With recent in-state recruiting losses around the country, it’s time to take a look at some key states and the big ones that got away. We continue today with the state of Ohio, where very few players got away from Ohio State that the Buckeyes really wanted.
Mark Pszonak contributed to this report.
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1. Jackson Carman (2018)
The skinny: Carman focused his attention on Clemson, Ohio State and USC at the end of his process, but it really came down to the Tigers and Buckeyes. Ohio State was considered the favorite coming down the stretch and it had the final in-home visit between Carman and coach Urban Meyer. But it was Clemson that pulled off the recruiting victory on signing day. Carman earned experience in 2018 before being named a third-team All-ACC selection after the 2019 season. He's now considered one of the best left tackles in the country.
Farrell’s take: This was really the only big one and it was a huge loss for Ohio State at the time. This spoke to Clemson’s ability to recruit nationally and was a huge surprise to many. He’s done a great job at Clemson.
2. Zeke Correll (2019)
The skinny: Correll trimmed his list of top schools down to Notre Dame, Ohio State, Stanford and Clemson before committing to the Irish during the spring after his junior season. He took an official visit to South Bend during the weekend before his commitment. Correll redshirted in 2019, but did see action in four games. This season he is the backup center for the Irish.
Farrell’s take: It’s not a huge surprise to see an elite offensive lineman choose Notre Dame these days the way the Irish are pumping them out into the NFL. Cornell is a good one, and he will make an impact down the road.
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3. Jowon Briggs (2019)
The skinny: Briggs trimmed his list of top schools to 10, which included Virginia, Ohio State, Alabama, Penn State and Michigan State before making a commitment to the Cavaliers during the summer leading up to his senior season. Briggs showed his potential as a true freshman with 19 tackles, three tackles for loss and one sack. More is expected from him this fall as he has been named a starter at nose tackle.
Farrell’s take: Briggs is a good one and was an Ohio State target, but he is getting an earlier shot to play at Virginia, and it’s unclear how well he’d do with so much defensive line competition in Columbus.
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4. Nolan Rumler (2019)
The skinny: Rumler was an early commitment to Michigan, making his announcement during the summer leading up to his junior season. The Wolverines were Rumler’s first offer and with family in Michigan it was too much for other schools to overcome. After a redshirt season, there is plenty of optimism around Ann Arbor that Rumler will make an impact this season at either guard or center.
Farrell’s take: Rumler was headed to Michigan from the start, so it’s not a crushing loss to Ohio State, but he’s a talented player who will be an impact guy for the Buckeyes' rival.
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5. Aeneas Hawkins (2018)
The skinny: Hawkins trimmed his list of top schools to Penn State and Cincinnati before committing to the Nittany Lions during the summer before his senior season. His father, Artrell Hawkins, had played for the Bearcats and then the Cincinnati Bengals in the NFL. At Penn State, Hawkins redshirted in 2018 and saw minimal action in 2019, but he may be in more of the regular rotation this fall.
Farrell’s take: This isn’t an Ohio State loss, it’s a Cincinnati loss - and a big one at that. He’d probably be playing for the Bearcats now, and he was an important legacy recruit loss.
6. Jestin Jacobs (2019)
The skinny: Jacobs committed to Iowa during the summer leading up to this senior season, but then picked up an offer from Ohio State a few months later. Two visits followed to Columbus, including an official one, but after an in-home visit with coach Kirk Ferentz he decided to stick with the Hawkeyes. After redshirting last season, Jacobs is expected to make his presence felt at the linebacker position this fall.
Farrell’s take: The Buckeyes got in late on this one and tried to sway him from Iowa, but it didn’t work, and he could be a very good one with the Hawkeyes. But again, Ohio State is just fine at linebacker.
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7. Michael Drennen II (2020)
The skinny: Drennen committed to Kentucky over USC on National Signing Day. Ohio State, LSU, Florida and Arizona State were all seriously involved at different times, but the Wildcats were always seen as the favorite as they were the first to offer him in 2016. Drennen has impressed since his arrival in Lexington, but with a deep stable of running backs already entrenched, it is possible he will redshirt this fall.
Farrell’s take: Drennen II is a big loss for Ohio State, only because it allows Kentucky to continue to gain momentum in the state and it’s been a state where the Wildcats have done well. Obviously, the Buckeyes are recruiting running back very well in 2021.
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8. Chris Oats (2018)
The skinny: Oats announced a top three of Ohio State, Michigan State and Oklahoma during his senior season, but the only official visit he ended up taking was to Kentucky. After the visit, he canceled all of his other visits, including one to Ohio State that he was scheduled to take the weekend before National Signing Day. Oats began to reach his potential last fall with 46 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss. However, an undisclosed medical emergency has sidelined him for the 2020 season.
Farrell’s take: Oats is a top talent that the Buckeyes pushed for late, but his career is uncertain now after a really strong start. At the time this was a recruiting loss for Ohio State.
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9. Todd Sibley (2017)Â
The skinny: Sibley initially committed to Ohio State after his sophomore season, but after more than a year he re-opened his process and flipped to Pittsburgh after a visit to check out the Panthers. He began to look at other options after Ohio State mentioned the possibility of grey-shirting him. Sibley redshirted in 2017, was a reserve in 2018 and totaled 249 yards on the ground last season while dealing with an injury. He scored his first collegiate touchdown this season against Austin Peay.
Farrell’s take: Sibley was a player the Buckeyes kind of tossed away, and it hasn’t hurt them yet but it helped Pitt in recruiting the state of Ohio. It’s not a huge deal, but at the time he was an Under Armour All American.
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10. Matt Dotson
The skinny: Dotson trimmed his list of top schools down to Michigan State and Penn State before committing to the Spartans during the summer leading up to his senior season. He also considered Ohio State, Michigan and Wisconsin, and the Nittany Lions were considered the leader for a good portion of his process. Over the last two seasons in East Lansing, Dotson has totaled 30 receptions for 310 yards and two touchdowns.
Farrell’s take: Again, Ohio State didn’t push, but a four-star leaving the state to a Big Ten East rival is never great.
