March 26 will be an important visit in the recruitment of 2023 three-star Indiana tight end Brennan Wooten.
The 6-foot-4, 225-pound Wooten plans on taking a trip to Columbus to meet Ryan Day for the first time and hopes to receive an Ohio State offer while on campus. Wooten has been hearing from the Buckeyes since the end of his sophomore season, and OSU offensive coordinator and tight ends coach Kevin Wilson has been his primary recruiter.
“He’s the one I’ve been contacting the whole time,” Wooten said. “We talk about 20 to 30 minutes about once a month on average. He tries to reach out and check in to see how I’m doing. Coach Wilson was really adamant about how they were trying to get me in front of coach Day (on my visit) to see how I am as an image and a tight end,” Wooten said.
However, if Wooten eventually ends up playing for Ohio State, it won’t be at the position he’s accustomed to.
“(Wilson) said that if I were to be offered, it would specifically be in the H-back tight end position, I wouldn’t be a regular tight end,” Wooten told Eleven Warriors. “He said they usually only run one in the offense and he was talking to coach Day about if I was able to be part of the Ohio State program, it would be as the fullback/tight end position, not the general tight end position.”
Wooten said he wouldn’t mind filling that role for the Buckeyes if asked to.
“I feel pretty strong about it,” Wooten said. “Personally, I know what gifts I have. I feel like I can do anything I set my mind to. My biggest strength is finding that open space and coming down with the ball. That’s what separates me from your average tight end, my will to want to get the ball.”
Wooten does not yet hold a composite recruiting ranking, but is ranked by 247Sports as the 46th-best tight end in the 2023 class. He has seven Division I offers thus far from Navy, Arkansas State, Ball State, Howard, Indiana State, Kent State and Western Michigan.
If OSU extends an offer, Wooten said the Buckeyes would instantly be a top school he’d consider. Wooten said he does not have a commitment timetable at the moment and will just feel out the process until he is ready to make a decision.
Mauigoa includes OSU in top 13
The second-rated offensive tackle in the class of 2023 has narrowed down his school list. Five-star 2023 Florida offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa put out a top 13 Monday that included Ohio State, Georgia, Florida, Oklahoma, Texas, Miami, Alabama, Oregon, LSU, Penn State, Hawaii, South Carolina and Michigan.
Top 13@Hayesfawcett3 pic.twitter.com/MqjABrlqNL
— Francis. Mauigoa (@FrancisMauigoa) March 15, 2022
The 6-foot-6, 325-pound IMG Academy (Bradenton, Florida) attendee was offered by Ohio State on Jan. 27. Mauigoa is ranked as the eighth-best prospect and the second-best tackle in the 2023 class.
Offensive tackle remains a major need for Ohio State in the cycle, even with four-star Luke Montgomery committed to the Buckeyes. Other top targets for OSU include Chase Bisontis, Samson Okunlola, Olaus Alinen, Payton Kirkland, Monroe Freeling and Trevor Lauck.
Padilla finishes as state runner-up
2023 Ohio State four-star offensive line commit Joshua Padilla saw a successful wrestling season come to an end over the weekend at the Ohio state meet.
Padilla finished as the runner-up in the 285-pound weight class in Division I, falling 1-0 in the state title match against Cincinnati offensive tackle signee Ethan Green. It was an improvement from his sophomore season when he finished eighth in the state meet.
First l'd like to thank everyone that has supported me over the years in wrestling. Wrestling will always have a special place in my heart. #staterunnerup pic.twitter.com/92pRqIDx3I
— Joshua Padilla (@JoshuaPadilla66) March 14, 2022
Padilla, who is currently finishing up his junior year at Wayne High School, committed to Ohio State on Nov. 4 and was the Buckeyes’ second commitment in the 2023 class.
