Weekend Preview: Big-time visitors at OSU
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Fresh off landing the nation's No. 2 recruiting class, the Ohio State coaching staff is not simply taking a break and celebrating a great finish. Instead, the staff will host some big-time unofficial visitors this weekend from the class of 2014. Below, we take a look at the loaded list of visitors that are scheduled to be on campus throughout the weekend.
O-line well represented
It is imperative that Ohio State signs a big class along the offensive line in 2014. With one already in the fold, the Buckeyes would love to wrap up a couple more early on so that they can focus their efforts down the stretch on a select few targets.
Two of the biggest targets for Ohio State at the position will be on campus this weekend in Chicago (Ill.) De La Salle product Jamarco Jones and Lancaster (Ohio) product Kyle Trout. For Jones, the 6-foot-5, 285-pound prospect will be making it a two-day affair as he will arrive on Saturday, spend the night, and then leave after taking in the Men's basketball game against Indiana.
An interesting note on Jones is that he hit a growth spurt during the fall. Jones was in the 6-foot-3.5 range back in the summer which brought up some questions about whether or not he had the build of a true tackle. Now standing much closer to the listed 6-foot-5, those questions seem to be answered.
With Trout, he will once again make the short drive to Columbus from Lancaster. Trout has said that he had originally hoped to take his time with the recruiting process but after recently picking up an Ohio State offer, his time table may have been moved up. This is definitely a situation to watch over the weekend.
Peach State duo
While not all of the Georgia prospects that were originally scheduled to make an unofficial visit this weekend will make it, there are still a pair of big-time prospects that are expected. Among them is Cedartown (Ga.) running back Nick Chubb. The four-star prospect already holds more than a dozen offers, including schools such as Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Michigan State, Ohio State, Penn State, and Tennessee, among others.
Tyrone (Ga.) Sandy Creek product Demarre Kitt also expects to make the trip north, and like Chubb, Kitt is closing in on 20 offers already. Kitt is an early high four-star prospect by Rivals.com and is one of the top wide receiver prospects in the nation. Kitt has put Ohio State among his favorites along with Clemson and Oregon.
Migrating south
A pair of big-time juniors on the defensive line will make their way south to Columbus from Michigan this weekend in Southfield (Mich.) weakside defensive end Lawrence Marshall and Detroit (Mich.) Loyola strongside defensive end Malik McDowell.
Marshall, a 6-foot-4, 205-pound prospect, already holds 11 offers including one from the Buckeyes. Getting the athletic pass-rusher on campus is a good first step for Ohio State as they look to try and land a few big name prospects from the state of Michigan in this class.
McDowell could be the top overall prospect in the Midwest for the class of 2014. The 6-foot-6, 292-pound prospect is an early high four-star prospect by Rivals.com and already has offers from all of the heavy hitters in the Midwest. This one is shaping up to be a classic Midwest battle with schools such as Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, and Ohio State all involved and getting McDowell down for a visit is certainly good news for the Buckeyes as they try and make a move on one of the nation's top defensive linemen.
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