This is the final weekend of official visits in the 2018 recruiting cycle, and Ohio State is reportedly making it count. On campus this weekend prior to Wednesday’s signing day is the nation’s No. 1 offensive tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere and the No. 18 running back Tavion Thomas.
Four-star Cincinnati Winton Woods linebacker Christopher Oats was scheduled to make an official visit to OSU this weekend as well, but that trip is no longer happening per reports.
Petit-Frere is a 5-star prospect and the No. 7 overall player in the 2018 class per the 247Sports Composite. Out of Berkeley Prep in Tampa, Florida, Petit-Frere has already made official visits to Notre Dame, Michigan, Alabama, and Florida. This means that Ohio State will get the last shot at showcasing their wares to one of their most important remaining targets.
Petit-Frere will be making his decision known on signing day in the 10:00 a.m. hour on ESPNU.
The Buckeyes are trying their damnedest to land another offensive tackle in this class. The staff had their final in-home visit with Maryland 4-star prospect Rasheed Walker this week, and it went very well for Ohio State. Penn State is the other school in this mix, and it won’t be easy to pull him past State College. OSU feels good about where they stand, though.
Tavion Thomas (Dayton Dunbar High School) has visited Ohio State a number of times during his recruitment, and has had Buckeye coaches like Tony Alford visiting him recently as well. His official visit this weekend comes just a few days after he decommitted from Oklahoma, where had had been committed since June.
Thomas is a 3-star prospect in the Composite and the No. 13 player in Ohio. He holds offers from OSU, Oklahoma, Alabama, Texas, and many others. He is expected to eventually be a Buckeye.
The Buckeyes already have two running backs signed in Master Teague and Brian Snead, but at 6-foot-2 and 234 pounds, Thomas is different than anybody else Ohio State has on their roster.
Ohio State is also hosting some top 2019 prospects on unofficial visits this weekend, including 4-star Virginia defensive back Cam’Ron Kelly and 4-star New Jersey athlete Ronnie Hickman.
Kelly (6-1 200) is ranked the No. 11 safety in the nation per Rivals and holds offers from Alabama, Ohio State, Clemson, Auburn, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, and a dozen others.
Hickman (6-1 200) is the No. 11 athlete in the nation per the 247Sports Composite and holds offers from Ohio State, Florida State, Michigan, Penn State, Wisconsin, and others.
Urban Meyer spent a portion of Friday morning in Rhode Island visiting with 4-star offensive tackle Xavier Truss. Truss (6-7 325) holds offers from Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, Florida State, Oklahoma, and others.
[Nicholas Petit-Frere photo courtesy 247Sports.com.]
