Ohio State has added a key piece to its secondary.
Although four-star 2023 safety Jayden Bonsu was leaning toward Miami in late July, the Buckeyes continued their pursuit of the New Jersey product. In the end, Bonsu changed gears and decided Columbus was the place best suited to develop him as a player. He committed to Ohio State on Sunday.
— Jayden Bonsu (@JaydenBonsu) August 14, 2022
The moment he made it official
— 247Sports (@247Sports) August 14, 2022
4 safety Jayden Bonsu commits to THE Ohio State Buckeyes over Miami, Michigan State and others.@JaydenBonsu x @Bucknuts247 pic.twitter.com/au0OHc5Qj8
Bonsu is ranked as the 259th-best prospect and the 22nd-ranked safety in 247Sports’ composite rankings for the 2023 class. He received his offer from Ohio State in December after a breakout junior season at St. Peter’s Prep (Hillside, New Jersey) where he recorded 62 total tackles (7.5 for loss), 2.5 sacks, two interceptions and eight pass deflections.
The Bonsu File
- Class: 2023
- Size: 6-1/210
- Pos: Safety
- School: St. Peter's Prep (Hillside, New Jersey)
- Star Rating: ★★★★
- Composite Rank: #259 (#22 S)
Bonsu first visited Ohio State in the spring and spent time with St. Peter’s alum and current OSU linebacker Cody Simon.
“When I was there, he was telling me about how a normal day would go at Ohio State, and how the experience is,” Bonsu told Eleven Warriors of his March visit. “It’s obviously different for everybody there, but he says Ohio State is definitely a great place and the people there are great to learn from and build relationships with.”
Bonsu took his official visit to Ohio State on June 17-19 before eventually committing two months later.
OSU safeties coach Perry Eliano was Bonsu’s main recruiter, as the pair communicated weekly. Safeties are a key position in new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles’ scheme and Eliano has told Bonsu he is versatile enough to contribute at any of the three safety spots in Knowles’ defense.
“He’s told me how he sees me fitting in the scheme and how my character fits Ohio State,” Bonsu said. “He told me I’m a versatile player just in general. He feels like I can play any of the safety positions.”
| Pos | Name | Rating | Rank | Size | School |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WR | BRANDON INNISS | ★★★★★ | #21 NATL | #3 WR | 6-0 | 190 | American Heritage (Fort Lauderdale, Florida) |
| WR | NOAH ROGERS | ★★★★ | #38 NATL | #6 WR | 6-2 | 180 | Rolesville (Rolesville, NC) |
| OT | LUKE MONTGOMERY | ★★★★ | #45 NATL | #4 OT | 6-5 | 280 | Findlay (Findlay, OH) |
| DL | JASON MOORE | ★★★★ | #54 NATL | #5 DL | 6-6 | 255 | DeMatha Catholic (Hyattsville, MD) |
| WR | CARNELL TATE | ★★★★ | #57 NATL | #10 WR | 6-2 | 185 | IMG Academy (Bradenton, Florida) |
| TE | JELANI THURMAN | ★★★★ | #106 NATL | #7 TE | 6-5 | 230 | Langston Hughes (Fairburn, GA) |
| CB | CALVIN SIMPSON-HUNT | ★★★★ | #118 NATL | #14 CB | 6-0 | 175 | Waxahachie (Waxahachie, Texas) |
| S | MALIK HARTFORD | ★★★★ | #164 NATL | #9 S | 6-2.5 | 175 | Lakota West (West Chester, OH) |
| CB | KAYIN LEE | ★★★★ | #178 NATL | #21 CB | 6-2.5 | 175 | Cedar Grove (Ellenwood, GA) |
| IOL | JOSHUA PADILLA | ★★★★ | #191 NATL | #8 IOL | 6-4 | 265 | Wayne (Dayton, OH) |
| CB | JERMAINE MATHEWS | ★★★★ | #226 NATL | #14 ATH | 6-0 | 175 | Winton Woods (Cincinnati, OH) |
| OL | AUSTIN SIEREVELD | ★★★★ | #239 NATL | #11 IOL | 6-5 | 320 | Lakota East (Middletown, OH) |
| S | CEDRICK HAWKINS | ★★★★ | #243 NATL | #17 S | 6-0 | 175 | Cocoa (Cocoa, FL) |
| S | JAYDEN BONSU | ★★★★ | #259 NATL | #22 S | 6-1 | 210 | St. Peter's Prep (Hillside, NJ) |
| WR | BRYSON RODGERS | ★★★★ | #262 NATL | #32 WR | 6-0.5 | 175 | Wiregrass Ranch (Zephyrhills, FL) |
| RB | MARK FLETCHER | ★★★★ | #269 NATL | #14 RB | 6-1 | 225 | American Heritage (Fort Lauderdale, FL) |
| LB | ARVELL REESE | ★★★★ | #277 NATL | #20 LB | 6-3 | 212 | Glenville (Cleveland, OH) |
| QB | BROCK GLENN | ★★★★ | #335 NATL | #17 QB | 6-2 | 195 | Lausanne Collegiate School (Memphis, TN) |
| DL | WILL SMITH JR. | ★★★ | #460 NATL | #54 DL | 6-3 | 260 | Dublin Coffman (Dublin, OH) |
| OL | MILES WALKER | ★★★ | #470 NATL | #38 OT | 6-6 | 285 | Brunswick High School (Greenwich, CT) |
| Prospect Rating Data: 247Sports | |||||
Even before five-star safety Caleb Downs committed to Alabama earlier this summer, Ohio State viewed Bonsu as a potential game-changing safety. After missing out on Downs, Bonsu became an even bigger priority for the Buckeyes.
The 6-foot-1, 210-pound safety becomes Ohio State’s 20th commitment and third safety in the 2023 class.
