Just two weeks removed from signing the seventh-ranked 2015 recruiting class, head coach Urban Meyer and the Ohio State coaching staff are hard at work to make their 2016 and 2017 hauls even better.
Over the last week, that process forced the Buckeyes to turn their attention south.
When Tom Herman was hired as Houston's head coach, there was concern that Ohio State's recruiting efforts in Texas would take a hit. The Buckeyes were having good success in one of the country's most talent-rich states, snagging 4-star prospects J.T. Barrett, Dontre Wilson and Demetrius Knox over the last two years.
Meyer and the Buckeyes are still making the Lone Star State a priority, though, and the most recent evidence of that came last week with a pair of big-time offers.
T.J. Vasher, 4-Star Wide Receiver (2016)
Ohio State's invasion of Texas started with an offer to 4-star wideout T.J. Vasher.
The 6'5", 180-pound pass-catcher is a rangy receiver who hails from Barrett's alma mater, Rider High School. Last month, when the Buckeyes first started showing interest in Vasher, Rider coach Marc Bindel told Ari Wasserman of The Plain Dealer what makes him so special:
He is a freak. He has a ridiculous wingspan, his vertical is off the charts. He has to put some muscle on, but our No. 1 red zone play was to hurry up and throw a fade and he'd go up and get it. With him, if you throw it anywhere in the vicinity, he's going to out-jump a guy. As he continues to get older, I expect his recruitment to expand.
Vasher's highlights show that he has a very similar skill set as Michael Thomas, who ranked second on the team last year with 799 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. Those numbers can serve as proof to Vasher that the Buckeyes can feature a player like him in their offense.
Schools such as Houston, Ole Miss and Texas Tech have offered, but Oklahoma, Texas and Texas A&M figure to enter the race very soon. 247Sports' Crystal Ball Prediction feature currently gives the edge to Ohio State over Texas.
Jaylon Jones, 4-Star Cornerback (2016)
Four days after entering the race for Vasher, the Buckeyes offered Texas' third-ranked cornerback in Jaylon Jones.
A 5'11", 175-pound blazer out of Allen High School, Jones had offers from programs such as Auburn, Miami, Michigan, Ole Miss and TCU before the Buckeyes joined the fray. Those teams covet his speed—he runs a reported 4.40 40-yard dash—and his ability to support the run from the perimeter.
Only one recruiting expert has weighed in on 247Sports' Crystal Ball—forecasting a commitment to Texas A&M (which has yet to offer the 4-star standout). That lack of clarity offers a glimpse into how wide open Jones' recruitment is, so the Buckeyes have just as much ground to cover as everyone else.
Joshua Kaindoh, Weak-Side Defense End (2017)
Meyer and the Buckeyes took an even deeper look into the future Wednesday when they offered Joshua Kaindoh.
A 6'6", 220-pound pass-rusher from Essex, Maryland, Kaindoh possesses an incredible burst off of the line, and his closing speed makes him a nightmare coming off of the edge. He has just two offers (the other is from Florida State), but according to his high school's official website, programs such as Alabama, Penn State and Florida have been in touch.
"It has been a crazy week and a lot of this was unexpected, but I cannot express how blessed and thankful I am to be in this position," Kaindoh said, per OLMCmd.org. "It's definitely exciting, but I still have a lot of work to do in the classroom and on the football field."
Kaindoh hasn't been ranked by 247Sports yet—only the top 116 players have been rated for the 2017 class. But as his offer list continues to grow and recruitment picks up, Kaindoh is sure to shoot up the rankings.
All recruiting rankings and information via 247Sports.
David Regimbal covers Ohio State football for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @davidreg412.
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