Ohio recruiting analyst believes Chris Oats is heading to Ohio State

College football’s second national signing day for the class of 2018 is scheduled for February 7, and the Kentucky coaching staff is scrambling to fill the remaining spots with the best talent available.

Four-star linebacker Xavier Peters flipped his commitment from Kentucky to Florida State last week, making four-star pass rusher Christopher Oats out of Cincinnati, OH a major priority for the Cats.

Ben Roberts of the Herald-Leader caught up with Ohio recruiting analyst Bill Greene on Kentucky’s chances with the star linebacker, who believes it’ll come down to two schools.

“I think it’s Kentucky or Ohio State,” said Greene.

Unfortunately for Kentucky fans, Oats is expected to take an official visit to Ohio State, which leads Greene to believe he ends up in scarlet and grey.

“As long as this Ohio State official visit takes place — and I haven’t heard any different — I think he’s going to go to Ohio State,” Greene said.

So why does one visit to Columbus mean Oats is a lock for the Buckeyes? Greene believes that the Ohio State coaching staff doesn’t mess around this late in the game, and if they bring you in on an official around National Signing Day, you’re a priority.

“Going by the Ohio State history, when they bring in-state kids in for official visits late in the process, they are always takers, and they always get ’em. I can’t think of one kid that has fit this scenario and he doesn’t end up being a taker, and he doesn’t end up being at Ohio State. That’s usually the way this goes,” Greene said.

Kentucky has been seen as the favorite in his recruitment for several weeks now, especially after Wildcat safety Mike Edwards announced his return to school for a senior campaign. Sources told KSR the two wanted to play together, and if Ohio State didn’t come in at the last moment, he was Kentucky’s to-lose.

Unfortunately for the Cats, that’s exactly what the Buckeyes did.

That being said, Greene believes Oats’ relationship with Vince Marrow could win out in the end, and it wouldn’t be a massive upset for him to end up in blue and white.

“It won’t shock me if he ends up going to Kentucky, and I think Kentucky feels pretty confident that they can get him,” he said.

There’s still time for Vince Marrow and the Wildcat coaching staff to sway him our way, but this upcoming visit doesn’t look too promising…