In the new era of the Transfer Portal and NIL, it’s often been lamented that Ohio State recruiting would take a step back. As was the case with the concerns when Ryan Day took over from Urban Meyer, the worries have been proven unwarranted.
The 2023 recruiting class is Coach Day’s fifth recruiting class since he was handed the reigns. In that time, according to 247Sports’ ranks, the Buckeyes have finished:
2019: 14th in FBS; Third in the Big Ten
2020: Fifth in FBS; Best in the Big Ten
2021: Second in FBS; Best in the Big Ten
2022: Fourth in FBS; Best in the Big Ten
2023: Fifth in FBS; Best in the Big Ten
Needless to say, there’s no slowing down. The 2024 class is continuing to take shape. The Buckeyes look to be eyeing that top spot in all of FBS.
An Equally Explosive July is Expected
Buckeyes Bolster Silver Bullets
Ohio State has had a frustrating run of defenses, to say the least. Ever since Day took over, the defensive side of the ball had a few individual playmakers but they couldn’t ever put it all together. Whether it’s Tuf Borland playing man coverage against Devonta Smith in the CFP National Championship or the defense as a whole seeing the back of Michigan running backs’ helmets that they can probably draw them from memory, the Buckeyes have not been able to stop offenses in crucial moments.
Before last season, Day was given a blank check and told to find his guy. Jim Knowles was, evidently, that guy. In his first year at the helm, Knowles’ defense did well against the Iowas and Northwesterns of the world. But then they gave up 45 and 42 points in the two most crucial games of the year against Michigan and Georgia.
Patience is rewarded
The Buckeyes earned commits from a couple of highly-rated defensive backs in June. First was four-star safety, Jaylin McClain. For the 2024 cycle, McClain marks as the first secondary player to commit. The New Jersey native wasted little time as he was offered at the beginning of March and gave the Buckeyes a commitment on June 12th. As a junior, McClain amassed 83 tackles, a sack, and an interception. He currently projects as a strong safety in the future Buckeyes’ defense.
Alongside him was a four-star corner, Bryce West. Getting West was a massive win for Ohio State recruiting not just because he’s a solid player but because he’s the third-best overall player from Ohio in the 2024 class. The best in Ohio have to stay in Ohio for the Buckeyes to get back to where they want to be. The once-strong Glenville-to-Ohio State pipeline weakened over the past few years but with West, the Buckeyes seem to be back in business. West is considered a top 50 recruit in the nation.
A Future Connection
There were two more commitments to the future Buckeyes, both on offense. First, the Buckeyes secured a commitment from 2025 three-star in-state quarterback, Tavien St. Clair. With Lincoln Kienholz and Air Noland coming to Columbus in 2023 and 2024, respectively, St. Clair can rest knowing that he is set to be the next in line.
St. Clair is a pro-style quarterback and has only been getting better. As we’ve stated before, his growth over this past summer has impressed coaches enough so that they are comfortable taking his commitment over another in-state quarterback, Ryan Montgomery. Montgomery has been viewed as the top quarterback in Ohio but St. Clair has some serious momentum behind him. With a strong junior season in 2023, St. Clair is sure to add at least one more star beside his name.
More on St. Clair’s commitment here.
Finally, wrapping up the month, that Glenville-to-Ohio State pipeline was tapped once again with a four-star tight end, Damarion Witten. It has been a goal of Ohio State to secure two tight end recruits in a s single cycle. With Witten and Max LeBlanc (committed on April 15th, 2023), the Buckeyes achieve just that.
Witten committed to Ohio State because “It just felt like home.” That’s great to hear since he’s likely the best receiving threat at tight end the Buckeyes have secured in a while. The 6’4″ tight end has the ability to be a weapon and possesses speed that you don’t often see at the position. According to BuckeyesWire, Witten is too fast to be covered by a safety or a linebacker but also too big to be bodied by a corner. All in all, Witten could be everything Buckeye fans wanted out of Jeremy Ruckart and more.
An Early July #BOOM
…and we’re not talking fireworks.
July is a popular month for high school recruiting because it’s rife with 7-on-7 camps, scrimmages, and just the feeling that a player wants a home before their senior year. There are a few big dominoes that fall in July and the 2024 Ohio State recruiting class locked down a high-end recruit just before Independence Day.
On July 2nd, the Buckeyes fended off the likes of Michigan and Georgia for the services of five-star defensive tackle, Justin Scott. Since 2000, only five defensive line recruits (so far…) ranked higher than Scott’s 0.9939. Those five above him are all defensive ends, so Scott has the honor of being the top defensive tackle in Ohio State recruiting since the turn of the century.
It was a close battle between Michigan & Ohio State leading up to Scott’s commitment to the Buckeyes
The 5-star DL texted me while on his OV to Michigan that he’d be committing July 2nd (today)
At first it was Michigan for he & his family but that changed:
“Going into the… pic.twitter.com/mVkX3qGiLM
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) July 3, 2023
The top-rated player in the state of Illinois is also considered the third-best defensive lineman and 14th-best overall.
Gaze Into The Crystal Ball…
Crystal Ball predictions on 247Sports and the like are not law and are just as often incorrect. That said, Ohio State recruiting is not set to slow down if the recent CBs come to fruition. For example, Ohio State held Crystal Balls for Marquise Lightfoot, a four-star defensive end. That was, of course, up until a few hours before his official commitment. Something changed (last-second “NIL” deal?) and he made the decision to go to Miami (FL).
There are a few recruiting battles to keep an eye on as summer goes on. The largest of which seems to be Dylan Stewart, a five-star defensive end. Stewart is rumored to be between the Buckeyes, South Carolina, and Miami (FL). According to On3, Ohio State is sitting at a 51.6% chance of landing one of their few five star+ recruits. Stewart is a consensus top-10 talent in the class. Ohio State could end up landing its fifth-highest-rated defensive end recruit since 2000, supplanting Chase Young.
Eddrick Houston is another interesting name to keep an eye on. He’s a consensus five-star defensive lineman out of Georgia and would be just the latest in a long line of impressive recruiting wins by Day and Larry Johnson. 247Sports writes that he’s got plus speed already and worked out of a three-man front in high school. His future is as a stand-up EDGE/linebacker like Jack Sawyer. Houston is set to commit on August 22nd. It’s safe to say that all of the Buckeye fans who follow recruiting will be tuned in.
Other notable targets and commitment dates:
Elijah Moore, four-star wide receiver: July 4 (unlikely, probably Florida State)
Miles Lockhart, four-star corner: July 6
Aaron Scott, four-star corner: July 30
Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa, four-star linebacker: July 23
KJ Bolden, five-star safety: August 5 (unlikely, probably Georgia)
Photo courtesy: Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
