Several prominent California high schools attended Ohio State’s Rose Bowl practice on Monday, and a few key OSU targets in attendance.
One of those was four-star 2024 safety Peyton Woodyard from St. John Bosco High School (Bellflower, California). The 6-foot-2, 188-pound Woodyard visited OSU last summer and hoped to take a game visit in the fall, but couldn’t quite make it work out with his schedule. Monday was his first chance in about six months to see Ohio State in person, and he liked what he saw.
“The practice was short and energetic and focused,” Woodyard said. “The coaches and players were focused and I liked their energy.”
Woodyard will watch Ohio State practice again on Friday when the Buckeyes hold their Rose Bowl walkthrough at St. John Bosco.
“I am excited to see them practice at Bosco on Friday,” Woodyard said. “It will give me another glimpse into their game preparation.”
Rated the No. 20 overall player in the 2024 class by 247Sports, Woodyard says the appeal of potentially attending OSU is the Buckeyes’ previous track record with defensive backs and competing for a national championship along with getting “a top-notch education.” Woodyard is also intrigued by the hire of new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, saying he’ll be “a great addition to their program.”
Woodyard has 21 Division I offers this far, with Ohio State being one of them. Woodyard finished with 62 total tackles, a pass breakup and a fumble recovery in 12 games in his sophomore season.
Woodyard visited UCLA, USC, Notre Dame and Louisville this fall and said he plans to take another visit to OSU with his parents in either the spring or summer of 2022.
“I am honored that OSU has given me the opportunity to potentially be a part of their family, it is absolutely humbling,” Woodyard said.
Cook puts OSU in top seven
One of the top wide receivers in the recruiting class of 2023 narrowed his school list this week, and Ohio State made the cut. Texas resident Johntay Cook released a top seven list on Tuesday, his birthday, that consists of OSU, Texas, Texas A&M, Alabama, Ole Miss, Clemson and LSU.
Almost home pic.twitter.com/eqsyYtdfM1
— Johntay II (@_jayythegreat_) December 28, 2021
The 6-foot, 170-pound Cook is considered the No. 41 overall prospect and the seventh-best wideout in the 2023 class per 247Sports’ composite rankings. In 13 games for DeSoto High School (DeSoto, Texas), Cook caught 38 passes for 806 yards and 18 touchdowns. Other priority 2023 wide receiver targets include five-star prospects Carnell Tate and Brandon Inniss.
Rappleyea has Buckeyes in top seven
It hasn’t been that long since Ohio State extended an offer to Andrew Rappleyea. The Buckeyes officially offered the 6-foot-4, 215-pound tight end prospect from Massachusetts on Dec. 2, but 26 days later, Rappleyea also dropped a top-seven list that included Ohio State on it. Penn State, Michigan, Wake Forest, North Carolina, Boston College and Wisconsin also made Rappleyea’s top seven.
#Gobucks#WeAre#GoBlue #GoDeacs#GoHeels #GoEagles#Badgers
— Andrew Rappleyea (@andrewrappleyea) December 29, 2021
Here are the 7 schools I will be focusing on in no specific order. Thankful for all the great people Ive met so far. pic.twitter.com/tPF58eIXwM
He is ranked as the No. 333 overall prospect and the 20th-best tight end in the 2023 cycle. OSU already has a tight end committed for 2023 in Ty Lockwood, but is still pursuing a second tight end in the class.
