Breaking down Ohio State flip targets, pursuit of 5-star OT

Ohio State has already built one of the best recruiting classes in the country for the 2024 cycle — ranking No. 2 in the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings.

But the Buckeyes aren’t done yet.

On3 Director of Recruiting Chad Simmons joined Josh Newberg on The Inside Scoop football recruiting show to break down two potential flip targets and one five-star at the top of the Buckeyes’ board.

Buckeyes in great position for Amaris Williams

Clinton (N.C.) four-star defensive lineman Amaris Williams pledged to Florida back in June. But it has been a tough stretch both on the field and in the recruiting class for the Gators. Florida is 5-5 this season on a three-game losing streak. Three commits have flipped to other schools since Saturday. Now, Florida is in danger of losing another.

“You know at the time we shoot this Josh, it looks like Amaris will take that visit to UT in December if we get that far, not this weekend anymore,” Simmons said. “Tennessee has pushed that back. So is that telling them maybe that they kind of feel they’re not up there in that top group with Ohio State competing against Florida? It could be read different ways there. But right now, Williams is set to be in Tennessee in December, not this weekend.

“Ohio State clearly is the biggest threat to the University of Florida,” Simmons added. “Coming off that OV earlier this season, there was buzz then that he could flip pretty quickly to Ohio State. He then returned this past weekend for the Michigan State game on an unofficial trip to Columbus, and the momentum has taken to that next level. What Larry Johnson does on that defensive line, even from Penn State time to Ohio State time, his resume kind of speaks for itself. That has resonated with Williams and his family as well. I think he likes his personality — Larry Johnson. The NFL production obviously speaks for itself.

“I would say even though he remains on paper committed to Florida, Ohio State is the school trending right now for Amaris Williams.”

Ohio State pushing to flip Chance Robinson

Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas four-star wide receiver Chance Robinson committed to Miami back in April. But Robinson took an unofficial visit to Columbus in September before returning for an official visit this past weekend. High school teammate and top-50 running back Jordan Lyle is already committed to the Buckeyes.

“I think Chance now is just working to — No. 1 win a state championship again with St. Thomas Aquinas. But when it comes to recruiting, just figuring out where he wants to be — make that final decision,” Simmons said. “I don’t think he’ll take this thing until December 20 and then announce if he signs and sticks with Miami or flips to Ole Miss or Ohio State; I think going to Ole Miss a couple weeks ago really opened his eyes and really gave him a different perspective about Lane Kiffin’s program, what it’s like in Oxford, the passion in the SEC. I think all those things caught his attention.

“But I still continue to hear that the biggest threat to Miami is Ohio State,” Simmons continued. “Obviously, the proof’s in the pudding as they say with Brian Hartline, his track record, his plan of development at the wide receiver position. They really got down to business, the nuts and bolts and ins and outs of Chance’s game. How he can get better, how he would be used by Hartline in that scheme, how they would coach him, how they would develop him. Basically, it was kind of left on the table for him — ‘Hey, if you want to be part of this program, we’re here for you. We’re not going to beg, we’re not going to call you 24/7. You know what Ohio State has to offer.’ They offer a lot, and that definitely has Robinson’s attention.

“I think right now, based on what I’m hearing a few days post-visit, is that this one is nip and tuck — extremely tight between Ohio State and Miami. I would give the slight edge today, as we shoot this this morning, maybe to Miami holding on here. But Ohio State is right there with the Hurricanes.”

OSU hoping to reschedule Jordan Seaton visit

Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy five-star offensive tackle Jordan Seaton is the highest-rated prospect in the On3 Industry Ranking not already committed to a school. He was planning to take a visit to Ohio State this past weekend as the Buckeyes faced Michigan State, but that visit had to be postponed. But the Buckeyes are still hopeful that they can get Seaton on campus for a visit before the Early Signing Period.

“They remain in the race, Josh, of course,” Simmons said. “I think it’s kind of a must to get him back on campus, for sure, at some point. Likely, based on what I hear, it has to be in December. Right now the plan is to be at Tennessee this weekend, Oklahoma next weekend. But we’ve seen it before — things are very fluid with Jordan Seaton. Things can change pretty quickly. But I think right now they’re still trying to figure out when he can get up there.

“So I think if he does make that trip to Columbus and gets back on campus, hasn’t been there in a year and a half since the spring game in 2022. So for them to be a strong and true contender come December 20, they have to get him back on campus.”