Recruiting roundup: New Big Ten offer, Army All-American Bowl invitations and more

We kick off this week's recruiting roundup with another congratulations to the seven area players nominated for the US Army All-American Bowl.

Tavion Thomas and Joseph Scates of Dunbar, Jackson Carman and Malik Vann of Fairfield, John Dirksen of Marion Local, L’Christian “Blue” Smith of Wayne and Leonard Taylor of Springfield are among 19 Ohioans on the list of 400 nominees for the most prominent national high school all-star game.

🙏😎 🏈🏉— lackofworries🎈🎈 (@tavionthomas937) May 24, 2017

Vann has verbally committed to the University of Cincinnati, and it’s a safe bet he would like to see some of the other area stars join him.

He and Smith (who is uncommitted) both shared pictures of Wayne defensive end Alex Riegelsperger on a recent visit to UC, but Reigelsperger remains committed to Kentucky.

😏 pic.twitter.com/xFXZI6Zr2d— Malik Vann❕ (@MalikVann7) May 25, 2017 🙊 pic.twitter.com/S807sjBOTh— Blue⁶𓅓 (@bluesmith_) May 25, 2017

Vann also shared a Xenia receiver Meechi Harris' top nine with a message for the GWOC standout.

🏳 https://t.co/y2OnSZEEnF— Malik Vann❕ (@MalikVann7) May 24, 2017

Harris, a three-star receiver who is also a dangerous return man for the Buccaneers, is down to nine as summer camp season approaches: West Virginia, Purdue, Michigan State, Iowa State, Cincinnati, Syracuse, Kentucky, Minnesota and Toledo...

Perhaps the biggest offer to go out this week ended up in the hands of Franklin running back Ryan Montgomery. 

Another Big Ten school is now an option for him after getting an offer from Northwestern, where Centerville standout Ifeadi Odenigbo just concluded his career.

🤘🏿🤘🏿 pic.twitter.com/BlnffpF9Xo— Ifeadi Odenigbo (@IfeadiOdenigbo) May 25, 2017

Purdue, Michigan State, Cincinnati and Miami University are among his previous offers...

Meanwhile, the contingent of college prospects at Mason continues to grow and add offers.

Butler extended scholarship offers to running back Matt Sora, receiver Austin Croy and defensive backs Cole Pearce and Will Adams while defensive lineman Zaid Hamdan picked up an offer from Furman.

Offensive lineman Eric Miller also added to his list with an offer from Toledo…

Last week we noted Miamisburg receiver Tyler Johnson receiving his first offer – from the Naval Academy.

Johnson is rated as a linebacker by Scout.com, but Vikings coach Steve Channell reports Navy is interested in Johnson as a receiver.

Did we miss anyone? If you know of an area player being recruited or an update we haven’t covered, let us know at marcus.hartman@coxinc.com

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