Bell s Recruitment Continuing To Progress

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1 Quickly By Ari Wasserman Only 2½ weeks remain before Ohio State can accept national letters of intent from its 22 verbal commitments in the 2013 class, but the excitement now resides with how Urban Meyer and his staff plan to fill the few spots that remain open. While Meyer already has a very impressive class in place in his first full year recruiting at Ohio State Scout.com ranks the current Buckeyes group No. 3 nationally behind only Michigan and Texas A&M there remains at least one uncommitted prospect who would help the OSU head coach finish the class with a bang. That prospect is Rossville (Ga.) Ridgeland safety Vonn Bell, a five-star recruit Scout ranks the No. 2 safety in the nation. The Buckeyes had him on campus for an official visit the weekend of Jan. 11, and sources close to BSB indicate that visit went very well for the Buckeyes. Typically in that scenario, Meyer has had a great track record in closing the deal. In the case of Bell, however, there is still plenty of work to be done with Alabama and Tennessee both in line for official visits before he formally announces his decision. Guided by Nick Saban, who followed Bell s official visit at Ohio State with an inhome visit with the prospect Jan. 14, twotime defending national champion Alabama is expected to put a full-court press on the safety while he is in Tuscaloosa for an official tour this weekend. Ohio State is most definitely in the game for Bell, and I could see him signing with the Buckeyes on signing day, BuckeyeSports.com recruiting analyst Bill Greene said. But there are compelling reasons for him to pick Alabama. This is recruiting at the highest level between two of the best in the game. While the 6-0, 190-pound Bell is set to officially visit the Crimson Tide this weekend, he plans to visit Tennessee during the Jan. 26 weekend, although experts have universally come to agreement that the fight for Bell will come down to between Ohio State and Alabama. Recruiting Update Jan. 18, 2013 Bell s Recruitment Continuing To Progress Vonn Bell Despite having limited room remaining in their 2013 class, the Buckeyes have held and will continue to hold a scholarship aside for Bell for as long as it takes him to make a decision. Someone lands Bell and the other moves on, Greene said. It happens all the time with the best players. This isn t like recruiting Little Jimmy from Springfield, Ohio. This is recruiting at the top of the charts. Sit back and enjoy the show. Regardless of what happens with Bell, the Buckeyes are also looking for a playmaker at wide receiver, which got a little more complicated when in-state prospect Shelton Gibson pledged to West Virginia on Jan. 17. Gibson, the four-star prospect from Cleveland Heights rated by Scout the No. 19 wide receiver in the 2013 class, was a player many recruiting analysts expected in Ohio State s class. At the end of the process, however, the 6-0, 190-pounder said he felt at home in Morgantown. The main reason I would give is that it just felt like home to me when I visited, Gibson said. I talk to (WVU All-America receiver) Tavon Austin a lot, and I think I can have that type of impact on the program. I also visited Kentucky and Ohio State, but West Virginia just stood out as the best place for me. The coaches told me I have a chance to get on the field early next year, and there are spots open at the wide receiver positions. With Gibson committed elsewhere, Ohio State has turned its focus to East Mississippi Community College wide receiver Corey Smith, who is currently committed to Mississippi. However, Smith was in Columbus along with Bell during the Jan. 12 weekend, and sources indicated the Buckeyes could be close to flipping the four-star prospect depending on how things shape up with his academics. The Buckeyes have covered their bases at wide receiver past Smith, recently offering four-star wideout James Clark of New Smyrna Beach, Fla. If they cannot get Clark to visit, OSU could turn to Nashville (Tenn.) Ensworth athlete Cornelius Elder. Scout.com Big Ten Rankings Rk. School Commits 1. Michigan Ohio State Nebraska Illinois Northwestern Penn State Michigan State Wisconsin Iowa Indiana Minnesota Purdue 9 Ohio State has also entered the picture for several Oregon verbals who might be looking elsewhere now that Ducks head coach Chip Kelly has bolted for the NFL s Philadelphia Eagles. Speedy four-star running back Dontre Wilson (5-10, 180) of DeSoto, Texas, has been committed to the Ducks since May, but he has scheduled an official visit to Ohio State for the weekend of Jan. 26. Wilson has 4.4 speed and could fill a running back/slot receiver role for the Buckeyes. Also expected on the OSU campus during the Jan. 26 weekend are receivers Tyrell (6-3, 208) and Tyree Robinson (6-2, 200), twin brothers and four-star prospects from Lincoln Senior High School in San Diego who were offered by virtually every major program in the country. The Robinsons committed to Oregon in September. Additionally, the Buckeyes are this weekend hosting three-star offensive tackle prospect Dan Skipper of Arvada (Colo.) Ralston Valley. The 6-10, 295- pound Skipper is considered a soft verbal to Tennessee. This is the fun part for recruiting, Greene said. It s time to just sit back and watch the dominoes fall into place.

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3 Ohio State Verbal Commits & Offers Players in the class of 2013 who have issued verbal commitments to play football at Ohio State. (^ Player already enrolled at Ohio State) Eli Apple^ CB 6-0½ 180 Voorhees (N.J.) Eastern J.T. Barrett^ QB Wichita Falls (Texas) Rider Marcus Baugh TE Riverside (Calif.) John W. North Joey Bosa DE Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas Cameron Burrows^ CB Trotwood (Ohio) Madison Gareon Conley CB Massillon (Ohio) Washington Ezekiel Elliott RB St. Louis Burroughs Tim Gardner OG Indianapolis Lawrence Central Michael Hill DT Pendleton, S.C. Taivon Jacobs WR Forestville (Md.) Suitland Trey Johnson OLB Lawrenceville (Ga.) Central Gwinnett Darron Lee ATH New Albany, Ohio Tyquan Lewis^ DE Tarboro, N.C. Evan Lisle OT Centerville, Ohio Jalin Marshall WR Middletown, Ohio Mike Mitchell MLB Plano (Texas) Prestonwood Christian Donovan Munger DT Shaker Heights, Ohio Billy Price DT Austintown (Ohio) Fitch Tracy Sprinkle^ DE Elyria, Ohio Jayme Thompson S Toledo Central Catholic Johnny Townsend P Orlando (Fla.) Boone Christopher Worley OLB Cleveland Glenville Other players in the class of 2013 who have received offers from Ohio State, according to Scout.com, and have yet to verbally commit elsewhere. Devon Allen WR Phoenix (Ariz.) Brophy College Prep Vonn Bell S Rossville (Ga.) Ridgeland Jordan Cunningham WR Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) University Cornelius Elder RB Nashville (Tenn.) Ensworth Cameron Hunt OG Corona (Calif.) Centennial Marquez North WR Charlotte (N.C.) Mallard Creek Dan Skipper OT Arvada (Colo.) Ralston Valley Corey Smith WR Scooba (Miss.) East Mississippi CC Players in the class of 2014 who have issued verbal commitments to play football at Ohio State. Marcelys Jones OT NR Cleveland Glenville Damon Webb CB Detroit Cass Tech

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