Projecting Ohio State football’s 2022 cornerback recruits following Domani Jackson’s decision on Saturday: Bu – cleveland.com

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Another one of Ohio State football’s top targets in the 2022 recruiting class is set to come off the board on Saturday.

Domani Jackson of Mater Dei High School in California — the No. 3 player and No. 1 cornerback — will choose between the Buckeyes, Arizona State, Clemson, Michigan, Oklahoma and USC. However, momentum doesn’t seem to be favoring OSU.

There is a high possibility that Ohio State will lose out on Jackson. If that happens, he would join Amani Winfield as players in the 2022 class who seemed to at one point be OSU locks before going elsewhere. Winfield was once thought to be the second wide receiver in the class alongside Caleb Burton before choosing to stay home and play for Steve Sarkisian at Texas. Jackson seems to be headed down the same path of staying close to home by choosing Clay Helton at USC.

Should things swing the Buckeyes’ favor in the next 24 hours, Jackson would be the second five-star cornerback to join a class that already features Florida native Jaheim Singletary. The last time OSU landed two five-star corners was in 2017. The class also just so happened to feature the position’s No. 1 player in Jeff Okudah while the other was from Florida in Shaun Wade.

Singletary joined the class at the beginning of the month as the second corner in the class alongside Jyaire Brown. The four-star Ohio native who spent most of his life in New Orleans before moving back to West Chester last summer was the first commit in a group that now sits atop the recruiting rankings.

There are 10 cornerbacks in the 2022 recruiting class with Ohio State offers, and six will still be undecided after Saturday. Here’s a look at them and the chances for each to join Brown and Singletary in the class:

Denver Harris, North Shore High School (Texas)

OSU — Five-star Denver Harris of North Shore High School in Texas247Sports

Adding Harris would be a continuation of the Buckeyes’ success in Texas for the past few years. The 2022 class already features quarterback Quinn Ewers and wide receiver Caleb Burton. Landing Harris would give them three of the top four players in the state.

The Longhorns hold a single crystal ball for the No. 6 player and No. 3 cornerback, though it’s existed since August and hasn’t drawn much traction since. He didn’t include Ohio State in a top-eight release last February. But if Singletary’s commitment has taught us anything, it’s that Kerry Coombs’ return means OSU can once again convince a five-star cornerback that Columbus is the right home for them in a short amount of time.

Will Johnson, Gross Pointe South (Mich.) High School

Chippewa Valley VS. Grosse Pointe South — Grosse Pointe South’s Will Johnson runs the ball during the game against Chippewa Valley Friday in Clinton Township. Nicole Hester/Mlive.com

Johnson and his father, Deon, came on a “visit” to Columbus the same weekend Ohio State was supposed to play Michigan before the game was canceled. The elder Johnson played cornerback the Wolverines, which has long made them the favorite. That’s no longer the case after a trip to USC.

His recruitment is closely tied to Jackson’s since the two have voiced on numerous occasions the desire to play in the same secondary in college. The crystal balls favoring Michigan have dwindled for Johnson. Depending on where Jackson chooses on Saturday, it won’t be a surprise if crystal balls start favoring them to land the No. 8 player and No. 4 cornerback.

Jadyn Lukus, Mauldin (S.C.) High School

OSU — Jadyn Lukus of Mauldin High School in South Carolina247Sports

The No. 31 player and No. 6 cornerback is the final five-star player in the 2022 recruiting class at the position. He’s had four crystal balls since favoring Clemson since June, even though he hasn’t pulled the trigger.

Lukus is probably the least likely to be a Buckeye at this point. Though he’s been slow on choosing to commit — a year-long dead period probably plays a significant role in that — he doesn’t live far from the Tigers’ campus. Dabo Swinney has built a successful program without bringing in a boatload of five-stars, but when one is literally in your backyard, it’s smart to lock him in as soon as possible.

Austin Jordan, Ryan High School (Texas)

OSU — Texas native Austin Jordan of Ryan High School. (247Sports)

The second Texas player on this list, Jordan admitted that he was “mind-blown” when he earned an OSU offer in October 2019. His relationship started with now-Boston College head coach Jeff Hafley but has continued to grow with Coombs.

“I’ve heard he’s a great coach,” Jordan told cleveland.com in June. “I’d love to be coached by him, honestly.”

He’s rated as the No. 167 player and No. 19 cornerback. He’s yet to narrow down his list, but the feeling is that Oklahoma and Texas join the Buckeyes as the favorites.

Ephesians Prysock, Bishop Alemany High School (Calif.)

OSU — Ohio State football has offered 2022 cornerback Ephesians Prysock of Bishop Alemany High School in California. (247Sports)

Prysock’s first impression of Coombs when he earned an OSU offer in last spring was pretty much on-brand with what to expect from the animated defensive coordinator.

“He was very fired up,” Prysock told cleveland.com in May. “He said that basically, every guy he’s coached has been to the NFL. Whether (they were) injured or not.”

The No. 196 player and No. 22 cornerback is bigger than the average player at the position, which is why some feel he might end up as a safety in college, though he’s adamant that he’s meant to play outside corner at 6-foot-3 and 170 pounds. It wouldn’t be a shock to see that happen as Ohio State freshman Ryan Watts is also listed at 6-foot-3 and projects out as a corner.

“A lot of people think I’m a safety, but I’m really a cornerback,” Prysock said. “I think a lot of people think that because I’m tall and long.”

Toriano Pride, Lutheran North High School (Mo.)

OSU — Toriano Pride of Lutheran North High School in Missouri.247Sports

Ohio State has found success in Missouri in years past, and Pride would be the next addition to that. Ezekiel Elliott was the first to come in 2013, but since Kamryn Babb and Cameron Brown joined the 2018 class, the Buckeyes have added at least one in every class since. That includes Jakailin Johnson as a top-100 recruit in 2021.

Pride is the No. 240 player and No. 27 cornerback in the country and told cleveland.com that he hears from Ohio State more than any other school, even if it’s not always about football. He’s hoping to take a visit soon, especially if the recruiting dead period is finally lifted on April 15.

“Yeah, I am really looking at them,” Pride told cleveland.com in December. “I hear from Ohio State more than anyone. … Ohio State goes out of their way more. … If I don’t hear from them, I will get a funny picture from (recruiting coordinator Mark) Pantoni or he cracks jokes and stuff.”