Ohio State’s official visitor list for this weekend has grown by two.
The Buckeyes will welcome six prospects total to Columbus on official visits, two of whom were only finalized earlier this week.
Eleven Warriors has confirmed both four-star 2023 quarterback Austin Novosad and three-star offensive tackle Miles Walker will take officials to OSU this weekend. OSU’s other four visitors include five-star defensive end Matayo Uiagalelei, four-star linebacker Derion Gullette, four-star cornerback Daniel Harris and four-star tight end Riley Williams.
Novosad, a Baylor commit, camped at Ohio State on June 1 and impressed Ryan Day enough to earn an Ohio State offer. Taking an official visit to OSU nine days later certainly shows some significant interest in the Buckeyes from the 6-foot-3, 185-pound Texas signal caller. He and recent OSU offer Brock Glenn are both options OSU is considering for its quarterback of the 2023 cycle.
“It's just kind of the best of the best and the biggest of the biggest, really,” Novosad said of Ohio State. “It’s the top-of-the-line QB factory and competition level, really, that is the biggest stage to play on.”
As for Walker, he too has only recently been scouted by Ohio State. The 6-foot-6, 285-pound got an offer from the Buckeyes on May 26 after Justin Frye had scouted him a few days earlier.
“He really enjoyed doing his homework and learning about Ohio State,” Walker’s high school coach Wayne McGillicuddy told Eleven Warriors in May. “I think coach Frye’s coaching tree and the things he’s done is something that’s really intriguing to him. I think coach Ryan Day being a New Hampshire guy and being from the area is also something that is intriguing to him and his family along with having that family atmosphere.”
It’s no secret Ohio State’s biggest need in the 2023 cycle is offensive tackle. Walker is one of OSU’s options for the final one to two spots left in the current class, along with Olaus Alinen, Samson Okunlola, Monroe Freeling and Oluwatosin Babalade.
Meanwhile, Uiagalelei is already on campus enjoying his official visit, partaking in a photoshoot and enjoying some chips that are hard to find.
Tate's decision expected soon
Five-star 2023 wide receiver Carnell Tate has made his college decision. He’ll be telling the world of his choice within the next two weeks, depending on when his videographer finishes his commitment video, Tate told 247Sports Thursday.
The Buckeyes have certainly burned the midnight oil recruiting Tate over the past year or two. They’ll find out shortly if the efforts paid off. He’ll choose from a final three of Tennessee, Ohio State and Notre Dame, though by all accounts this has been a Tennessee vs. Ohio State battle for quite some time now.
“I love Brian Hartline and what he’s done for the receivers over there,” Tate told 247Sports of Ohio State. “What he’s done with Chris (Olave) and Garrett (Wilson). They went on to be first-round picks. His player development is great over there. With Coach Day calling plays his offense is a receiver-friendly offense and every receiver loves that.”
There’s still no consensus in the recruiting industry on where Tate will wind up with a decision looming. A few cryptic tweets from Tate and Brian Hartline this week made some think Tennessee pulled ahead in the recruitment, while there still remains cautious optimism in some circles Tate is going to pick Ohio State in the end, social media be damned.
We’ll all find out soon enough.
Robinson IV puts OSU in top 10
The second-rated cornerback nationally in the 2024 cycle is down to 10 schools. Five-star Florida cornerback Ellis Robinson IV released a top 10 Friday consisting of Ohio State, South Carolina, USC, Alabama, Oklahoma, LSU, Miami, Penn State, Georgia and Florida.
Robinson received an offer from the Buckeyes in October and told Eleven Warriors it was an offer he had been waiting for.
“Ohio State is known for putting out NFL DBs, and I think I can add to that list,” he said.
The 6-foot, 175-pound prospect is rated the ninth-best player nationally per 247Sports’ composite rankings.