Ohio State Recruiting: Will Urban Land These Outstanding Cornerbacks?
A look at a couple of visitors to Ohio State.
This a big recruiting weekend for Ohio State with players coming from all over the country to watch the spring game. There will be a ton of stories about their experiences come Sunday, and possibly a commitment or two.
There are many intriguing possibilities when it comes to prospects who will be on campus this weekend. But I want to get to one of the situations that I find especially interesting concerning players who won’t be around for the game.
In an article by Andrew Lind of Eleven Warriors, it was reported that Patrick Surtain Jr. and Tyson Campbell arrived at Columbus on Wednesday but are only staying for two days.
According to the 247Sports Composite, Surtain is the top ranked cornerback in the country and the number 5 player overall. Campbell is the No. 10 corner and the two are teammates at American Heritage High School in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
Surtain is obviously interesting because he is the top player at his position. But something else adds to the intrigue as well. His father played the same position in the NFL for 11 years.
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Sometimes a highly rated player whose father played in the league will be more college ready than most true freshman, just think of the Bosas. With the way coaches Coombs and Schiano are sending defensive backs to the NFL early, it’s becoming important to recruit players who can contribute right away.
Having a highly ranked corner like Campbell would be a prize recruit in any class. But what if he and Surtain decided to become a team and play for the same university. That’s what Marshon Lattimore and Erick Smith did and that worked out pretty well for the Buckeyes didn’t it?
Each player is in the 6’2, 180 pound range so they are the long lanky types Kerry Coombs has had so much success with. And either could bulk up to play safety if need be.
The two recruits from Fort Lauderdale have things in common with a couple of Ohio State players, Nick Bosa and Damon Arnette. Bosa and Arnette played high school ball at St. Thomas Aquinas in Fort Lauderdale, so I’m sure Surtain and Campbell are familiar with them.
Also, Arnette will probably be a starting corner for Ohio State next season. And like Surtain, Bosa’s father played in the NFL, and of course brother Joey is playing in the league right now.
Possibly all four players spent some time together on the visit which couldn’t hurt Ohio State’s chances of landing the two cornerbacks.
Next: Ohio State Spring Game: Will We See Wilson's Impact?
The Crystal Ball predictions favor LSU for each Surtain and Campbell at the moment. But who knows, it’s still early in the recruiting process, and Urban Meyer got the two players on campus for a visit. When that happens, anything is possible.