Recruiting Roundup: Ohio State makes a move, Mason prospects add offers and Duke comes calling

Credit: MARC PENDLETON / STAFF

Credit: MARC PENDLETON / STAFF

Another week, another group of offers going out to local high school football prospects. We’ll get to those, but first the biggest story of the past two weeks. It involves a certain Big Ten school making a big push for a local star. 

Wayne receiver L'Christian "Blue" Smith grabbed headlines late last week when he shared images from a visit to Ohio State.

Land of 10 recruiting guru Jeremy Birmingham explained the purpose of that meeting between Smith, his father and Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer.

First and foremost, according to a source close to the recruitment, Ohio State reiterated to Smith that he can play wide receiver for the Buckeyes, though many believe he could develop into a player similar to Washington Redskins tight end Jordan Reed, despite the fact that Smith is almost 4 inches taller.

Reed played at Florida and was recruited by Urban Meyer, and if things go in the direction I think they will from here, it will be Meyer at the fore of Blue Smith's recruitment.

Whether it's at wide receiver, or an H-back role similar to how Meyer used Aaron Hernandez at Florida, I think the odds of Blue playing for the Buckeyes have gone way, way up.

The 6-6 Warrior earlier listed Ohio State in his top 10, and he has announced he will be enrolling early wherever he ends up committing…

Birmingham also recently weighed in with his thoughts on the chances Ohio State lands Jackson Carman, the No. 1 prospect in the state and a five-star offensive tackle at Fairfield.

Carman is priority No. 1 for Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes, and the contest with Clemson continues. As time moves further and further away from his March visit with the Tigers, Carman's recruitment swings more and more back toward Ohio State. Still, there's a lot of time left until December, when he's expected to make his decision. Don't be surprised if – or when – Alabama, Southern Cal, Florida State and similar schools get more involved here, either. However, when everything is said and done, it's hard to imagine him not signing with the Buckeyes.

READ MORE: Alabama offers Springfield pair, Dunbar LB narrows choices, Lakota West prospects rising

The Land of 10 update on in-state prospects also touches on the status of the Buckeyes with Springfield athlete Leonard Taylor and Dunbar running back Tavion Thomas…

🐐 @Birm is at it again with a recruiting update on Ohio State and in-state kids https://t.co/vqjQdN9ZGu— Landof10 Ohio State (@Landof10OSU) May 18, 2017

Mason High School is up to at least four soon-to-be seniors who are getting serious interest from college recruiters. 

Comets receiver Christian Hutchinson announced he received his first offer. That came from Navy, and it was followed by one from Eastern Kentucky (where Greeneview tight end Ethan Bradds is headed this fall).

Matt Sora, a running back for Mason, picked up his first offer, too, when Indiana State extended one.

Teammates Eric Miller and Zaid Hamdan also added offers this week as Buffalo came calling for both. Miller also received an offer from Central Michigan…

As previously noted, Tyler Johnson also joined the growing ranks of area players with at least one Division I offer this week when the Miamisburg receiver picked one up from Navy…

Buffalo had a busy week in this part of the state, also offering Belmont athlete Jadon Rucker-Furlow and Xenia receiver Meechi Harris…

Duke also dropped multiple offers in the past week, extending one to Centerville defensive lineman Jevon Henderson and Springfield defensive back Moses Douglass (who is a 2019 prospect) while offers keep coming for Thomas.

The Wolverines power back, who announced he will visit Wisconsin this summer, has added Howard to his long list of scholarship offers.

💰 🏉my first Hbcu. Offer pic.twitter.com/vFZzj6UBMY— lackofworries🎈🎈 (@tavionthomas937) May 13, 2017

Did we miss anyone? Have anything to add? Get in touch with this writer at marcus.hartman@coxinc.com or 937-815-4615. 

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