We are just under a week away from the Early National Signing Period, and many recruitments have already begun to work themselves out. 

With some major priority targets on watch to make commitments in the next few days as well as the impact of a reclassification for a 2023 commit, and the addition of a new coach, there is lots to unpack in this weeks Bullet Points. 

Today is the day Xavier Nwankpa is set to make his announcement and pledge his services to a school. As stated in past articles I do not think the Buckeyes have done enough in this recruitment to beat out the home state Hawkeyes. However, Nwankpa has kept his commitment close to the vest, meaning anything really could happen between now and 5:00.

With some bad news alway comes some good news though, today Ohio State got word that Sonny Styles will be reclassifying to join the 2022 class. I think that is also an indication of the way the the Nwankpa recruitment was heading as both players are fairly similar. The biggest difference between the two is the imposing frame Styles brings at 6-foot-4, 215-pounds. 

Styles already looks the part of a college athlete but can he be a plug and play right away? Absolutely! With the hiring of Oklahoma State Defensive Coordinator Jim Knowles yesterday, the reclassification of Styles became a whole lot more interesting. 

Knowles defense is a little different from what we have seen in the past couple years from Kerry Coombs. Coombs defense required stacking the box often time with a base 4-2-5 and in run situation and 4-3-4. 

Knowles will also be bringing a 4-2-5 with the ability to jump into a 3-4-4 based on opposing team 2nd and 3rd down tendencies. The benefit this will have for a player like Styles is he will be required to be among that group of 5 in the secondary but will not have to come off the field in order to get that extra LB on the field. 

Knowles is going to have the ability to bounce Styles out on the edge similar to how Brent Venables used Isaiah Simmons a few years ago at Clemson. With Styles being out on the edge he is going to have the ability to be apart of the pass rush when necessary as well as jump into coverage to be that ball hawking strong safety. 

Make no mistake about it, Styles is going to bring something that neither Nwankpa or even Zion Branch will be able to, which is the ability to be incorporated in the pass rush. 

Bulletin Board Breakdown:

Enai White– The Buckeyes had their chance but ultimately passed on him. Expect him to join Jimbo Fisher’s Aggies. 

Omari Abor– Ohio State is just coming off an in home visit with Abor. Everything went as well as it could and I still predict him to choose the Buckeyes. 

Earnest Greene– Also coming off an in home visit, and the family seems to have a great connection with Ryan Day but still believe they have questions about Studrawa as development coach. I have the Buckeyes still but Georgia is building momentum.

Branch Brothers– Zion is going to join USC here shortly, but I hear Zachariah could also commit to them with the commitment being very flimsy. Zachariah loves Brian Hartline and even if he commits this one will not be over until next years National Signing Day.

Caden Curry– Expect to join the Buckeyes class, nothing has changed here.

Hero Kanu– The Buckeyes are the leader but the coaching change at USC definitely has become of interest to Kanu. Oklahoma was behind the Buckeyes before but now it’s all Trojans pushing. I still believe he ends a Buckeye but in a close one to the home state Trojans. 

Christen Miller– Ryan Day and Larry Johnson in home visited Miller last night and it could not have gone better. Spoke to a source who said if Larry Johnson was in Georgia, this recruitment would already be over. This means Miller is picking between being close to home or a coach he believes in his development. Staying close to home I believe wins out here. 

Carson Hinzman– Hinzman has been another recruitment that has stayed very quiet. Wisconsin and Ohio State are the two teams that he is down to. I’m going to be the first one to say it but I think the Buckeyes are going to beat out the home state Badgers in a recruiting battle for a priory OL target. 

Ephesians Prysock– Prysock decommitted from USC following the news of Lincoln Riley becoming the new Head Coach. Prysock told me he would have been a Buckeye had the staff had room for him but ultimately he’s going to join UCLA in the coming weeks.