COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Shortly before 2 p.m., Clark Phillips III’s YouTube channel included a video titled: “Making it Official - BIA"

That video commemorated the day last June that the La Habra, California, cornerback committed to Ohio State football and its defensive back tradition. The channel’s home page featured a photo of Phillips in a Buckeye uniform in front of the tunnel through which the team runs onto the field, under the sign “Home of the Buckeyes.”

Shortly after 2 p.m., Phillips made another announcement via Instagram, choosing instead to sign with Utah. The Buckeyes’ large and highly ranked recruiting class — No. 3 nationally by the 247 Sports composite — suddenly had a hole at a position of need.

Phillips did not mention Jeff Hafley’s pending departure to become head coach at Boston College, but the timing of that announcement and Phillips’ decision isn’t coincidental.

Perhaps Ohio State could find a quick fix via the transfer portal, which lists nearly 40 cornerbacks who were three-star prospects or better out of high school, including a handful with immediate eligibility.

To repair the hole long-term, however, Ohio State may have to wait until 2021.

Ohio State’s six 2021 commitments do not include defensive backs. The 247 Sports database lists OSU offers to 10 uncommitted cornerbacks, including four in the national top 100. That includes the nation’s top-ranked corner — Virginia Beach’s Tony Grimes — and top-five prospects Jason Marshall of Miami and Jakailin Johnson of St. Louis. Omaha’s Avante Dickerson, among the top 10 cornerbacks, also has an OSU offer.

Ohio State’s 2020 class does include a pair of top-300 prospects at cornerback. Both Ryan Watts and Lejond Cavazos will enroll early and could be in the mix to help as early as this fall.

However, a more urgent picture begins to develop down the road.

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Even if Shaun Wade decides to return for his junior season, he likely will only spend one more year in college. Senior-to-be Amir Riep could either replace Wade at slot cornerback next season or continue to provide depth, but then he’s gone, too.

Two backups who played important snaps in 2019 — Sevyn Banks and Cam Brown — are also juniors. The cornerback room is getting old fast.

The immediate problem may be depth. This would be a perfect moment for former top-25 recruit Tyreke Johnson to make a jump into the rotation. That alone would provide a huge boost to a cornerback group that, Wade aside, will be asked to play front-line defensive roles for the first time.

More help could be coming, but after Phillips opted to become a Ute, it might be a year away.

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