Buckeyes, Clemson, Sooners on horizon for 4-Star RJ Mickens

ATLANTA, Ga. – 2020 Rivals100 defensive back R.J. Mickens and his Texas Swoosh side suffered a bit of an early exit in the Pylon 7-on-7 National Championships this past weekend, but that’s not slowing down the rounds he’s making in his recruitment.

Following the event in Atlanta, he added a stop to his itinerary before heading home and made plans to make a visit to Clemson. That’s just part of his remaining summer plans – also on the books is a trip up to Ohio State, where he plans to camp and further the impression he’s made on the Buckeyes coaches.

Mickens will also be at Oklahoma at the end of July for a recruit barbecue held by the Sooners. He said in addition to a trip to Norman, he hopes to visit Notre Dame as well, who offered him in the spring and he’s already visited once in April.

On Clemson

“I’m just going out there to talk with Coach (Brent) Venables and the safeties coach, Coach (Mickey) Conn,” he said. “Things with them are going good, honestly. I call Coach Venables every once-in-a-while to talk with him … They just really like my game and I’ve been talking to them for like a year, just about.”

On Ohio State

“I’ve been talking more with the receivers coach [Zach Smith] up there, but I’m going to go up there for a camp,” he said. “I already have the offer, but I’m just trying to get some work in … they just said that they’re looking to work with me a little bit and build more of a relationship, hang out with the players some and all of that.”

“I’m pretty good friends with Jeff Okudah – I train with him – and I have been talking to some of the coaches out there,” he said. “I know that Jeff is competing for a starting spot after he had a good last game … I know that I would have a chance to compete coming in there, but I know that it’s going to be hard to earn a spot right away.”

On Oklahoma

“I’m real tight with Coach (Kerry) Cooks,” he said. “Of course couple of guys (on his 7v7 team) are trying to get me to go to OU, but I know a lot of the players there. I’ve known Coach Cooks now for two-or-three years, so it’s always good to make it back up to OU.”