Ohio State has had no shortage of success on the recruiting trail as of late.
The Buckeyes have racked up 18 commitments to this point and currently have the No. 1-rated class in 247Sports' national recruiting rankings. OSU is landing commitments at a similar pace to 2022's recruiting cycle, when it had 17 commits after George Fitzpatrick gave his verbal to OSU on July 9, 2021.
There are no shortage of premier players, including six top-100 prospects, among Ohio State’s 18 commits.
| Pos | Name | Rating | Rank | Size | School |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WR | BRANDON INNISS | ★★★★★ | #18 NATL | #2 WR | 6-0 | 190 | American Heritage (Fort Lauderdale, Florida) |
| WR | CARNELL TATE | ★★★★★ | #28 NATL | #3 WR | 6-2 | 185 | IMG Academy (Bradenton, Florida) |
| OT | LUKE MONTGOMERY | ★★★★ | #42 NATL | #4 OT | 6-5 | 280 | Findlay (Findlay, OH) |
| WR | NOAH ROGERS | ★★★★ | #51 NATL | #9 WR | 6-2 | 180 | Rolesville (Rolesville, NC) |
| DL | JASON MOORE | ★★★★ | #53 NATL | #5 DL | 6-6 | 255 | DeMatha Catholic (Hyattsville, MD) |
| CB | DIJON JOHNSON | ★★★★ | #95 NATL | #11 CB | 6-1 | 190 | Wharton (Tampa, FL) |
| TE | TY LOCKWOOD | ★★★★ | #133 NATL | #8 TE | 6-5 | 225 | Independence (Thompson's Station, TN) |
| CB | KAYIN LEE | ★★★★ | #146 NATL | #18 CB | 6-2.5 | 175 | Cedar Grove (Ellenwood, GA) |
| S | MALIK HARTFORD | ★★★★ | #149 NATL | #8 S | 6-2.5 | 175 | Lakota West (West Chester, OH) |
| CB | CALVIN SIMPSON-HUNT | ★★★★ | #173 NATL | #22 CB | 6-0 | 175 | Waxahachie (Waxahachie, Texas) |
| IOL | JOSHUA PADILLA | ★★★★ | #180 NATL | #8 IOL | 6-4 | 265 | Wayne (Dayton, OH) |
| S | CEDRICK HAWKINS | ★★★★ | #211 NATL | #14 S | 6-0 | 175 | Cocoa (Cocoa, FL) |
| RB | MARK FLETCHER | ★★★★ | #221 NATL | #11 RB | 6-1 | 225 | American Heritage (Fort Lauderdale, FL) |
| OL | AUSTIN SIEREVELD | ★★★★ | #222 NATL | #10 IOL | 6-5 | 320 | Lakota East (Middletown, OH) |
| WR | BRYSON RODGERS | ★★★★ | #267 NATL | #32 WR | 6-0.5 | 175 | Wiregrass Ranch (Zephyrhills, FL) |
| CB | JERMAINE MATHEWS | ★★★★ | #358 NATL | #21 ATH | 6-0 | 175 | Winton Woods (Cincinnati, OH) |
| DL | WILL SMITH JR. | ★★★ | #452 NATL | #55 DL | 6-3 | 260 | Dublin Coffman (Dublin, OH) |
| OL | MILES WALKER | ★★★ | #463 NATL | #38 OT | 6-6 | 285 | Brunswick High School (Greenwich, CT) |
| Prospect Rating Data: 247Sports | |||||
While it's hard to complain about a class that already has two five-stars, 14 four-stars and two-three stars, OSU could still add more players in up to seven position groups before National Signing Day comes and goes.
With just over five months to go until the early signing period, we put together a position-by-position breakdown of who Ohio State has already landed in the current cycle and where further additions could be needed. Prospects listed in the remaining targets category have all been offered by Ohio State and have either taken an official visit this summer or could still make one in the future.
Offense
Quarterback
2023 commits: None
Spots left to fill: One
Remaining targets: Austin Novosad, Brock Glenn
Analysis: Ohio State will continue to have to play the waiting game with Novosad, who told Eleven Warriors Tuesday he still needs more time to make a decision between Baylor, OSU, Texas A&M and to a lesser extent, Notre Dame.
It’s probably a longshot Novosad picks the Buckeyes in the end, but that hasn’t stopped Ryan Day and Corey Dennis from trying. Dennis is in touch with Novosad four times a week, while Day personally reaches out once a week.
Glenn may be listed as a target above, but it looks to be only a matter of time before the Tennessee product commits to Florida State.
Ohio State could pursue a recent Florida State decommit in Chris Parson. Speaking with a Mississippi State source this week, there’s optimism growing in Starkville that Parson will commit to the Bulldogs down the road, but if other offers come his way such as Auburn or Ohio State, that may throw a wrinkle into things.
Running back
2023 commits: Mark Fletcher
Spots left to fill: One
Remaining targets: Justice Haynes
Analysis: Haynes is likely OSU’s last chance at landing a premier running back in 2023. While many in the recruiting industry expect Haynes to eventually commit to Georgia, he and Tony Alford have formed a deep bond over a lengthy recruiting process, and OSU should be in this fight till the end. If Haynes goes to Georgia or anywhere besides OSU, Alford will have to decide whether he wants to go after another running back in the current class or stick with Fletcher as the lone running back commit. It may not be entirely necessary to add another running back, as TreVeyon Henderson, Miyan Williams, Evan Pryor and Dallan Hayden could all still be on OSU’s roster next season.
Wide receiver
2023 commits: Brandon Inniss, Carnell Tate, Noah Rogers, Bryson Rodgers
Spots left to fill: None
Remaining targets: None
Analysis: This position is all wrapped up for the current class. It’s going to be harder to find any better 2023 wide receiving corps from any other school than the group above. Outside of USC commit Zachariah Branch, Brian Hartline got all of the top targets on his wide receiver big board for this cycle.
Tight end
2023 commits: Ty Lockwood
Spots left to fill: One
Remaining targets: Jelani Thurman
Analysis: Ohio State might wrap up its 2023 tight end class depending on what Thurman does Sunday when he announces his commitment. A few days before his announcement, it appears to be a two-horse race between Ohio State and Michigan State. There’s been optimism from Ohio State’s side that Thurman will end up picking the Buckeyes when all is said and done, so Kevin Wilson may have finally found his second tight end to pair with Lockwood in 2023.
Offensive linemen
2023 commits: Luke Montgomery, Austin Siereveld, Joshua Padilla, Miles Walker
Spots left to fill: One
Remaining targets: Olaus Alinen, Oluwatosin Babalade, Monroe Freeling
Analysis: The Alinen recruitment may be trending in the wrong direction for Ohio State. A flurry of 247Sports Crystal Balls have been cast in Miami’s favor this week, and a decision from Ohio State’s top remaining target on the board could come soon. Should Alinen go elsewhere as expected, it will be interesting to see how hard Justin Frye pushes for another top-ranked tackle in the class such as Monroe Freeling, or if Babalade becomes a take for the Buckeyes without Alinen.
Defense
Defensive linemen
2023 commits: Will Smith Jr., Jason Moore
Spots left to fill: Three
Remaining targets: John Walker, Matayo Uiagalelei, Desmond Umeozulu, Jalen Thompson, Damon Wilson
Analysis: Ohio State made a big splash Sunday by landing a top-55 prospect in Moore, and it could add two more prominent pieces before the month concludes in Walker and Umeozulu. OSU is favored for Umeozulu and is in a good position with Walker, though UCF is making a strong push for Walker ahead of his July 28 decision date. Should either choose another school, the door would be open for a commitment from Thompson, who recently put OSU in his top five and told Eleven Warriors he plans on visiting OSU at the end of July.
The Buckeyes are also in a strong position to land Uiagalelei, but the five-star California prospect is in no rush to make a decision and will take his recruitment into the fall. OSU will continue to hold a spot open for Uiagalelei for as long as needed. Meanwhile, Wilson included the Buckeyes in his top five Wednesday evening, so although the Florida product hasn't taken an official to OSU, he's still not counting the Buckeyes out of the running.
Linebacker
2023 commits: None
Spots left to fill: Two
Remaining targets: Tackett Curtis, Troy Bowles, Arvell Reese
Analysis: The first domino will fall Saturday when Bowles makes his commitment, which is expected to be to Georgia. Even if Bowles picks the Buckeyes, OSU would still be willing to take both Curtis and Reese in the 2023 cycle.
Curtis is targeting a late July decision and while OSU is considered the favorite, Wisconsin is lurking in that recruitment. Reese won’t decide until November or December, but the Buckeyes are in a great position to land the Glenville product.
Cornerback
2023 commits: Jermaine Mathews, Dijon Johnson, Calvin Simpson-Hunt, Kayin Lee
Spots left to fill: None
Remaining targets: None
Analysis: Tim Walton had a pretty impressive first recruiting cycle for the Buckeyes. Although he may not have landed a five-star talent such as Cormani McClain or AJ Harris, it’s hard to not see tremendous upside in each of the four corners he’s brought on.
To recap, in his first go-around as a recruiter, Walton landed a top-100 player from Florida in Johnson, flipped a highly coveted prospect committed to another school in Simpson-Hunt, snagged the previous regime’s second-most coveted target on the big board in Lee and landed the local product Mathews just one month after extending him an offer. There’s not much left to be done with this position group except wait for the National Letters of Intent to come in.
Safety
2023 commits: Cedrick Hawkins, Malik Hartford
Spots left to fill: One or two
Remaining targets: Caleb Downs, Jayden Bonsu
Analysis: If the Buckeyes land Downs, he’d instantly be the defensive crown jewel of the 2023 cycle. OSU will have to fend off Alabama and Georgia until a commitment is made most likely sometime this summer, but there continues to be optimism that the Buckeyes can win out in this recruitment. Some of that optimism waned Wednesday evening after 247Sports' Steve Wiltfong put in a Crystal Ball for Downs to end up at Alabama, but Downs refuted that his mind had been made up.
Just as surprised as you https://t.co/Rj8g29cqJx
— Caleb Downs (@caleb_downs2) July 13, 2022
Until u see me with a hat on lol https://t.co/Mp1Bf37R5j
— Caleb Downs (@caleb_downs2) July 13, 2022
Bonsu appeared to be an OSU lean for a good portion of his recruitment, but Miami appears to have surged ahead leading up to his July 20 commitment date. Should OSU land Downs and miss on Bonsu, it may be content to stick with three safeties for 2023. If it misses on both, it may pivot back to Daemon Fagan, who recently committed to NC State but had strong interest in Ohio State throughout the spring.
