COACHING SALARIES: Which programs are getting the most bang for their buck?
Ohio State’s recruiting did not stop, but definitely slowed down during the investigation into Urban Meyer’s handling of former assistant coach Zach Smith and Meyer’s subsequent three-game suspension. That suspension is now complete, Ohio State is off to a 6-0 start to the 2018 season and recruiting is revving back up in Columbus with several new offers going out to Midwest prospects committed to other schools. We take a look at those recent regional offers and the Buckeyes' chances to flip their new targets from previous commitments.
The brother of current Notre Dame offensive tackle Liam Eichenberg, Tommy debuted as a four-star after a strong junior campaign. After a strong early wave of offers that was kicked off by Toledo last December, the momentum kind of tailed off once spring arrived and Eichenberg never really became a national recruit, with the majority of his 17 off-season offers coming from in-state mid-majors or schools in states that border Ohio.
The talent to be a national recruit is there, though, and Eichenberg is re-proving that as a senior. He committed to Boston College in June and is an ideal fit for the school and program, but Eichenberg grew up following the Buckeyes and their offer on Sept. 26 has to concern the Eagles coaching staff. Michigan has also since offered, but of the two Big Ten powers Ohio State seems to have the best chance at a flip.
Flip potential: Medium-High
With recruitments of top targets not looking promising, Ohio State has started to cast a wider net to address their remaining offensive line needs. Broeker was one of the first prospects caught in that net. Scholarship offers did not find their way to Broeker until after his junior season had concluded, and he has kicked off his senior season looking lean and athletic, making offensive tackle a definite possibility at the next level. That is the position Ohio State needs, and where the program is recruiting the downstate Illinois product.
Broeker made visits across the country during the spring, including multiple to Ole Miss. It was on his second visit to Ole Miss in June that he committed to the Rebels, and he has been solid since. Ohio State just rekindled its interest in the last few weeks and now that they have offered Broeker is considering an official visit to Columbus.
Flip potential: Medium
The second of the offensive line offers last week, Duplain has been a Michigan State commitment since Aug. 1. The three-star lineman did his homework after collecting 26 scholarship offers in a five-month period between January and May. He took June official visits to Boston College and Indiana, and had narrowed his focus to those schools and Michigan State a month prior to the decision. It appeared Clemson might jump in with an offer as well, and Duplain made an unofficial visit to see the Tigers in June, but that offer never materialized.
Although this is another in-state offer for the Buckeyes and they are historically tough to beat for those prospects, Duplain does not seem a likely candidate to make a late switch. It could get interesting, though, if he schedules an official visit with the Buckeyes or if additional teams, particularly Clemson, make their own late offers.
Flip potential: Medium-Low
Before the college football season began Butler listed Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State as three programs he planned to officially visit. That was particularly audacious considering he had not received offers from either of those schools at that time. Ohio State, however, has since come through with an offer and an official visit has now been scheduled for the Nov. 24 weekend.
Butler committed to Kentucky in early August, but that commitment was soft from the beginning. He made the decision without ever having visited Lexington, and has always maintained that he would take additional official visits. Schools like Alabama, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and West Virginia had also offered in the past, but with Ohio State now on the board they would be the program most likely to flip the Toledo native.
Flip potential: High
