ESPN 300 cornerback Jordan Hancock announced his engagement to the state of Ohio on Sunday. The No. 102 rated prospect retired from Clemson on July 14, and is now part of the Buckeyes’ class.
Hancock, a 6-foot, 170-pound corner of North Gwinnett High School in Suwanee, Georgia, originally engaged Clemson in March about some of the best schools in the country at the time, including the state of Ohio.
Once he announced his release from the Tigers, the state of Ohio was the big favorite to get his promise, and he didn’t wait long to get on board.
“I wasn’t fully involved, so I didn’t want to, if I’m not 100 percent committed, I’m not going to stay committed,” Hancock said. “[Ohio State] It was very consistent, they never released the gas. They were the first great school to offer me, I wasn’t even rated when they offered, so they were the first school to risk me. “
Hancock has also seen the number of cornerbacks and defensive defenses Ohio State has put in the NFL in recent years, which is something that influenced his recruitment. By building a relationship with defensive coordinator Kerry Coombs, Hancock recalled that success.
“Coach Coombs was one of the most important factors because he is a great person, a great man and definitely a great coach,” said Hancock. “We talked about how he recruits first-round and first-round cornerbacks and that I have that talent. He compares me to [Jeff] Okudah and Denzel Ward, that’s what I remind you of. “
Hancock said having the opportunity to see all of the previous Buckeyes players who came to the NFL played a big factor in Ohio state recruitment.
“His vision for me is to get there early to play, to play that slot,” Hancock said. “That’s what Shaun Wade is playing, and basically three to four years, it could be a first-round pick.”
Hancock provides a huge boost to Ohio’s # 1 recruiting class. The Buckeyes now have 16 ESPN 300 engagements, which is the bulk of any FBS show.
What’s even more impressive is that 14 of those engagements are ranked in the top 150, more than any other FBS show across the ESPN 300 (Alabama, LSU, and North Carolina each have 12).
The Buckeyes have the No. 1 overall prospect on defensive end Jack Sawyer and have 12 committed prospects in the top 10 of their respective positions. That includes TreVeyon Henderson, the No. 1 rated running back, Kyle McCord, the No. 4 quarterback, and Jayden Ballard, the No. 4 wide receiver.
With 19 total commitments, Ohio State has already put together one of the most impressive recruiting classes in recent years, and there is still room to add a few more recruits.
The Buckeyes are still at five-star defensive tackle JT Tuimoloau (ranked No. 4 overall), safety Derrick Davis Jr. (No. 28), and wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (No. 29), among a few others.
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