This is a question about recruiting strategy. Riley Starnes from Gallia Academy, about 40 minutes from Athens, is a three star recruit that has committed to Toledo. He has also had offers from Miami, Ball State, Akron among others. I don't know Riley, have no information at all about his recruitment. But it appears that Ohio did not offer him. I'm just curious if local SE Ohio players get a "benefit of the doubt" in being recruited because they are local, or must be that much better to get an offer just because they are local, or are evaluated with no impact on whether local or not.
https://247sports.com/player/riley-starnes-46100109 /
Teams generally recruit based on their needs. One year you may see a team go heavy on offense, the next year more so on defense, or one year go hard on skill positions, and maybe the next year on the lines, etc. I highly doubt very much the Ohio coaches are unaware of him, but I'm willing to bet if Ohio doesn't offer based on the kind of offers he's getting from peer MAC schools that they've already offered other guys who they feel are better at his position the he is, or are simply focussing more on the allotment of scholarships at other positions. Recruiting local kids makes the proximity nice both ways, but it isn't always the best answer to filling a team's specific needs. Don't discount the fact he simply might just want to play elsewhere than SE Ohio too. Lots of variables to consider over simply just giving the kid the benefit of the doubt.