re: Class of 2018 Recruiting MEGATHREAD: So Long Old Friend Edition

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he must be if he thinks we get all on that list.

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When it comes to recruiting, the Ohio State staff knows no boundaries. That's why it's not surprising to see the Buckeyes go after players from anywhere across the country, as well as players committed to any school.

On Tuesday, OSU did just that, extending a scholarship offer to Alabama commit, 2018 DE/OLB Jordan Davis from Memphis (TN) Southwind.

Bless to announce that I have receive my 1??6??offer from "Ohio State University ????" pic.twitter.com/Fs4kb2RkUH
— Jordan Davis?? (@jlpdavis99) June 13, 2017

The offer is the 16th for the 6-foot-5, 238-pounder, who committed to the Crimson Tide in December.

"Urban Meyer offered me," Davis told Bucknuts. "I know for a fact [Ohio State] is a big time program. I like it. I'll visit up there, I just don't know when."

While the Buckeyes certainly have Davis's interest with this offer, it appears it will still be an uphill battle to flip him from the Tide, though.

"I'm still going to be going to Alabama, to be honest," he stated, mentioning he'll check out Ohio State and a few other schools "just in case".

Davis is a 4-star, the No. 222 overall player, No. 12 weak-side defensive end, and No. 5 player in Tennessee for 2018 per the 247Sports Composite.

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- Apparently it did surprise some at AU that 4* LB Richard Jibunor did not make it to BCW. However he camped at UGA & their 247 guys (Rusty) doesn't think an offer will come. FWIW I read his take and it sounds like staff is concerned about his size or at least the 215-220 lbs part. So with UGA out of the race, the main competition is Bama & Tennessee. Personally I think Bama isn't as a big a threat now with them most likely getting JJ Peterson to go with Quay Walker. AU apparently feels good about where they stand and the thought is his relationships at AU (Travis Williams & Prince Tega) will win out. He plans to announce, you guessed it, in August

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- KN says that it's not clear when AU's next commitment might be but that the staff feels very good about where they stand right now. Things are expected to slow down over the summer with there just being a few camps though there will be another big recruiting event in July. It sounds like the fireworks won't go off until August when a bunch of targets plan to announce

Here's a rough estimate of who is all waiting till August to announce. It's kinda crazy how many of our top guys have chosen that month:

5* QB Justin Fields
4* LB/Buck Richard Jibunor
4* RB Asa Martin
4* DT Coynis Miller
4* DT Tayland Humphery
4* LB Zakoby McClain
3* DE Andres Fox
3* S Joseph Foucha
3* CB Juanyeh Thomas
3* WR Shedrick Jackson
3* RB Tae Provens

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AUBURN | There weren’t any commitments during or in the days after Auburn’s Big Cat recruiting event but Gus Malzahn saw plenty of reasons to be excited over the 33 top targets that visited June 3.

“Big Cat was awesome,” Malzahn said. “After we got done there are three or four other coaches that have been through all of them since I’ve been back as the head coach and they’re like this may have been the best one overall and very successful.”

As far as commitments go, Auburn is up to six in the 2018 class and Malzahn is expecting more this summer with some upcoming camps and a cookout coming over the next several weeks.

“You know (Big Cat) is not really set up for (commitments),” Malzahn said. “It’s more of a relationship building, getting to know each other. The way we left it we feel great with where we’re at with the staff and it’ll really pay dividends moving forward.”

A handful of prospects left Big Cat with Auburn either leading or tied for the lead including four-star athlete Matthew Hill from Brookwood in Snellville, Ga., and safety Charles McClelland from Clinch County in Homerville.

Hill, who is a lifelong Auburn fan, has the Tigers on top of his list and plans to have a decision this summer. McClelland, who was offered in the days leading up to Big Cat, also has Auburn on top. He wants to hold off on a decision until after his senior season.

While neither three-star wide receiver Shedrick Jackson from Hoover, Ala., or three-star cornerback Juanyeh Thomas from Niceville, Fla., officially named Auburn their leader, both considered committing during Big Cat. Jackson, the nephew of Bo Jackson, could have a decision within the next week or two. Thomas, a former teammate of Eli Stove, wants to announce a decision in August.

Three-star defensive end Andres Fox from Mobile (Ala.) Christian and four-star safety Jamien Sherwood from Jensen Beach, Fla., both have Auburn tied at the top of their respective lists after Big Cat. Fox said the Tigers are tied with either LSU or Alabama. He’s planning to announce a decision later this summer. Sherwood has several schools at the top of his list along with the Tigers including Florida, Ole Miss, Oregon, North Carolina.

The highest-rated prospect at Big Cat was five-star wide receiver Justyn Ross, who called it a special day because it was the first time his mom, who has been serving overseas in the military, was able to visit Auburn with him. Ross went from Big Cat to an Alabama camp and then returned to Auburn Thursday to spend more one-on-one time with the coaching staff.

In addition to Hill, Jackson and Ross, there were a couple of other top wide receiver targets at Big Cat including four-star Tommy Bush from San Antonio, Texas and four-star Kearis Jackson from Peach County in Fort Valley, Ga.

Bush, who comes from a military family, doesn’t mind Auburn’s distance from home and may return for a game this fall. Jackson, who has Auburn in his top three along with Georgia and Ohio State, wants to go to same school as four-star offensive lineman Trey Hill, who also attended Big Cat..

Hill, from Houston County in Warner Robbins, Ga., didn’t name any leaders or a top group but said Big Cat bumped Auburn up. He and Jackson both plan to graduate in December.

Four-star athlete Kyler McMichael from GAC in Norcross, Ga., was originally being recruited by Auburn as a defensive back but likes that the coaching staff talked to him about playing on both sides of the ball during Big Cat.

A number of highly-regarded linebackers attended Big Cat including four-star JJ Peterson from Colquitt County in Moultrie, Ga., four-star Michael Harris from Tucker (Ga.) High, four-star Channing Tindall from Spring Valley in Columbia, S.C. and four-star Caleb Tannor from Miler Grove in Lithonia, Ga.

Peterson, who lists Auburn No. 2 behind Alabama, liked the family atmosphere during Big Cat. Harris has Auburn No. 2 behind Ohio State, but said his mom prefers the Tigers. Tindall, who is from the same high school as Travis Williams, lists Auburn a close second to South Carolina. Tannor has Auburn in his top five along with Georgia, Florida, LSU and Tennessee, and plans to have a decision in July.

Four-star defensive lineman Coynis Miller from Jackson-Olin in Birmingham, Ala., likes Auburn’s plan for him to come in and play as a true freshman. Miller is considering a commitment before the start of his senior season.

Four-star defensive tackle Jalen Cunningham from St. Clair County Odenville, Ala., has Alabama No. 1 on his list and Auburn tied for second with Mississippi State and Ole Miss following Big Cat.

Three-star defensive end Daquan Newkirk, a long-time Auburn commit, was back on the Plains for the first time in 15 months. He has no interest in visiting other schools and plans to enroll at AU in January.

Three-star running back Tae Provens didn’t speak to reporters after Big Cat but listed Auburn in his top five along with Tennessee, LSU, South Carolina and Louisville before the visit. Provens plans to announce a decision on Aug. 11.

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