Ohio State Football Recruiting: Buckeyes Chasing Historic 5-Star WR Haul

Ohio State's 2017 recruiting class is currently ranked No. 1 nationally, but head coach Urban Meyer could tighten his grip on the top spot by signing a trio of 5-star wide receivers. 

The Buckeyes will have to fight the numbers, though. They are a young team, and the 13 current commits for the '17 class have created a scholarship shortage. But Meyer will have a hard time turning down what could be a historic haul of pass-catchers, especially if things continue trending positively for the Buckeyes.

Here's a look at the trio of elite wideouts Ohio State is after.

Trevon Grimes

Trevon Grimes has been at the top of Ohio State's wish list for months, and after watching his highlight tape, it's easy to see why. 

Rated the No. 2 wide receiver and the No. 11 prospect overall, Grimes possesses a rare blend of speed and size that makes him an absolute nightmare on the perimeter. The 6'4", 195-pound playmaker is strong enough to run through arm tackles, but with 4.4 speed, he can run away from second-level defenders. 

The Fort Lauderdale, Florida, product has offers from in-state blue bloods Florida, Florida State and Miami, in addition to national programs such as Clemson, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame and Oklahoma. But the Buckeyes lead the pack in the race for Grimes' commitment because of his great relationship with Meyer and the coaching staff, according to Bleacher Report's Sanjay Kirpalani.

"

I always keep in contact with [Ohio State head] Coach Urban Meyer. He’s a great guy, and they have a great staff. That’s one of the reasons Ohio State is my leader. I just feel like they don’t look at me like a regular recruit they just want. They look at me more as like a son, and they want to mentor me in life and help me with my life goals. I feel like those are the two coaches [Meyer and receivers coach Zach Smith] that stick out to me the most.

"

Grimes told Kirpalani that he could pull the trigger and announce his commitment in the next few months, but he wants to give schools such as Alabama, Florida and Florida State longer looks. Regardless, Ohio State is in the driver's seat in his recruitment. 

Donovan Peoples-Jones

The next guy on the list happens to be the No. 1-rated wide receiver in the 2017 class.

Donovan Peoples-Jones is in a similar mold of Grimes, checking in at 6'2" and 192 pounds. He's a big, physical receiver with a knack for making tough catches, and his athleticism has recently stretched to the basketball court, where he has made dunking over three people look easy.

But programs all around the country are targeting the Detroit product, headlined by Alabama, Florida State, LSU, Notre Dame and USC. The early leaders, though, are in-state schools Michigan and Michigan State, with Ohio State holding its own in a neck-and-neck race, according to 247Sports' "crystal ball" predictions.

The Buckeyes have had a lot of success recruiting the state of Michigan under Meyer. In fact, over the last three recruiting cycles, Ohio State has signed three players—Damon Webb, Mike Weber and Joshua Alabi—who hail from Cass Technical, which is Peoples-Jones' high school.

If the Buckeyes can somehow continue that trend and earn a commitment from Peoples-Jones, not only would it immediately bolster the wide receiver room, it would also be a devastating blow to both the Wolverines and the Spartans.

Tyjon Lindsey

The surprise addition to Ohio State's wide receiver recruiting is Tyjon Lindsey, an electric playmaker out of Corona, California.

It's not often the Buckeyes pull a recruit from The Golden State, having signed just one California player (Marcus Baugh) during the Meyer era. They're trying to change that in 2016, and they're gaining a lot of momentum with Lindsey, a 5'8.5", 180-pound lightning bolt who's nearly impossible to corral in the open field.

Ohio State hosted Lindsey for an unofficial visit last weekend—a trip that went well for everyone involved.

"

I want to thank the Ohio State staff, players, & my host @Austin_Mack10 for the amazing visit‼️® #BUCKEYENATION  pic.twitter.com/ViVb7bmQtv

— Tyjon A. Lindsey ++® (@tyjonlindsey) March 27, 2016"

Meyer made sure that Lindsey knew he was a priority before he returned home, according to Ari Wasserman of Cleveland.com.

"

They stressed (how much they wanted me) a lot. Coach Meyer and Coach (Zach) Smith sat me down personally in their office and spoke to me. They showed me around and what I could be achieving and all that.

They put me with a few players and former players. It wasn't really anything recruiting-wise, I just got along with the players and the former players, so that's a big factor.

"

The Buckeyes weren't a big factor in his recruitment before the trip, but they're definitely a player now, and they're gaining steam, according to 247Sports' crystal ball predictions.

"I'll definitely be looking into [the Buckeyes] even more," Lindsey said, via Wasserman.

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As mentioned above, Ohio State's numbers crunch may prevent it from signing all three pass-catchers, but it's clear that Meyer is doing everything he can to make it work. And if the Buckeyes somehow pull it off, these three will join Austin Mack (2016's 10th-ranked wide receiver) and Binjimen Victor (No. 12) in what could be one of the most dangerous wide receiver units in college football history.

Unless otherwise noted, all recruiting rankings and information courtesy of 247Sports. 

David Regimbal is the lead Ohio State football writer for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @davidreg412.