COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohio State has identified Georgia as one of its primary targets to attack for elite out-of-state talents, and the Buckeyes are back at it in the 2016 recruiting class.
One of those prospects is four-star cornerback Chad Clay of Peachtree Ridge, Ga., and the 6-foot, 177-pound prospect recently released a top six that consists of Ohio State State, Georgia, Florida, LSU, Tennessee, and Mississippi State.
The top six is in no particular order.
Rated by 247Sports the No. 18 cornerback in the class, Clay also has offers from Auburn, Texas A&M, Clemson, Nebraska and others. He also has drawn interest from Alabama, Florida State, Louisville, Miami (Fla.), Michigan State, Oregon, Stanford and USC.
According to 247Sports' Crystal Ball - a tool that polls recruiting experts to project college destinations - 82 percent of the projections went in favor of Georgia. The poll was completed, however, before Clay released his top six.
Why is Georgia worth attacking? In a story on cleveland.com, Bill Landis wrote:
* Since 2005, Georgia has signed 35 percent (7-of-20) of in-state players rated five-star prospects by 247Sports. Meanwhile LSU has signed 67 percent (10-of-15), and Ohio State has signed 73 percent (8-of-11) of their in-state five-stars.
* Of the top 5 in-state players each year from 2006-2014, Georgia has signed just 21, while LSU has signed 35 and Ohio State has signed 31 out of their respective states.
* Georgia has signed the state's No. 1 overall player just four times in the last decade.
For more on that, follow this link: Why Georgia is a southern state worth attacking for Ohio State: 'You get used to seeing top guys leave'