USA TODAY International Edition
For 2017, attention turns to QB Mond
With Tate Martell’s commitment to Ohio State, the quarterback landscape for the Class of 2017 again shifts because Martell is generally ranked as the No. 1 dual- threat quarterback.
While it is still a long way until national signing day in February and decommitments often abound, quarterbacks are always among the first to commit and can serve as ambassadors to urge other players to follow them, especially wide receivers.
Among dual- threat quarterbacks, 12 of the top 15 in the 247Sports Composite rankings are committed, and 22 of the top 25 pro- style quarterbacks have announced a college choice.
Most of the teams in the Power Five conferences have quarterback commits. At schools such as LSU, Clemson and Ohio State, there are two commits at the position.
“In most cases, you can only get one quarterback,” longtime quarterback tutor Steve Clarkson said. “It’s unlike wide receiver or offensive and defensive linemen, where you can recruit multiple players there. What schools try to do is recruit the best available quarterback for their system each and every year and let the best man win.”
With Martell from Bishop Gor- man ( Las Vegas) off the board, the focus turns to IMG Academy ( Bradenton, Fla.) quarterback Kellen Mond. A Texas native, Mond recently decommitted from Baylor and is ranked as the No. 3 dual- threat quarterback by the 247Sports Composite.
He told USA TODAY Sports at the Elite 11 Finals that he was down to Auburn, Ohio State and Texas A& M, but Martell’s commitment removes Ohio State from his list. The Buckeyes also have a commitment from Danny Clark, a quarterback from Archbishop Hoban ( Akron, Ohio) who has an Ohio State Block “O” tattoo on his left biceps.
Most view Auburn as the favorite, with Mond saying he saw the Tigers system as a perfect fit. He wants his mother to visit the campus after having traveled with his father during his previous trip.
“( It’s a) spread offense, and coach ( Gus) Malzahn is one of the best,” Mond told AL. com in late April. “I definitely feel like I could run the ball in the offense, throw the ball down the field in the offense, so it’s definitely a perfect fit.”
The addition of Martell gives Ohio State’s already top- ranked 2017 recruiting class another boost as eight of the top 100 overall prospects in the country are planning on signing with the Buckeyes.
It might get even better for Ohio State, and soon.
Martell is an active recruiter of fellow high school top prospects, none more so than the receivers he wants to throw to. That starts with five- star receiver and former Bishop Gorman teammate Tyjon Lindsey, who was one of the first to jump in on congratulating Martell on Sunday, only for Martell to throw in his first Buckeyes pitch right then and there.
Martell responded to the congratulatory tweet with “you’re next.”
Ohio State is among the schools pursuing Lindsey, who returned to Southern California for his senior season and will play at Centennial ( Corona).
Martell also is targeting Trevon Grimes and Donovan Peoples- Jones, two other members of the nation’s top 30 overall prospects.
Martell tweeted the names of Lindsey, Grimes and PeoplesJones with the header “Y’all want to see a scary sight” and then labeled them the “2017 Ohio State Buckeyes WR’s.”
Grimes from St. Thomas Aquinas ( Fort Lauderdale) is the No. 4 wide receiver in the class and said to be leaning toward Ohio State. Peoples- Jones from Detroit Cass Tech is the No. 1 receiver and No. 6 player overall.
The Buckeyes could be challenged by Michigan, although Peoples- Jones tweeted a photo Monday of five players in Buckeyes jerseys: himself, Grimes, Martell, Lindsey and four- star running back Cam Akers of Clinton, Miss.