Ohio State in solid position in recruiting race for Kendall Milton

Have a question about Ohio State recruiting? This is the place for you, five days a week. Submit your questions on Twitter or on the Lettermen Row forums. Check in daily to see what’s on the mind of Buckeyes fans all over the country. Today we’re talking about Ohio State and its pursuit of 2020 5-star running back Kendall Milton.

Ohio State Recruiting Question of the Day

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Ohio State needs two running backs in the Class of 2020, and there are a lot of great options around the country. But few players have the talent that the Buchanan (Clovis, Calif.) High School 5-star tailback possesses, and that’s why the 6-foot-2, 220-pound junior is coveted by every program in the country.

Only one school can get him, and there are only a select handful of schools that the country’s second-ranked running back is truly considering. Yes, Ohio State is one of them. The Buckeyes have long been in contention for Milton, but until his early-April visit to Columbus, the interest was hard to consider legitimate. But with that first vital visit out of the way, sources close to Ohio State believe the program has positioned itself very well as the recruitment of Milton moves forward.

There are a number of potential hiccups on the way to a commitment though. Most of them, which may be more accurately considered SEC-sized landmines, are being navigated this week. Milton in the midst of a week-long trip that’s included stops at LSU, Alabama and then Georgia this weekend.

Oklahoma, which had been considered the frontrunner for Milton, has a commitment already from a running back, 5-star Texan Jase McClellan. The Sooners are also moving up the list for another 5-star tailback, Chris Tyree from Virginia. Alabama has an early commitment from running back Roydell Williams, but he’s not going to deter a player like Milton from joining the fray if he wants to.

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There are months to go before Milton’s decision gets made, but the coaching staff made it very clear during his visit that there’s a very real chance for early, regular playing time in Columbus if he were to choose the Buckeyes.

“I just came in with open thoughts and the visit was just all-around amazing,” Milton said. “They took me in as family, and J.K. Dobbins let me know that when he leaves there’ll be a great opportunity at the running back position.”

Now Ohio State, led by Tony Alford and Ryan Day, must capitalize on the momentum gained in this recruitment. It won’t be easy, but the Buckeyes are in a good position as the spring evaluation period kicks off.

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