Even with the retirement of Urban Meyer becoming official earlier this year, and after an initial hiccup, Ohio State under Ryan Day hasn’t suffered a significant drop-off overall on the recruiting trail. While the Buckeyes’ Class of 2019 was ranked 14th in the country -- that was the program’s lowest slotting on 247Sports.com‘s composite board since they were 18th in 2010 in what turned out to be Jim Tressel‘s final class -- Day’s class this year is currently ranked fourth nationally.
That number, though, could’ve been higher in the here and now were it not for Meyer leaving the program.
Elias Ricks is a five-star 2020 prospect who committed to LSU on Christmas Day last year. According to the player, however, the commitment process probably would’ve played out much differently if Meyer were still in Columbus.
“Ohio State was my No. 2 choice behind LSU and honestly if Urban Meyer never left, I probably would have committed there,” the California high schooler told 247Sports.com. “It was really close and they’re still recruiting me really hard. I hear from [OSU co-defensive coordinator Jeff] Hafley almost every day so I’m looking forward to getting out there.”
That said, all is not lost for Day’s program as Ricks will take an official visit to Ohio State on Nov. 22, the weekend of the Penn State-OSU game. He will also take official visits to LSU, USC and Alabama, with the site of the fifth of his five allotted officials still to be determined, although Ricks did mention Florida and Miami as possibilities.
247Sports.com‘s composite board has Ricks rated as the No. 2 cornerback in the country; the No. 3 player at any position in the state of California; and the No. 16 prospect overall.