The rush is your overnight dose of Ohio state football recruiting trail updates, keeping track of the latest confirmations and targets across the country.
Period of silence coming?
We are reaching an entire calendar year, since recruits were able to make official or unofficial visits to schools. (Not including self-guided tours, or as you would like to say, what players like Raesjon Davis, Zen Michalski and other recruits did to see the state of Ohio.)
The current dead period of the NCAA runs until April 15, but there may be some important news regarding the recruitment schedule.
Yahoo Sports’ Pete Thamel reported this week via Twitter that NCAA administrators were recommended to implement a period of silence starting on April 15. That period of silence would last from April 16 to June 30, which would be a crucial game changer to get things back on track in the world of recruitment.
We should see an update soon at the end of the NCAA’s dead recruitment period, which is scheduled until April 15. A note sent to administrators obtained by @YahooSports indicates a recommendation for a period of silence – “depending on medical advice” – in all sports April 16 to June 30
– Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) January 27, 2021
As Thamel notes, during a period of silence, visits to campus – and face-to-face interactions with college coaches while on campus – are allowed.
With Ohio State’s performance in recruiting where personal interactions are allowed, this could be a time – once the news is official – for the Buckeyes to gain some momentum on the recruiting trail this spring and summer.
This is also good news for Washington’s five-star team, JT Tuimoloau and his team. Tuimoloau’s father told 247Sports this week that he would wait until “at least April” to commit to college, because he wants to have the opportunity to visit.
It is possible that Tuimoloau will wait even longer to visit and get these interactions on campus with the coaches from Alabama, Ohio, Oregon, Washington and USC, his last five schools. This could give each of these programs (most notably Ohio State and Alabama, the two so-called favorites) some time to make their final push for the nation’s third overall player in the 2021 category.
Buckeyes catch PWO
Ohio State got a #BOOM on Thursday night, although it is a minor stage.
Cayden Saunders, a 5-foot-10 running back / cornerback from Northville (Michigan) High School, has announced that he has accepted an academic scholarship at Ohio State and will join the Buckeyes football program as a preferred assistant.
As Dan pointed out, Saunders’ father has played for Ohio State and is an agent for one of Ryan Day’s former defenders:
The state of Ohio gets a preferential appointment from Cayden Saunders, whose father, Cedric Saunders, also played for the Buckeyes and is now one of Dwayne Haskins’ agents. Saunders, a running back / cornerback from Northville, Michigan, received a scholarship to the state of Ohio. https://t.co/NZIdvaRlOD
– Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) January 29, 2021
The Buckeyes certainly had a success story with a previous walk-on with the surname Saunders.
Dunn’s fourth star
Security signatory Jantzen Dunn finally got a well-deserved boost in his ranking this week.
Dunn, who is probably the most underrated recruit in the 2021 cycle of the Buckeyes and one of the most underestimated in the entire country, has finally received his fourth star by Rivals.
Yes, rivals …
– Jantzen Dunn (@JantzenDunn) January 27, 2021
It took a long time for Dunn. He is ranked No. 146 overall and No. 7 in safety through the 247Sports rating, but Rivals placed him in position 26 among security guards.
There was some frustration at Dunn’s camp for a time that he was not rated highly by Rivals, but he finally got what he deserved. And that led to a good response on Twitter when he heard the news.
Burton still solid
We touched on that a few weeks ago, but there was a triple drop of one of the Buckeyes’ best recruits in the 2022 class.
Five-star receiver Caleb Burton, who has been committed to the state of Ohio since November 23, made it clear in mid-January that he “is not going anywhere”.
This week, Burton told recruiting analyst CJ Vogel that he is still stuck with the Buckeyes, despite Steve Sarkisian becoming the Texas coach and that his relationship with Brian Hartline remains as impactful as ever.
The country’s No. 1 WR in 2022, Caleb Burton (@calebburtoniii) remains very firm with its promise to the state of Ohio.
He says the relationship between him and TOSU WR coach Brian Hartline is very strong. #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/pV092JEHkZ
– CJ Vogel (@ cjvogel3) January 28, 2021
Stockton chooses Bulldogs
One of Ohio State’s first quarterback targets in class 2022 is off the market. Again.
Georgia’s five-star quarterback Gunner Stockton, who pledged to South Carolina in August before saying goodbye two weeks ago, announced his commitment to the Bulldogs, his home state.
GO DAWGS COMMITTED@KirbySmartUGA @Buster_Faulkner @CoachToddMonken @ Mansell247 @ChadSimmons_ pic.twitter.com/x2gVPYcbmk
– Gunner Stockton (@GunnerStockton) January 28, 2021
Stockton is number 27 overall and the quarterback for the nation’s No. 1 double threat at Peach State Rabun County High School.
OSU commits called All-Americans
Five Ohio state committees in the class of 2022 were named All-Americans this week, as Quinn Ewers, Jaheim Singletary, CJ Hicks, Gabe Powers and Dasan McCullough were named Junior All-Americans by MaxPreps.
Singletary was named a defensive All-American for the first team, while Ewers, Hicks, Powers and McCullough were all selections for the second team.
Other Buckeye targets who made the list, among others, include cornerbacks Denver Harris and Will Johnson and striker Caden Curry.