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Football Recruiting
Michael’s Sunday Recruiting Rundown
By Michael Chung

(Editor’s Note: This is the latest contribution to the-Ozone for Michael Chung. He has provided OSU recruiting information to several websites in the past, but now will be exclusive to the-Ozone as we look to bring more football recruiting coverage in the coming months. You can follow him on Twitter @MChungOzone).

The college football season has finally begun!

After taking center stage from January through the summer, recruiting fans finally divert their attention to the gridiron. News tends to slow down as targets focus more on their season and temporarily put the stressor of college choices on the back burner. But there is still much to report on the recruiting front for Ohio State.

Here is the latest on the Buckeyes in our Sunday Recruiting Rundown.

Devon Allen (6-1, 190, WR, 2013)
When asked if the reports were true that Stanford is his leader, he replied, “somewhat, it is the school I have seen the most.” When we asked him about his current leaderboard, Allen agreed the Cardinal are out in front right now, trailed by Texas then Arkansas, Ohio State, UCLA and Notre Dame.

He also mentioned there may be a couple of other schools in the running but did not mention any specifics. It looks like a long road before Allen makes his choice and I am guessing he does not go Scarlet and Gray, as OSU seems to be higher with Shelton Gibson and James Quick right now.

Dennis Finley (6-7, 280, OT, 2013)
Detroit Cass Tech OL target committed to Michigan State. Many believed this was inevitable, especially since news on him was silent since Friday Night Lights. Buckeyes already having Lisle and Gardner may have made Finley a lesser priority. They are still in Dorian Johnson’s top two, so there is a chance one more O-lineman could enter into the 2013 fold.

Shelton Gibson (6-1, 175, WR, 2013)
Gibson recently told ESPN’s Jared Shanker that ‘“Ohio State is still my top school,” said Gibson, who has been leaning the Buckeyes’ way since early spring. “The only thing now is I just want focus on high school. I’m still on recruiting and everything but just more focused on my high school career.”’

A source close to Gibson told me a while back that he felt Gibson would come to Ohio State. Maybe after Sept. 15? That is when he has his next visit planned to Columbus.

Mike Mitchell (6-4, 216, LB, 2013)
Mitchell has recently stated that Ohio State and Oklahoma are his leaders. The Sooners came into the game a little later than Ohio State but one advantage Bob Stoops will have over Urban Meyer is OU is so much closer to home. Don’t be surprised if Texas A&M also moves up into the mix, but Mitchell has stated he will visit Ohio State. If he does, he could potentially commit during – or right after – the visit if the Buckeyes are indeed is his leader. If he does not commit on an official visit, it looks like OU or A&M.

Tyquan Lewis (6-3, 225, DE, 2013)
He will announce within a month, that is almost a certainty at this point – or at least as close as they come in recruiting. When he was asked if he had set a specific date, the answer was no, but he’s gone on record that the decision will be soon. If it gets to October and he has not announced, that could be bad news for the Bucks. The only other school I feel that has a legitimate chance to land Tyquan is North Carolina, and the main reason would be distance from home.

Damon Webb (5-11, 170, DB, 2014)
With the commitment of Dennis Finley to Michigan State, and Webb holding an offer from the Spartans, a source was asked if Finley’s MSU commitment could influence Webb towards that direction. Indications are that Finley’s commitment will have no bearing on where Webb decides to play.

Demetrius Knox (6-5, 300, OL, 2014)
Every time I’ve spoken with Knox, I make sure to ask him if he still plans to visit Ohio State. The answer continues to be yes, but there is no specific timeframe for his trip to Columbus.  

He has mentioned he wants to visit “as soon as possible,” but no firm date or even a month has been communicated. Until he makes a visit to Ohio State, my vibe is that he will end up at Texas.

Clifton Garrett (6-3, 220, LB, 2014)
Part of the “Fab Four” of 2014 linebackers with Raekwon McMillan, Dante Booker and Davonte James, Garrett currently holds an Ohio State offer. It is early but sources say Garrett has Ohio State high on his list. With no linebackers committed so far in the 2013 class, Garrett becomes a high priority for the Buckeyes to land in the class of 2014.

Damian Prince (6-7, 300, OL, 2014)
Hailing from District Heights, Maryland’s Bishop McNamara High School, Prince is already a 5-star athlete according to 24/7 Sports, the No. 1 prospect in the state of Md., as well as the No. 3 OT prospect in the nation. Currently, Alabama and Virginia Tech are the leaders but he has recently stated he will visit Ohio State for a football game this season. Ohio State will be looking to recruit between four and five O-linemen in 2014 and they would love to add Prince to the class. 

Davonte James (6-3, 220, ILB, 2014)
2014 could prove to be a bumper crop for Ohio and nationally, LB will be one position that Ohio will have top prospects. Michael Ferns has already committed to Michigan but there are plenty of top players at LB and one of them is James. His current teammate, WR Thaddeus Snodgrass, already has an OSU offer and do not be surprised if his teammate James will also receive one. He currently does not have an offer but the Ohio State coaches are keeping their eyes on Davonte.

Vincent Jackson (6-2, 235, OLB, 2014)
It was reported that Tampa, Fla. Jesuit High School star linebacker Vincent Jackson wants to visit Ohio State. Oklahoma is the current leader, with offers from Auburn, Cincinnati, Connecticut, and Duke.

That’s all for now. Not bad for this being week one of the NCAA Football season, but be sure to check back next week for another installment of our Sunday Recruiting Rundown as we hope to have more updates on players who could future Buckeyes.

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