Ohio State battling Missouri, Oregon for 4-star WR commit Jeremiah McClellan
Ohio State landed one of its top recruiting targets this summer when they beat out Oregon, Missouri and a handful of others for four-star St. Louis (Mo.) CBC wide receiver Jeremiah McClellan.
But both of those schools have remained in contact with the No. 82 prospect in the On3 Industry Rankings, and he is not ready to shut the door on the Tigers or the Ducks.
McClellan has taken visits to both schools this fall, and is expected to be back in Eugene when the Ducks host USC later this season. And according to On3 Director of Recruiting Chad Simmons, both teams’ efforts to flip McClellan aren’t going unnoticed.
“McClellan and his family have a strong relationship with the staff at Oregon. Missouri is picking up some steam, too,” Simmons wrote on Friday. “The commitment to Ohio State is not as strong as it once was and McClellan is one to watch.”
Both schools pushing hard for McClellan
In an interview with Simmons earlier this week, McClellan said the Tigers have made themselves a contender in the race again.
“Missouri has really jumped back in this race,” he said. “I was back on campus for the LSU game and they just wanted me to know that I am still wanted. The coaches want the St. Louis kids to stay home and go to Missouri. That is their message to me.”
The Ducks, meanwhile, are further from home but were arguably Ohio State’s biggest competition the first time around. He has a strong connection with the coaching staff, including head coach Dan Lanning.
“There is that family vibe there at Oregon. It is the coaching staff that keeps me going back. The people there make it feel like home. Junior Adams talks to me a lot, but it is Coach Lanning that calls me two to three times a week. He wants the message to come from the head coach so he knows how much they want me.
Buckeyes looking for their own flip
McClellan is one of three wideouts currently committed to the Buckeyes, joining five-stars Jeremiah Smith and Mylan Graham.
Receivers coach Brian Hartline isn’t quite done yet though, and whether it’s an insurance policy for McClellan or simply trying to lock down another talented wideout, Ohio State is pushing for another top target.
That’s four-star Miami pledge Chance Robinson. The Buckeyes have ramped up communication with him after he took an unofficial visit in September, and he is looking to return to Columbus later this season.
“I’ll be taking my official visit for the Michigan State game (weekend of November 11),” Robinson told Lettermen Row earlier this week. “I’m just looking forward to an opportunity to see a great program.”
He also confirmed that he doesn’t plan to visit any other schools this season besides Ohio State and Miami.