2019 prospects are officially on the clock, Ohio State’s cornerback pursuits and more

Recruiting never stops, and if you take a day off, you fall behind. Join us every night for a daily recap of Ohio State recruiting news, insight on what’s happening behind the scenes, and for a glimpse at what’s coming next.

Welcome to the big time, 2019 prospects

It’s Sept. 1 and that means high school juniors who play football are officially on the clock for college football recruiters. Players from all over the country will see ridiculous amounts of text messages and direct messages on social media meant to inspire reciprocal interest and build lasting relationships.

Ohio State has, to date, sent out 82 offers in the Class of 2019 and those prospects are now able to be contacted freely by the Buckeyes coaching staff.

Which players are going to be top priority for Ohio State in this next recruiting cycle?

Most of the big names have been talked about here, but you should expect to hear a lot about the Buckeyes’ pursuit of Noah Cain, a 5-star running back who will visit for the third time this year next weekend. Tennessee wideout Trey Knox, also slated to be on campus for the Oklahoma game, is another.

In the state, you know the Buckeyes will ramp up their conversation with defensive end Zach Harrison, linebacker Cade Stover and defensive tackle Jowon Briggs.

Of course, Ohio State commitment Doug Nester, the only Buckeyes verbal for 2019, will see his relationship with the coaching staff take off as well.

Anthony Cook‘s decision date

After months of speculation, Ohio State now knows the date that 5-star cornerback Anthony Cook will announce his college decision.

The Buckeyes, LSU and Texas remain in the hunt for Cook, who will be in Columbus next weekend for Ohio State’s game against Oklahoma. He’ll announce his college decision roughly seven weeks – Oct. 30 – after that.

It is expected that Cook, who currently has only one publicly scheduled official visit – to Ohio State – will return to LSU and Texas before he makes his decision.

Ohio State is the current 247Sports.com crystal ball leader for Cook’s commitment, but his relationship with LSU defensive backs coach Corey Raymond, and his proximity to both LSU and Texas, are good reasons why this race isn’t over. Cook is the No. 2-ranked corner in the country.

Ohio State in the cut for the country’s No. 1-ranked cornerback

Speaking of 5-star cornerbacks, Ohio State made the cut for the country’s top-ranked player at the position, Patrick Surtain, Jr., who narrowed his top schools list to six finalists on Wednesday night.

The 6-foot-2, 205-pound Surtain is expected to make an official visit to Columbus this season, but no date is planned, yet. He’s been closely linked with LSU throughout much of his recruitment and the Tigers are the presumptive favorite. If he comes to Ohio State for a later official as planned, there’s at least an outside chance, because of potential NFL attrition, that the Buckeyes’ secondary situation will have changed considerably.

That gives Urban Meyer, Kerry Coombs and the rest of the Ohio State football program a chance to make an impression on Surtain. Otherwise, it could be LSU pulling off the same feat the Buckeyes did a year ago, trying to land both of the country’s top two-ranked cornerbacks in one recruiting class.

Buckeyes commitments in action this weekend

Ohio State’s commitments – 16 of the 17 – are in action this weekend. Here’s the slate of games for the future Buckeyes.

• Emory Jones – Quarterback, Heard County (Franklin, Ga.)

  • Week 1: Win, 42-16 over South Atlanta. Jones completed 10 of 15 passes for 168 yards and a touchdown. He also ran for a score and 40 yards.
  • Week 2: Lost, 17-14 against Saraland (Ala.). Jones was 6 of 11 for 99 yards and a touchdown to go with 11 carries for 52 yards. A game-winning touchdown with a minute to go was thrown perfectly but dropped.
  • Week 3: at New Manchester (Douglasville, Ga.)

• Brian Snead – Running back, Armwood (Seffner, Fla.)

  • Week 1: OFF
  • Week 2: Won, 35-12, at Tampa Bay Tech. Snead rushed for more than 200 yards and 2 scores in a game that was delayed five days because of weather.
  • Week 3: OFF

• Master Teague III – Running back, Blackman (Murfreesboro, Tenn.)

  • Week 1: Win, 63-28 over Hendersonville. Teague scored 4 touchdowns and accounted for 341 total yards.
  • Week 2: Win, 52-21 at Evensville (Tenn.) Rhea County. Teague gained 163 yards on 16 carries, scoring 2 touchdowns.
  • Week 3: vs Coffee County Central (Tenn.)

• Jaelen Gill – Athlete, Westerville (Ohio) South

  • Week 1: OFF
  • Week 2: Win, 50-14 at Dublin (Ohio) Scioto. Gill scored 4 touchdowns, rushing for 138 yards, catching 2 passes for 67 yards and also recording an interception.
  • Week 3: vs Gahanna (Ohio) Lincoln

• L’Christian Smith – Wide receiver, Huber Heights (Ohio) Wayne

  • Week 1; OFF
  • Week 2: Lost, 42-0, to Pine-Richland (Pa.)
  • Week 3: at Olentangy (Powell, Ohio) Liberty

• Jeremy Ruckert – Tight end, Lindenhurst (N.Y.)

  • Week 1: OFF
  • Week 2: OFF
  • Week 3: at Northport (N.Y.)

• Matthew Jones – Offensive line, Erasmus Hall (Brooklyn, N.Y.)

  • Week 1: OFF
  • Week 2: OFF
  • Week 3: OFF

• Max Wray – Offensive line, Franklin (Tenn.)

  • Week 1: Lost, 14-10 to Brentwood (Tenn.)
  • Week 2: Lost, 24-7 to Riverdale (Murfreesboro, Tenn.)
  • Week 3: at Ravenwood (Brentwood, Tenn.)

• Taron Vincent – Defensive tackle, IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)

  • Week 1: OFF
  • Week 2: Won, 27-14 at Chandler (Ariz.). Vincent and the Ascenders defense dominated the No. 7-ranked Wolves.
  • Week 3: va Corona (Calif.) Centennial

• Brenton Cox – Defensive end, Stockbridge (Ga.)

  • Week 1: OFF
  • Week 2: Won, 9-0 at Mays (Atlanta) High School. Cox recorded 1 sack.
  • Week 3: at Lovejoy (Ga.)

• Dallas Gant – Linebacker, Toledo (Ohio) St. John’s

  • Week 1: OFF
  • Week 2: Lost, 35-28 at Bedford (Temperance, Mich.) High School. Gant scored 2 touchdowns receiving and recorded double-digit tackles at linebacker.
  • Week 3: at Perrysburgh (Ohio)

• K’Vaughan Pope – Linebacker, Dinwiddie (Va.) County

  • Week 1: OFF
  • Week 2: Won, 70-0 over Denbigh (Newport News, Va.), Pope scored 2 times on offense and also returned an interception for a score.
  • Week 3: vs Smithfield (Va.)

• Teradja Mitchell – Linebacker, Bishop Sullivan (Virginia Beach, Va.) High School

  • Week 1: OFF
  • Week 2: Lost, 14-7 to American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.). The Crusaders defense forced 3 turnovers but couldn’t put the points on the board for Bishop Sullivan.
  • Week 3: at Baltimore (Md.) St. Frances Academy

• Sevyn Banks – Cornerback, Jones (Orlando, Fla.) High School

  • Week 1: OFF
  • Week 2: Lost, 49-30 at St. John’s College (Washington, D.C.).
  • Week 3: vs Orlando (Fla.) Oak Ridge

• Jaiden Woodbey – Safety, St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) Prep

  • Week 1: OFF
  • Week 2: Lost, 9-3 (OT) at St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) High School. Woodbey and the Braves defense held the Raiders to fewer than 100 yards in the second half and overtime.
  • Week 3: at Bakersfield (Calif.) Garces Memorial

• Josh Proctor – Safety, Owasso (Okla.) High School

  • Week 1: OFF
  • Week 2: Won, 48-10 against Jenks (Okla.) High School. Proctor had a 100-yard interception return for a score.
  • Week 3: at Bartlesville (Okla.)

• Marcus Hooker – Safety, New Castle (Pa.) High School

  • Week 1: OFF
  • Week 2: Lost 24-0, at Aliquippa (Pa.). The Red Hurricanes weren’t able to match up with the always- tough Quips, the No. 1-ranked 3A team in Pennsylvania.
  • Week 3: vs Montour (Pa.)