By: Doug Lesmerises (Cleveland Plain Dealer) –

Linebacker Jordan Hicks, rated as the No. 1 football recruit in Ohio, will announce his college choice on Friday at 12:30 p.m. at Lakota West High School outside Cincinnati.

Hicks has narrowed his choices to Ohio State, Texas and Florida and the general feeling among recruiting analysts is that Hicks is headed for Texas, a school he has followed as a fan.

But he would be a big get for the Buckeyes, who have a 2010 class that includes 18 oral commitments with the recent addition of Glenville defensive back Christian Bryant.

Hicks is rated as the top outside linebacker and an overall top 20 player by both Rivals.com and Scout.com

National Signing Day, when players sign their binding pledges to schools, is a week away. Ohio State is also waiting on two highly-rated offensive linemen, Minnesota’s Seantrel Henderson and Cincinnati’s Matt James, as they finish off this class.