Chat Wrap: Recapping Ohio State recruiting chat July 9

COLUMBUS — Ohio State recruiting is alive and well. Even if the recruiting calendar is in a dead period, there are still things to discuss, ask, ponder, evaluate and conclude.

Every Tuesday, Lettermen Row starts a chat thread on the Lettermen Lounge message board. As Tuesday ends, we recap some of the bigger conversations started by our subscribers.

From ItsUurf: Any players you guys think will end up surprise committing to OSU? Any others OSU is heavily favored to land that you think end up elsewhere?

Mick Walker: Surprising is an interesting one because so many guys are already off the board. I still think Trey McNutt will sign with Ohio State when all is said and done, I think that would surprise some.

As for a guy Ohio State is favored for that they don’t sign, I could see a path where they don’t land a third running back. Other programs are also prioritizing Anthony Rogers and Shekai Mills-Knight who don’t already have two running backs committed. Hopefully, you accept that answer.

Matt Parker: I think David Sanders Jr. is going to end up being a Buckeye. Though it may not be a surprise, it is wild to see how quickly Ohio State went from nobody to top tier in his recruitment.

As far as someone trending heavily to OSU but not going to OSU? I could see that happening with Jayvon McFadden.

From Bucks321: During the July dead period, we hear about things changing in recruitments. What are coaches allowed to do during the dead periods? Is just in-person contact not allowed? Or are the changes more on external factors (NIL)?

MW: A lot of phone calls which can cover several things, no in-person contact is allowed at all. Some coaches could be trying to tug on the prospects’ heartstrings, others could be negative recruiting, others could be upping their NIL packages.

July is closing time so everyone is doing everything they can to close, at least that’s my perspective.

MP: Dead period just means coaches can’t be on the road and kids can’t be on the road either. Coaches are still able to call/text/FaceTime/carrier pigeon with recruits. NIL conversations are never-ending and certainly play a role and in the pulse of a recruitment no matter what the recruiting calendar is.

From Uncle Rico: What are your thoughts on Oregon recruiting? Are you hearing the same absurd amounts they are offering kids that others are reporting? Do you anticipate they will just continue to outspend everyone as long as they can?

MW: Personally, I haven’t heard any amounts but I have heard a lot of the same chatter. I do think NIL is helping Oregon but they also have a staff full of talented recruiters. I want to give their staff some credit but I also agree that they have used NIL to help.

MP: My thoughts on Oregon recruiting, at the first initial thought, is ‘damn.’ [Nike Founder, Oregon alumnus] Phil Knight isn’t getting any younger. Oregon has never won a national championship. I think they have the right head coach to do it. Even though [Dan] Lanning hasn’t won a big game yet, I think he will figure it out eventually.

As far as ‘reported’ NIL offers, I personally never believe them. Though I wouldn’t doubt if some of them were accurate or at least close to accurate.

The post Chat Wrap: Recapping Ohio State recruiting chat July 9 appeared first on On3.