Austin Siereveld is being asked to play all three phases of the game for Lakota East this season.
The Ohio State commit starts at both offensive tackle and defensive end while also serving as the Thunderhawks’ punter. You probably wouldn’t expect a 6-foot-5, 320-pound prospect that will play interior offensive line for OSU to be nimble enough to handle kicking duties at the prep level, but the future Buckeye relishes the opportunity to help his team. In his first week handling the job, Siereveld recorded a punt that traveled more than 50 yards.
Linemen can kick too #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/buJZJgFoPY
— Austin Siereveld (@SiereveldAustin) August 20, 2022
Practicing punting isn’t anything new for Siereveld, who’s served as a backup punter for Lakota East the past few seasons. But after former Lakota East standout Charlie Kenrich graduated last season (and now plays tight end for Purdue), Siereveld knew he’d become the primary punter.
Austin Siereveld is also Lakota Easts punter and definitely can get some hang time on them. pic.twitter.com/IUgtFvedWA
— Garrick Hodge (@Garrick_Hodge) August 26, 2022
“I was always one of the backups,” Siereveld told Eleven Warriors. “Once Charlie graduated, I knew I’d have to step up and punt. I’ve been punting ever since I played youth football all the way up to middle school, freshman year and now high school I’ve kept doing it.”
Siereveld also handled kickoffs for Lakota East in Week 1, but relinquished that duty to a converted soccer player in Week 2 against Lakota West. It was an attempt by the coaching staff to lighten Siereveld’s load since he’s already playing both ways.
“This is the first year I ever did kickoff,” Siereveld said. “They just asked me if I could do it, and I was like, ‘Sure.’ It went pretty good.”
Siereveld said he loves playing both offense and defense because he knows in a few short months he’ll specalize on the offensive side of the ball only. For that reason, he wants to make the most out of his senior season.
Siereveld makes a nice run block on Lakota Easts opening drive. pic.twitter.com/RFDxK7sIly
— Garrick Hodge (@Garrick_Hodge) August 26, 2022
“I like it a lot because it gives me more playing time and the opportunity to make plays on defense and offense and to help my team out,” he said.
Siereveld has maintained a strong relationship with both Justin Frye and Ryan Day, talking to Frye weekly and Day bi-weekly. He also said he plans to enroll early at Ohio State in January and get a jump start on the Buckeyes’ strength and conditioning program.
Siereveld will be one of 18 OSU commits expected to be in attendance for Ohio State’s season opener against Notre Dame on Saturday.
“I’m super excited and can’t wait to go back up there,” Siereveld said. “It’ll be a great game.”
The Ohio prospect said the Buckeyes’ 20 commits share a close bond. He’s excited to continue strengthening those friendships at the next level.
“We talk a lot,” Siereveld said. “Everyone will talk about how their games went and we all try to watch the film of each other’s games as much as possible when we have time.”
White gets offered by OSU
A 2024 defensive line prospect was offered by Ohio State last week and it somehow crept under the radar for the most part. Four-star Georgia defensive lineman Omar White had been offered by Ohio State last week, which his high school later announced. White confirmed to Eleven Warriors this week that he indeed has been offered by the Buckeyes.
Ohio State is the latest to offer Omar White ( @omarjwhite58 ) 4 star DL in the 2024 class! #RecruitValdosta D.A.T.E. @shelton_felton @Trapp_SETA229 pic.twitter.com/VT11MxLNyv
— Valdosta High Football Recruiting (@VHS_FBrecruits) August 23, 2022
White has 28 Division I offers to this point, including Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Auburn, Cincinnati, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Notre Dame, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Oregon, Penn State, Purdue, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, UCF and Virginia Tech.
The 6-foot-3, 307-pound prospect is considered the 132nd-best player in the 2024 class and the 12th-best defensive lineman per 247Sports’ composite rankings. He camped with Ohio State on June 1 and continued to intrigue Larry Johnson enough to earn an offer from the Buckeyes as he started his junior season.
In two games this season for Valdosta High School (Leesburg, Georgia), White has racked up 11 total tackles (4 for loss) with one sack.
Mitchell will attend OSU game
One of Ohio State’s top priorities at tight end in the 2025 class has confirmed he’ll be attending an Ohio State game later this fall. Texas tight end Davon Mitchell, rated the 29th-best prospect in the 2025 class, told Eleven Warriors he plans on visiting Columbus sometime this season but is unsure of what exact date he’ll be arriving.
Mitchell received his OSU offer on June 28.
“It felt really good,” Mitchell told Eleven Warriors after getting the offer. “Ohio State was one of my dream schools, so I always wanted to play for them. They’ll definitely be one of my options. My dad’s side of the family, they’re really big Ohio State fans, so I grew up watching it a lot.”
