Ohio State Football Recruiting: Predictions for Top Rumored 2015 Prospects

There isn’t a program in college football that is better set up for extended recruiting success than Ohio State, and that will continue on Wednesday’s national signing day.

After all, the Buckeyes are fresh off a national championship, have Urban Meyer leading the way and don’t have any other major programs to deal with inside their football-rich state’s borders. Even Alabama’s Nick Saban has to contend with Auburn in his own backyard. 

The Buckeyes are trying to parlay those recruiting advantages into late pushes on a number of the nation’s top remaining prospects. Here is the latest on a few of them, as well as some predictions for their eventual landing spots.

Porter Gustin

Eric Gay/Associated Press

Porter Gustin is a 4-star prospect on 247Sports’ composite rankings and the No. 4 outside linebacker in the nation. He checks in at 6’5” and 245 pounds and is versatile enough to play either linebacker or defensive end.

He is fast and athletic in the open field and is a tenacious pass-rusher. The prospect of Gustin rushing the passer alongside Joey Bosa is certainly enticing for Ohio State fans. 

Gustin’s recruitment is coming down to USC and Ohio State, although Arizona State is something of a dark-horse candidate still. Gustin himself noted that he will make his decision Tuesday:

Considering Gustin just visited Ohio State this past weekend, it is probably a positive thing for the Buckeyes that he is making his decision in the immediate aftermath. There is something to be said for making a last impression, and Meyer is certainly known as a closer on the recruiting trail.

A source close to Ohio State discussed that visit, via Jeremy Birmingham of Eleven Warriors:

"

(The visit) seems to be going well. It seems like the family has been "won over" but I'm less sure on (Gustin) himself. I think they like it here. Urban has pretty much taken this one on personally. It's unlike anything I've ever seen.

"

Gustin visited Ohio State with his father and grandfather.

There are a lot of positives from that quote from Ohio State’s perspective. For one, Meyer is directly involved and just may have flashed those three national championship rings Gustin’s way during the process. That can make quite an impression on someone looking to succeed at the next level, and Meyer’s history speaks for itself.

What’s more, winning over the family is an important part of the recruiting process. 

Between Meyer’s direct involvement, the family’s positive experience and the fact that Gustin is announcing right after visiting Columbus, the prediction here is that he is a Buckeye on national signing day.

Mike Weber

Tony Ding/Associated Press

When Michigan hired Jim Harbaugh, it was only a matter of time before the new head man in Ann Arbor went head-to-head with the current king of college football, Meyer. Their first battle appears to be for the services of running back Mike Weber.

Weber is currently committed to the Buckeyes as a 4-star prospect on 247Sports’ composite rankings and the No. 9 running back in the nation. He is 5’9.5” and 219 pounds. He mixes power and speed and is capable of stepping in right away as a potential playmaker for either team.

Given the respective rosters (and the mediocrity Michigan has been stuck in for years), the Wolverines would probably rely on him more right away, but the Buckeyes are the defending champions with one of the most explosive offenses in all of college football.

The possibility of playing in that system has to be enticing.

Weber is an intriguing prospect because he originally committed to his hometown Wolverines and then changed his mind and went with the Buckeyes. Now that Harbaugh is back in the picture, Michigan fans are hoping Weber changes his mind one final time.

Weber discussed his thought process, via David Goricki of The Detroit News:

"

I grew up a Michigan fan and it's always been a school I wanted to go to, play for, and that's why I made my decision to go there early. But when it went downhill and they lost Brady Hoke and didn't know who they would bring in, I committed to Ohio State. Then they hired (Jim) Harbaugh, but I was pretty solid on Ohio State because I wanted to try something different.

"

How you take that quote likely depends on which side of the rivalry you fall on.

Credit: 247Sports

If you are a Michigan supporter, the fact that Weber grew up a Wolverines fan could be a reason for optimism. Perhaps Harbaugh can stoke that fanhood again and convince Weber to stay home. If you are an Ohio State fan, the “but” after “then they hired Harbaugh” is all you need to hear. He seems to have his mind made up.

Birmingham offered his opinion in a separate piece:

"

My take, from as unbiased a perspective as I can offer, is that people are assuming Weber will flip to Michigan because he's from Michigan and was committed to the Wolverines. I personally believe that many are underestimating how much Weber likes — and has liked for a long time — the Buckeyes. I've said before that people very close to Weber indicated to me over the summer that Ohio State was his first choice even prior to committing to Michigan… No matter how close he is proximity-wise to Michigan, he's closer relationship-wise to the Buckeyes and their coaching staff, which has been a consistent force in his recruitment, an advantage over Michigan's staff.  

"

Birmingham said it best—relationships will win out over proximity and the Harbaugh hiring. Consider this Meyer’s first victory in what promises to be plenty of battles with Harbaugh both on the field and on the recruiting trail.

Terry Beckner Jr.

Credit: 247Sports

Terry Beckner Jr. is a 5-star defensive tackle on 247Sports’ composite rankings and the No. 13 overall player. He is 6’4” and 293 pounds. He stuffs the middle on running plays and creates a push on passing plays that helps him get to the quarterback.

Beckner Jr. is from East Saint Louis, Illinois, and could very well choose to stay closer to home with Missouri when his recruitment is over. However, the Buckeyes have made something of a late push for the dominant Beckner, seeing as how he visited Columbus just a couple of weeks ago.

Still, his final official visit was to Missouri, which is where 68 percent of the crystal ball predictions on his 247Sports page have him going.

While the Buckeyes could use Beckner in the middle of the defensive line after the departure of Michael Bennett, Beckner will choose to stay closer to home with Missouri. Even if it seems like he does, Meyer can’t win all the recruiting battles.

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