly to each of these three, then there shouldn't be an issue. Conner is a natural MIKE, Hilliard fits the WILL role in the Ohio State defense and Baker looks best suited for their SAM position, which takes on a different look than it does in other defenses around the country.

Two official visits are in the books for Rivals250 defensive tackle Neville GallimoreClick Looking aheadHere to view this Link., and he is getting close to scheduling at least two more. Canada Prep Academy head coach Geoff McArthur said the weekend of Nov. 22 is being discussed as a likely official visit date to Oregon, with Nov. 29 still looking like the weekend he will officially visit Ohio State.

Cincinnati Winton Woods' four-star offensive tackle George BrownClick Florida, along with Oklahoma and Florida State -- the two schools Gallimore has already taken official visits to -- round out the top five the four-star named last month. However, the uncertainty with the future of the program in Gainesville appears to be playing into this recruitment. That fifth and final official visit remains open and there is no guarantee the Gators will be the recipient. Notre Dame, which had looked like a strong contender before it was left off the top five last month, remains in contact as does the nation's No. 1 team, Mississippi State. All five official visits are expected to be taken, and which school receives visit No. 5 is still a question mark.Here to view this Link. has been committed to Florida since July, but teams continue to pursue the Rivals250 prospect. AlabamaClick Florida, along with Oklahoma and Florida State -- the two schools Gallimore has already taken official visits to -- round out the top five the four-star named last month. However, the uncertainty with the future of the program in Gainesville appears to be playing into this recruitment. That fifth and final official visit remains open and there is no guarantee the Gators will be the recipient. Notre Dame, which had looked like a strong contender before it was left off the top five last month, remains in contact as does the nation's No. 1 team, Mississippi State. All five official visits are expected to be taken, and which school receives visit No. 5 is still a question mark.Here to view this Link., Mississippi State and KentuckyClick Florida, along with Oklahoma and Florida State -- the two schools Gallimore has already taken official visits to -- round out the top five the four-star named last month. However, the uncertainty with the future of the program in Gainesville appears to be playing into this recruitment. That fifth and final official visit remains open and there is no guarantee the Gators will be the recipient. Notre Dame, which had looked like a strong contender before it was left off the top five last month, remains in contact as does the nation's No. 1 team, Mississippi State. All five official visits are expected to be taken, and which school receives visit No. 5 is still a question mark.Here to view this Link. are among the schools staying in the closest contact.

In this case, though, Will Muschamp's future at Florida may not be the biggest factor. What attracted Brown to the Gators in the first place was the opportunity on the offensive line, where all of their current starters are either juniors or seniors. That is going to hold true no matter who is the coach in Gainesville next fall.

The hottest class of 2016 prospect in the Midwest so far in the month of October has been Detroit Martin Luther King wide receiver Donnie CorleyClick If additional visits are taken, though, only Southeastern Conference schools need apply. One thing that is for certain in this recruitment is that Brown is set on playing out his college career in the SEC.Here to view this Link., who has seen his offer list reach 17 schools after tenders from Notre Dame, MichiganClick If additional visits are taken, though, only Southeastern Conference schools need apply. One thing that is for certain in this recruitment is that Brown is set on playing out his college career in the SEC.Here to view this Link., WisconsinClick If additional visits are taken, though, only Southeastern Conference schools need apply. One thing that is for certain in this recruitment is that Brown is set on playing out his college career in the SEC.Here to view this Link. and LSUClick If additional visits are taken, though, only Southeastern Conference schools need apply. One thing that is for certain in this recruitment is that Brown is set on playing out his college career in the SEC.Here to view this Link. in the last 10 days.

A visit to Michigan State this weekend is one to watch with Corley, however. The Spartans offered Corley last month and two of his senior teammates are committed to the program, but the success that Tony Lippett is having in that offense may be the biggest selling point. Corley is a very similar receiver to Lippett and they are similarly sized at the same stage of their careers.

Already ranked in the Rivals250 for the class of 2016, the 6-foot-2, 176-pound Corley has built upon his reputation this fall by amassing 981 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns to go along with seven interceptions from his defensive back position through eight games.

Western Michigan continues to pull in three-star talent under head coach P.J. FleckClick In this column two weeks agoClick Cleveland St. Ignatius class of 2016 offensive tackle Liam EichenbergClick In case you missed itHere to view this Link. told BuckeyeGrove.com's Marc Givler recently that Ohio State and Notre Dame have emerged as his top two schools. The three-star prospect has held offers from both schools for more than six months. He has stated in the past that he would like to make his college selection between his junior and senior seasons, so this recruitment could be reaching it's conclusion in the near future.Here to view this Link., I predicted Lakewood (Ohio) St. Edward three-star wide receiver Alex StumpClick Cleveland St. Ignatius class of 2016 offensive tackle Liam EichenbergClick In case you missed itHere to view this Link. told BuckeyeGrove.com's Marc Givler recently that Ohio State and Notre Dame have emerged as his top two schools. The three-star prospect has held offers from both schools for more than six months. He has stated in the past that he would like to make his college selection between his junior and senior seasons, so this recruitment could be reaching it's conclusion in the near future.Here to view this Link. would forego his commitment to Kentucky in favor of a recent offer from Ohio State. That came to fruition a few days later when Stump officially announced the switch. The Buckeyes have commitments from nine of the 13 prospects they have offered in-state for 2015 after Baker flipped from Florida on Tuesday night.Here to view this Link. and now have the nation's No. 52 ranked class in 2015. Their latest addition is Indianapolis Brebeuf Jesuit's LeVante BellamyClick In this column two weeks agoClick Cleveland St. Ignatius class of 2016 offensive tackle Liam EichenbergClick In case you missed itHere to view this Link. told BuckeyeGrove.com's Marc Givler recently that Ohio State and Notre Dame have emerged as his top two schools. The three-star prospect has held offers from both schools for more than six months. He has stated in the past that he would like to make his college selection between his junior and senior seasons, so this recruitment could be reaching it's conclusion in the near future.Here to view this Link., I predicted Lakewood (Ohio) St. Edward three-star wide receiver Alex StumpClick Cleveland St. Ignatius class of 2016 offensive tackle Liam EichenbergClick In case you missed itHere to view this Link. told BuckeyeGrove.com's Marc Givler recently that Ohio State and Notre Dame have emerged as his top two schools. The three-star prospect has held offers from both schools for more than six months. He has stated in the past that he would like to make his college selection between his junior and senior seasons, so this recruitment could be reaching it's conclusion in the near future.Here to view this Link. would forego his commitment to Kentucky in favor of a recent offer from Ohio State. That came to fruition a few days later when Stump officially announced the switch. The Buckeyes have commitments from nine of the 13 prospects they have offered in-state for 2015 after Baker flipped from Florida on Tuesday night.Here to view this Link., the No. 19 all-purpose back in the 2015 class. I saw Bellamy earlier this season and he validated his three-star rating. The Broncos plan to use him as a slot receiver, which may limit his upside, but as long as he gets the ball in his hands early, he can make things happen with run-after-catch ability.

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