New England Patriots 2017-2020 FL DB (RS SO) - Shaun Wade ('20 B1G DBOY, '20 All-B1G, '20 Consensus All-American)

#OhioState commit Shaun Wade not participating today because of hamstring injury. Still 100% to Buckeyes. pic.twitter.com/g8HyBKp3IK

— Derek Tyson (@DerekJTyson) February 21, 2016

 

Top 5 CB Shaun Wade committed to Ohio State over a year ago and isn't looking back. Story: https://t.co/t3PS7y8uGi pic.twitter.com/lopVmC1aPd

— 247Sports Recruiting (@247recruiting) February 22, 2016

 

704841380263301121 is not a valid tweet id

 

#Bama & #Gators trying to flip #Buckeyes 5-star CB commit Shaun Wade (VIP) https://t.co/8z6VJ1M0b6 @HankSouth247 pic.twitter.com/s5YsgK4DvV

— Luke Stampini (@LukeStampini) March 13, 2016

 

5-star #Buckeyes DB commit Shaun Wade of Pro Impact (Jax, FL) at the IMG 7v7 Southeast Regional. pic.twitter.com/47InWfJBOz

— Keith Niebuhr (@On3Keith) March 13, 2016

 

SHAUN WADE'S SHORTS AND WHY THEY MATTER BUT DON'T

I'm sure that you've heard the old adage "The clothes make the man," and while that's true in a lot of places, it's rarely true in the world of football recruiting, but that doesn't mean it's not worth paying attention to. Michigan State signee Donnie Corley wore Ohio State gear in public on multiple occasions, highlighting that he certainly liked the Buckeyes but maybe liked the clothing better. When Terrell Hall, an Ohio State commitment, showed up in Columbus last July wearing Alabama stuff, it was a very public slap in the face for the Buckeyes and a death knell for his Ohio State recruitment. So, the thing is, it does matter, especially when you're committed to one school and wearing–representing–another program publicly.

That brings us to this weekend, when Ohio State commitment Shaun Wade–who has been verballed to the Buckeyes for over a year–showed up to a 7-on-7 tournament in Florida wearing a different hue of red than he normally does.


via 247Sports.com

Wade has, repeatedly, reiterated that he's "100 percent" with the Buckeyes, though he's not been to Ohio State since last June and has made multiple trips to Florida and Alabama, and has also been to Georgia. Ohio State has sent Kerry Coombs and Tim Beck to Florida as frequently as possible, and they're not backing off by any measure.

With regards to Alabama, there are a few things worth noting, namely that Wade's mother is from Alabama but his father has not yet been on any of the trips Shaun has made, telling some that he won't visit any other schools until he's been to Ohio State.

Clothing is clothing and it's hard to not put too much stock into the minutiae that comes with every little bit of recruiting. There's a tendency to overreact to this sort of thing because fans feel their team is being slighted and certainly, if you're committed to one school, it's not a great "look" to represent another, especially a rival, but this is 2016 and this is the beast we've created.

On Wade, Ohio State needs to get him back on campus and soon if they want to stem the Tide and the Gators.

 

#OhioState 2017 commit @shaunwade2017 talks commit status, #SEC powers trying to catch up https://t.co/MTmiZYkF2z pic.twitter.com/U7IsB19ZCh

— Bucknuts (@Bucknuts247) March 14, 2016

 

E1T1's Shaun Wade (@shaunwade2017) starting the AAU season off with a HUGE jam at the #EasterClassic!!! #SCtop10 https://t.co/BDr1WhZP0P

— AAU Basketball (@AAU_Basketball) March 25, 2016

 

5 Star DB's (2017) Shaun Wade and (2018) Tyreke Johnson from Trinity HS (FL) in front of the Pauley Pavilion #UCLA pic.twitter.com/c0cSB6Gjug

— Tailered Sports (@TaileredSports) April 11, 2016

 

Another 5-star heading to San Antonio in January. https://t.co/WQWddPjdWN

— Luke Stampini (@LukeStampini) April 22, 2016

 

I put in a flip prediction for 5-star CB Shaun Wade to #Bama on the @247CrystalBall https://t.co/sxDUHOaXN9 pic.twitter.com/uJhjiR4VeU

— Luke Stampini (@LukeStampini) April 22, 2016

 

Many are trying to flip 5-star CB Shaun Wade from Ohio State. #Gators visit him on Monday. https://t.co/sxDUHOaXN9 pic.twitter.com/51v2HdIqog

— Luke Stampini (@LukeStampini) April 22, 2016

 

Our @SteveHelwagen has video int with OSU football verbal Shaun Wade ... at Nike EYBL event https://t.co/Oua6QL9ZnQ pic.twitter.com/1cxSRfsPnW

— Bucknuts (@Bucknuts247) April 23, 2016

 

Ohio State 2017 commitment Shaun Wade, a five-star cornerback from Florida, will play in the Army All-American Bowl. https://t.co/dnzgwZhs4r

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) April 27, 2016

 

#OhioState cornerback commit Shaun Wade is top-ranked prospect committed to a #B1G school and top corner in nation. pic.twitter.com/BKf91o1ZGR

— Jeremy Crabtree (@jeremycrabtree) April 27, 2016

 

SHAUN WADE AND THE CRYSTAL BALLS FOR ALABAMA

First and foremost: don't freak out about the latest "run" of 247Sports.com crystal ball predictions regarding Ohio State 2017 commitment, five-star cornerback Shaun Wade.

There are, currently, five predictions for Wade, and none of them are in Ohio State's favor, which isn't entirely surprising considering that–thanks to his early commitment to the Buckeyes–you can't actually pick Ohio State now if you wanted to. That's not how the crystal ball system works, you're incapable of picking the team a player is actually committed to. There have been four recent predictions for Wade, but the last two, from a Florida writer and an Alabama writer, have been in the favor of the Crimson Tide.

Florida, Alabama, USC, and UCLA have received recent visits from Wade, who continues to tour the country with his basketball team, and 247Sports.com's Steve Helwagen caught up with the Jacksonville Trinity star in Indianapolis Saturday to talk about recruiting.

If you don't care to watch the full video, the important thing to note that is that Wade, who committed to Ohio State in January of 2015, told Helwagen that the Buckeyes will "always be his No. 1."

Fans aren't going to always like it, but this is the majority of today's recruiting and if you look–as we've said before–at it from a different angle, namely that 95 percent of committed players aren't doing anything but saving their spot while they explore their options, it will get a bit easier to stomach. It can be especially challenging when you see a player, who has been committed to "your" school for 16 months representing your arch-nemesis on social media.

In fact, if you review Wade's Twitter account, you'd find it difficult to believe he had any affiliation with Ohio State. It's littered with Alabama stuff, Florida stuff, etc. However, the Buckeyes are the school he committed to and, much like Grimes, the coaching staff isn't naive about their standing with him and they certainly are not being complacent as they recruit him.

Wade's last visit to Columbus was last summer–he was unable to make any in-season treks–and he intends to get back up north this summer. Visits are not the only thing that matter, as relationships thrive beyond them, but a refresher course with Ohio State and the chance to talk with Urban Meyer, Greg Schiano, Kerry Coombs and others in person certainly could help solidify Wade's decision, as long as he's still committed to the Buckeyes by the time that visit happens.

 

SHAUN WADE GETS BUCKEYE VISITORS, MAY BE IN COLUMBUS SOON

Ohio State continues their tireless pursuit of five-star cornerback Shaun Wade, who has been committed to the Buckeyes since January of 2015. Wade, the country's third-ranked cornerback and 13th-ranked overall 2017 prospect, had a few Ohio State visitors today.

Back on the road again! Planting flags in Jacksonville all day today! #bringingthebestinthesouthtothenorth #GoBucks!

— Kerry Coombs (@OsuCoachCoombs) May 10, 2016
"Tim Beck and (Kerry Coombs) should be at the school today," Randy Wade, Shaun's father told 11W.

Ohio State is hoping to hold on to Wade, who's been all over the south this spring seeing schools like Alabama, Georgia, Florida State and others. There's a chance the Buckeyes could be getting a surprise visit within the next ten days, which he shared with 11W readers last night.



To get Wade on campus is a big thing at this point. Ohio State knows they've got a fight on their hands and though campus visits are hardly the only thing that matters, getting family together and more comfortable with the Buckeyes' staff, the academics, the facilities and more goes a long way towards cementing a commitment.

Wade is the only one of the three players who committed to the Buckeyes on the day of their 2015 national championship game that still has a shot to end up at Ohio State.

 

#Buckeyes commit Shaun Wade talks commit status & upcoming big visit during #SouthernSwing https://t.co/uUGCQAlIwG pic.twitter.com/wuBCNGcmJI

— Kevin Noon (@Kevin_Noon) May 12, 2016

 

#Buckeyes commit Shaun Wade talks commit status & upcoming big visit during #SouthernSwing https://t.co/uUGCQAlIwG pic.twitter.com/wuBCNGcmJI

— Kevin Noon (@Kevin_Noon) May 12, 2016