Ohio State got the final official visit with 5-star offensive tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere last weekend, and it appears they have made it count.
Petit-Frere (6-6 272) is the No. 1 offensive tackle in the nation and the No. 7 overall prospect in the 2018 recruiting class per the 247Sports Composite, and right now the Buckeyes are strongly trending up in his recruitment.
Based on the 247Sports Crystal Ball predictors, Ohio State was completely out of the running for the Tampa tackle a day ago. Today, however, of the 21 predictions from recruiting writers, 14 of them have Petit-Frere landing at OSU.
Petit-Frere was a First-Team All-State selection at Berkeley Prep in Tampa and was heavily favored to end up at the University of Florida just one day ago. He has also taken official visits to Alabama, Florida, Michigan, and Notre Dame. Following his official visit to Ohio State, however, things have apparently changed.
The Buckeyes only have one offensive tackle currently committed or signed in the 2018 class in 4-star Tennessee prospect Max Wray. Wray, the No. 9 offensive tackle in the class, is already enrolled and participating in winter workouts.
Landing a player like Nicholas Petit-Frere after missing out on 5-star in-state offensive tackle Jackson Carman would be one of Urban Meyer’s best recruiting coups in his time at Ohio State.
Petit-Frere will announce his decision Wednesday morning around 10:00 a.m. on ESPNU.
Here is a look at where his Crystal Ball predictions currently stand.
The Buckeyes are also still very much involved with 4-star Maryland offensive tackle Rasheed Walker, who is choosing between Penn State and Ohio State Wednesday morning around 11:00 a.m. in a ceremony at his school. Walker is ranked the No. 6 offensive tackle in the nation.
OSU’s 2018 class currently stands at 24 players, but given the talent of both offensive linemen, they could find room for both.
Regarding the 25-man recruiting class limit, players can enroll early and be counted against the 2017 recruiting class instead of the 2018 class. The Buckeyes currently have eight freshmen already enrolled. Some of those players can be counted back if needed, thereby adding room to add more than 25 signees in the 2018 class.
[Nicholas Petit-Frere photo courtesy 247Sports.com.]
This would be great!!!
This would be a huge pick up. With only one tackle so far in this class this is a major need. Lets keep our fingers crossed for a BOOM tomorrow morning.