The Hurry-Up: Garrett Stover Says Ohio State is “A Top School,” Opening Weekend Highlights from Ohio State Commits, Jalen Thompson Commits to Michigan State

By Garrick Hodge on August 22, 2022 at 5:30 pm
Garrett Stover
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Garrett Stover knew for months what Big Walnut will require from him this season.  

After playing primarily safety a year ago, the four-star 2024 prospect made his high school debut at linebacker in his team’s 35-7 victory against Bishop Hartley on Friday. Stover had trained relentlessly all offseason, focusing on improving his agility, physicality and reaction time. 

“I’ve gotten a lot faster,” Stover said after the win. “I’m used to playing safety and this year I’m playing the Will. It’s a big difference getting guys off you, finding the ball carrier and fitting in the right holes. That’s the biggest difference but I’m making sure I play fast.” 

Stover admitted there were times Friday where he played too fast and overpursued, mostly attributing those mistakes to first-time jitters. But all in all, Stover looked like a natural at the position, racking up 11 tackles, including nine in the first half and without playing in the fourth quarter. 

His field awareness was evident when he read a halfback toss like a book and made a tackle for loss in the second quarter, disrupting a Bishop Hartley drive. Big Walnut’s defense had three takeaways on the evening. 

“This week was a big emphasis on jet sweeps,” Stover said. “We were just coming off the edge, making sure we were stopping that dead in the water. I saw that and I knew it was time to go.” 

While Stover is playing linebacker for Big Walnut this season, Ohio State offered him as a safety and thinks that’s where his collegiate future lies. But having experience at both safety and linebacker will serve him well for how OSU would consider utilizing him if he plays his college football in Columbus. 

“They haven’t talked about (what safety position I’d play) too much, but they have talked to me about playing the bandit,” Stover said. “That’s kind of like a hybrid deal, you know at linebacker and safety. It’ll be interesting to see who’s in that spot this year to see how it works and everything.” 

Of Stover’s 14 Division I offers, he says most are recruiting him with the mindset that he could play a hybrid safety-linebacker role in their defenses. Others are only recruiting him as one or the other. He has no preference on which position he plays at the next level, though. 

“I think I can play both, it just depends on how I grow and develop over the next few years. We’ll see.” 

Stover has talked to Ryan Day and Jim Knowles several times since Ohio State offered him on June 1. 

“I’ve been in contact with them a couple times since the camp,” Stover said. “I talked to coach Knowles and coach Day two weeks ago. They just wanted to check in and see how the offseason was going and making sure I was on the right foot leading into week one.” 

Stover said he talked to Perry Eliano a few weeks before he spoke with Day and Knowles and had a similar conversation that was mostly catching up and checking in with the 2024 prospect. 

“They wanted to make sure that I know that they wanted me there and everything,” Stover said. “It was really good to talk to them and catch up.” 

In addition to living about 30 minutes from campus, Stover has another connection to the program as his older cousin, Cade Stover, is currently an Ohio State captain. The younger Stover said the Buckeyes are going to be a big factor in his recruitment to the end even though he hopes to keep an open mind when making a decision.

“I’d say they’re definitely a top school,” Stover said of Ohio State. “Ohio State is such a special place, and obviously my background with Cade being there and everything, really it’ll play a huge role in my decision I would say just to see if it is really the right fit. But I’m going to keep an open mind.” 

Stover is one of many OSU targets expected to attend the Buckeyes’ season opener against Notre Dame on Sept. 3. It’s an experience Stover is looking forward to. Stover said he also plans to visit Notre Dame when it hosts Clemson and attend Cincinnati and Michigan State games later this fall. 

“Obviously going down there is a special time each time, and seeing the fans and everything along with Ohio State and Notre Dame battling, it’ll be a fun time and I’m really looking forward to it.

“I know they’ve talked a lot about their toughness (on defense) and everything, I really want to see how that opens up in their defense. I know with Knowles being there and everything, I’m really excited to see how he’s going to change things around and how I fit. It’ll be exciting to watch.” 

Highlights from Ohio State commits and targets

This past weekend was opening weekend for high school football in many states, as many Ohio State commits and targets began their seasons on Friday and Saturday. Several had standout performances and made impact plays for their teams.

Ohio State safety commit Malik Hartford certainly had the hit of the week after delivering a vicious blow to a wide receiver over the middle, drawing a plethora of yellow flags from officials even though Hartford led with his shoulder. Hartford took to social media after the game to extend well wishes to the player on the receiving end of the hit. 

After having to play quarterback for most of last season due to injuries on his team, five-star wide receiver commit Brandon Inniss was happy to be back at his natural position Saturday. In American Heritage’s 38-20 victory, Inniss caught six passes for 221 yards and two touchdowns. 

Speaking of American Heritage, running back commit Mark Fletcher lived up to his billing, delivering a devastating hit on a safety attempting to make a tackle. 

Offensive line commit Austin Siereveld also earns a feature in this section, but not for the reasons you’d think. Siereveld is serving as Lakota East’s punter and kicker this season, and if early returns are any indication, Ohio State may need to consider letting him punt in college as well. 

It's a well-known tidbit that the favorite superhero of Ohio State tight end commit Jelani Thurman is Spider-Man. The Georgia product made an impressive high-point catch in the endzone Saturday that made him look like a superhero in comparison to his opponents.

Jordan Marshall, a four-star 2024 running back target, turned in a strong performance for Archbishop Moeller with 10 carries for 91 yards and two touchdowns and one reception for 55 yards and a touchdown. 

Ohio State quarterback commit Brock Glenn was mighty impressive in Lausanne Collegiate School’s (Memphis, Tennessee) 44-15 victory. Glenn threw three touchdown passes on the evening, including this dart on the run. 

Just when a running back thought he had a massive gain, Ohio State cornerback commit Jermaine Mathews had other plans. Mathews quickly turned a negative play for Winton Woods into a positive play, chasing down a Trotwood-Madison running back after a long run and forcing a fumble. Mathews helped lead Winton Woods to a 39-16 win in its opener. 

Four-star defensive tackle target Kayden McDonald made his presence felt Friday with 7.5 tackles (one for loss) and a sack. McDonald, who will take an official visit to OSU sometime in September, said he’ll be committing in November.

Thompson commits to Michigan State

One of Ohio State’s 2023 defensive line targets is off the board. Four-star Michigan defensive end Jalen Thompson decided to stay in his home state by committing to Michigan State over other finalists Ohio State, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and Penn State.

While Thompson was offered by OSU on June 1 after he impressed Larry Johnson at a recruiting camp, he wasn’t the top priority for the Buckeyes at his position in the class. Ohio State continues to pursue high-profile defensive ends such as Keon Keeley, Damon Wilson and Matayo Uiagalelei, among others, while it has two defensive linemen committed in Will Smith Jr. and Jason Moore.

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