The Hurry-Up: Nine Recruits React to Their Spring Game Visits at Ohio State, Buckeyes Offer Alabama 2025 RB Commit Anthony Rogers

By Garrick Hodge on April 15, 2024 at 5:30 pm
Maxwell Riley
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Ohio State's massive recruiting weekend was a successful one of the opinions of nine recruits in attendance at the spring game on Saturday are any indication.

More than 45 recruits showed up Saturday to watch the Buckeyes' spring game in the Shoe, alongside more than 80,000 fans. Recruits who told Eleven Warriors about their experience were blown away by the atmosphere for the yearly exhibition and impressed by their conversations with Ohio State's coaching staff. 

We've laid out what each of them said about their experience below.

  • Tarvos Alford, four-star 2025 linebacker commit: “Always great being at the Shoe. Can’t wait to be the one in the jersey.”
  • Maxwell Riley, five-star 2026 offensive tackle: “Overall, I had a really great time. This visit definitely checked a lot of boxes for me, especially on a personal level. It was great getting to reconnect with coach (Justin) Frye, coach Day, and coach (Mike) Sollenne and getting to meet Coach Kelly.”
  • Jakob Weatherspoon, 2026 defensive back: “I had a great time yesterday at the game. Got to catch up back with coach Walton, Duhart, and Guerrieri, and talk to some good friends of mine who were there. It was also nice to see that Cody (Haddad) committed to the BIA, I'm proud of what he’s done. Coaches had nothing but good words for me and my family and I can’t wait to be down again for camp.”
  • Will Conroy, 2026 offensive lineman: “One thing I will say is Buckeye Nation runs deep, the fan base just for a practice spring game was crazy. The atmosphere in the Shoe is crazy. Extremely cool (to see my high school teammate Cody Haddad commit to OSU). I think that is where his heart was from the beginning, super proud of him.”
  • Sam Hamilton, 2026 tight end: “The Ohio State spring game was all around great and so was the visit. The game was very physical and fast. I got to see how the tight ends fit into their offense and I liked to see how great of leaders they were on the field. Before the game, I was able to talk to coach (Keenan) Bailey about what I was doing in this offseason to prepare for next season and camp. Coach Bailey has been very supportive and helpful throughout the recruiting process with Ohio State. Coach Bailey really gave me advice about certain steps and tricks for my blocking game. Like when I hit the defensive player, I need to drive my feet through blocks to put them on their backs. I also got to talk to coach Day for a little bit before the game. The visit was all-around great and I got to see what it would be like to play at The Ohio State University.”
  • Braylon Edwards, 2026 cornerback: “It went great. The staff showed me some serious love. Got a chance to meet coach Walton in person and coach Duhart. The fans were outrageous and I signed a ton of autographs. I watched the secondary, they have a lot of depth I can see myself fitting in because I play every defensive back position.”
  • Jorden Edmonds, 2026 cornerback: “The spring game was fast with high energy. The atmosphere was unlike anything I've experienced. I got to spend time watching the DBs practice on Friday and met with coach Tim Walton. We are trying to build a relationship and determine if Ohio State fits. I enjoyed the overall visit.”
  • Ryan Mosley, 2026 wide receiver: “The experience was great. It’s an awesome school and football program. Had a meeting with coach Hartline, he’s a stand-up guy who brings lots of energy to the field. He told me to keep working hard and he’ll be down to see me in May and wants to build a relationship with me. I really like him, he’s a receiver developer machine. I’m looking forward to going back.”
  • Brayden Tyson, 2027 running back: “I loved the atmosphere and I really like the position coach (Carlos) Locklyn and coach Larry Johnson. They made me feel a part (of the team) and I can’t wait to come back over the summer.”

In addition to the nine recruits who spoke with Eleven Warriors, plenty of other key visitors posted reactions from their trip on social media. 

OSU offers Alabama 2025 RB commit Anthony Rogers

New Ohio State running backs coach Carlos Locklyn has extended another offer to a running back in the 2025 class. Four-star Alabama prospect Anthony Rogers picked up an offer on Saturday, though the Buckeyes will have to flip him from the Crimson Tide if they want to win his recruitment.

According to 247Sports' composite rankings, Rogers is considered the 79th-rated player and the No. 6 running back in the 2025 class. He's picked up more than 30 Division I offers and has been committed to Alabama since June 2, 2023.

Damien Shanklin to commit Sept. 21

One of Ohio State's defensive end targets for the 2025 cycle has set a commitment date. Four-star 2025 Indiana prospect Damien Shanklin will take his official visits this summer but won't announce a commitment until Sept. 21, per 247Sports. 

Shanklin has an official visit scheduled to Columbus for May 31, and also plans on visiting Tennessee, LSU, Notre Dame and Texas. The 6-foot-4, 230-pound prospect visited Ohio State on March 7 and earned his offer the same day.

“I liked it a lot,” Shanklin told Eleven Warriors. “It was a great environment and hospitality. (I also loved) just watching the practice, the team was very competitive.”

Ohio State has two defensive ends committed already for the 2025 cycle in London Merritt and Zahir Mathis but would like to add at least one more National Signing Day.

Darren Ikinnagbon, Jaedon Harmon commit elsewhere

Two defensive targets for Ohio State in the 2025 class are off the board. Four-star defensive lineman Darren Ikinnagbon committed to Georgia on Saturday, while four-star linebacker Jaedon Harmon gave his verbal to Alabama on Sunday.

With Ikinnagbon and Harmon no longer uncommitted, Ohio State will look elsewhere at both positions to fill out its 2025 class.

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