Ohio State football: Buckeyes close in on coveted linebacker

Historically, the Ohio State football program has not recruited the state of Louisiana very much at all. You can count on one hand the number of players from there in the program’s history. If defensive coordinator Jim Knowles has his way, the Buckeyes are going to add one more in a few weeks.

Knowles loves Tackett Curtis, a linebacker from the small town of Many, Louisiana. LOVES him. The first-year OSU coordinator is a linebacker guy. He’s worked with them often in his 34-year coaching career and will be in charge of them with the Buckeyes. So, if Knowles loves a linebacker, you know he really sees potential.

Curtis has been targeted by Knowles since the veteran coach first arrived in Columbus and has gotten plenty of visits from him. He admits that has made a very good impression. What Knowles is telling him about his future role with the Buckeyes has made an impression as well. Curtis told Eleven Warriors,

"“He wants me to be the man in the middle and the leader of his defense.”"

The 6’2”, 218-pound Curtis is the nation’s number seven linebacker according to 247Sports and is ranked in the top 100 overall (81st). A couple of recruiting experts I have a lot of respect for, Steve Wiltfong of 247Sports and Bill Kurelic of Bucknuts, have made predictions for the Buckeyes to land Curtis.

I’m not ready to say Wiltfong, who made his prediction all the way back in early March, is beginning to hedge on his call, but he has recently said he believes Wisconsin is gaining ground. USC is also considered to have a chance with him as well.

I’m not a recruiting insider and don’t pretend to be, but I’m of the belief his relationship with Knowles is going to be the deciding factor here. Although a lot can happen to change things, I fully expect Curtis to choose the Buckeyes when he makes his announcement on July 28th. He would join fellow Louisiana native Jyaire Brown on the Ohio State football team’s roster.