Area schools put finishing touches on recruiting classes
2/7/2018For the first time in 2017-18, National Signing Day is twice as nice.
Most college football recruits put pen to paper to make their college choices official on Dec. 20 thanks to a newly established signing period in the sport.
Not everyone had to sign, though, and many recruits did not, choosing instead to wait until the opening of the traditional period, which starts today.
Nearly every area Division I recruit signed in December, and the bulk of the recruiting classes for Toledo, Bowling Green, Ohio State, and Michigan were filled at that time. Each of those schools is adding signees today, though. Toledo has added 10 players to its class, while Ohio State’s No. 1-ranked effort has been bolstered by the addition of one of the nation’s top players in Florida offensive lineman Nicholas Petit-Frere.
Follow along as college football recruiting again takes the spotlight on National Signing Day, part two. All rankings are the ones compiled by the 247Sports.com.
TOLEDO | MAC rank: 1
Wednesday update: Rockets add 10 to MAC’s top group
Briggs: Candle, staff again do great work on recruiting trail
December recap: Rockets sign 18 in talented class
February period preview: Toledo looks to secure top class in MAC
Local angle: Springfield OL Tyler Long signs with Rockets
Today’s signees: LB Jackson Barrow, 6-1, 205, Indianapolis Cathedral; OL Parker Bisek, 6-4, 285, Union (Ky.) Ryle; LB Evander Craft, 6-3, 215, Glen Ellyn (Ill.) College of DuPage; DB Jordan Hendy, 6-1, 185, San Mateo (Calif.) College of San Mateo; DE Melvin Johnson, 6-5, 275, Riverside (Calif.) City College; DT Derrius Mullins, 6-4, 324, Columbus de Sales; LS CJ Nossaman, 6-1, 190, Powell (Ohio) Olentangy Liberty; DE D’Andre Ragin, 6-3, 218, Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas; LS Josh Tilque, 6-1, 185, Statesville, N.C.; DB Jalynn Williams, 5-10, 188, St. Petersburg, Fla.
Fans invited: UT is hosting a special presentation of its 2018 recruiting class beginning at 4:00 p.m. in Savage Arena. The event will be streamed live on ESPN3.
BOWLING GREEN | MAC rank: 4
Wednesday updates: Falcons go ‘big-game hunting’ to add 4 to class | February signee bios
December recap: Jinks likes class Falcons bring in | Early signee bios
February period preview: Falcons look to bolster class
Today’s signees: DL Karl Brooks, 6-4, 240, Lansing (Mich.) Sexton; RB Ra’veion Hargrove, 5-7, 175, Trotwood-Madison; TE Presley Motes, 6-4, 235, Thatcher (Ariz.) Eastern Arizona Community College; OL Cameron Stage, 6-4, 295, Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) Cardinal Gibbons
Fans invited: A signing day party will take place at Schmidthorst Pavilion from 5:30 to 7 p.m. In addition, a 90-minute show on ESPN3 will feature interviews with coaches and early enrollees starting at 12:15 p.m.
OHIO STATE | Big Ten rank: 1 | National rank: 2
Wednesday updates: Buckeyes land nation’s No. 1 OL Nicholas Petit-Frere | OSU finishes No. 2 overall | Schiano says he’s staying
David Briggs commentary: Buckeyes pulling away from UM on recruiting trail
December recap: Buckeyes happy with QB situation after signing 21
February period preview: Ohio State on verge of signing top group
Local angle: St. John’s Jesuit’s Gant proud to be Buckeye
Today’s signees: OL Tyler Friday, 6-3, 263, Ramsey (N.J.) Don Bosco Prep; DL Javontae Jean-Baptiste, 6-5, 215, Oradell (N.J.) Bergen Catholic; WR Chris Olave, 6-1, 190, San Marcos (Calif.) Mission Hills; OL Nicholas Petit-Frere, 6-6, 272, Tampa (Fla.) Berkeley; DL Tyreke Smith, 6-3, 260, Cleveland Heights, Ohio
MICHIGAN | Big Ten rank: 3 | National rank: 21
Wednesday update: Signing day blues for Michigan
December recap: Michigan goes far and wide to add to program
February period preview: Wolverines recruiting not up to previous par
Today’s signees: ATH Michael Barrett, 6-0, 215, Valdosta (Ga.) Lowndes; WR Ronnie Bell, 6-1, 174, Kansas City (Mo.) Park Hill; DB Vincent Gray, 6-2, 180, Rochester (Mich.) Adams