COLUMBUS, Ohio – Linebacker Raessie Davis of Mater Dei High School in California is one of Ohio State’s last two targets in the 2021. Class class. He’s in Columbus this weekend, as reported by Greg Biggins of 247Sports.
Three things are worth considering that this visit of the country’s no. 45-player and no. 4 out of line for the Buckeyes means:
1. He plans to announce his decision on February 3.
2. There are 16 members of OSU’s 2021 site class moving to Columbus this weekend.
3. The state of Ohio has one lineout ball in its 2021 class and three in 2022.
The first two facts are why this visit is currently important.
The visit of the former LSU commission will take place in the same way as it did last year. Ryan Day and his coaching staff will not be involved in this, there will be no tour of the Woody Hayes Athletics Facility or Ohio Stadium, and he will not post photos of himself in full OSU equipment. He and his family will come to Columbus and walk around the campus and surrounding areas just like anyone else to get a feel for an environment in which he can live for the next few years.
This is the same itinerary in 2022 that Bennett Christian went through before selecting the Buckeyes in September. Defensive end Jack Sawyer served as tour guide when he invited 2021 collaborators to spend a weekend in Columbus for the Buckeye Bash.
It’s no coincidence that Davis’ trip falls on a weekend when potential classmates will call OSU’s campus house. These kids are smart, which is why some of them reacted in public when the news of the visit became known.
The recruiting period prohibits coaches from being personally involved, but there is nothing that says a player Davis cannot bump. Sawyer lives 15 minutes from campus, so he’ll have plenty of time to do his part to make sure the next time Davis comes to Columbus, it’s permanent. Five star wide receiver Emeka Egbuka hinted that he arrived on Wednesday night so expect him to be involved. Others will surely join them.
The state of Ohio was on both sides of a player that had to visit campus before making a decision. Egbuka was sold at OSU but also wanted to see Oklahoma. For Davis, the Buckeyes are the last word.
Then there is how this decision can affect future classes.
Reid Carrico is the only fullback in 2021, but position coach Al Washington added three in 2022 with CJ Hicks, Dasan McCullough and Gabe Powers. All four are top-100 recruits with Ohio roots.
The addition of a fourth to the 2022 class has always been a possibility because of the potential of early graduation ceremonies. But Davis’ commitment will help balance the classes of lineout balance.
Davis joins five-star defensive end JT Tuimoloau as the Buckeyes’ last likely addition to a class that is second in the country. Tuimoloau’s decision has no exact time frame, but Davis has made his intentions clear.
He is ready to connect somewhere on February 3rd. The state of Ohio will once again rely on the power of peer recruitment to succeed.
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