Ohio State will get an answer on Tuesday from its top remaining target in the 2024 recruiting class.
Five-star Georgia defensive lineman Eddrick Houston is set to make a commitment around 7 p.m. Tuesday, choosing from a final five of Ohio State, Alabama, Clemson, Georgia and USC. While five schools are still technically in the running, this has long been considered an OSU vs. Alabama battle, with the Buckeyes being the strong favorite entering his commitment.
Landing Houston would be a monumental win for the Buckeyes considering his prospect pedigree and their previous misses on defensive end targets Dylan Stewart and Marquise Lightfoot. Should he commit to OSU, Houston would become the second five-star defensive lineman in Ohio State’s 2024 class alongside defensive tackle Justin Scott.
Since Stewart chose South Carolina last month, there’s been a huge sense of urgency for Ohio State to close the deal with Houston. The Buckeyes will find out if they’ve done enough Tuesday.
Air Noland plays the hero on national TV
Five-star 2024 Ohio State commit Air Noland’s nationally televised bout with fellow Georgia quarterback Julian Lewis, the No. 1 overall prospect in the 2026 class, lived up to all the hype and more on Friday.
Noland was named player of the game after completing 13 of 21 passes for 162 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions in addition to running for 23 yards on four carries, but those stats don’t really do his performance justice. Noland engineered a game-winning drive in Langston Hughes’ dramatic Week 1 39-34 victory, including an on-the-run, go-ahead touchdown pass with 1:11 remaining in the contest.
Whatever it takes. https://t.co/eqTZnsP14E
— Pss A N. (@AirNoland_) August 20, 2023
ICE IN MY VIENS https://t.co/cjfaaLEzB4
— Pss A N. (@AirNoland_) August 20, 2023
As for Lewis, he completed 20 of 30 passes for 186 yards with a touchdown while running for four yards on four carries.
Ohio State general manager Mark Pantoni and quarterbacks coach Corey Dennis took to social media to express excitement for their future quarterback – without mentioning him directly to avoid running afoul of NCAA rules – following his game-winning drive.
What a drive!
— Corey Dennis (@CoreyDennis_) August 19, 2023
LFG
— Mark Pantoni (@markpantoni) August 19, 2023
Noland wasn’t the only Ohio State commit to have a big performance in Week 1 of the high school season.
Three-star running back Sam Williams-Dixon had a big impact for Pickerington North in his team’s 39-35 Week 1 victory over Elder, running for 171 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries. Like Noland, he also displayed late-game heroics, running for the go-ahead touchdown with 1:21 remaining.
#thetakeover part 2 @SamuelDixon24 pic.twitter.com/ZMXXAIwDtk
— Calvin Weaver (@calweav14) August 19, 2023
Fresh off a state title, Glenville opened its 2023 season with a stout opponent in Dinwiddie, a Virginia-based high school coming off a 15-0 season a year ago. The Tarblooders, led by four-star cornerback Bryce West and four-star tight end Damarion Witten, took care of business with a 36-13 victory in Canton, Ohio. Witten dominated, catching three passes for 114 yards while also securing a two-point conversion.
The @TarblooderFB TD was set up on this 46 yard pass from @ruel_tomlinson to @3Damarionn pic.twitter.com/QwwXiNBBoO
— Ryan (@Isley23) August 20, 2023
Eleven Warriors was in attendance for four-star cornerback Aaron Scott’s season debut, where the OSU commit helped his team to a 27-11 victory.
Four-star 2025 quarterback Tavien St. Clair finished 28-of-36 for 314 passing yards, five touchdowns, zero interceptions and 36 rushing yards en route to a 46-19 victory over Sidney Friday evening. We’ll have more on St. Clair’s big day in an article running Tuesday.
Zaquan Patterson sets commitment date for Saturday
Another Ohio State defensive target in the 2024 class is also set to commit this week, with four-star Florida safety Zaquan Patterson confirming he’ll make his college decision on Saturday. Patterson has a final five of Auburn, Miami, Michigan, Florida State and Ohio State.
BREAKING: 4-star DB Zaquan Patterson has set his commitment date for August 26.
— Zach Blostein (@ZBlostein247) August 20, 2023
He'll choose between five schools: #Miami, #Auburn, #FloridaState, #OhioState and #Michigan.
Where do you think Patterson will end up?https://t.co/Wmm40qAzTj pic.twitter.com/253u0YQ86Z
There’s not much optimism from the Ohio State side of things heading into this commitment, with the other four programs each having some cautious optimism throughout his recruitment. Ohio State remains at one safety commitment for the 2024 class in Jaylen McClain after missing out on top prospect KJ Bolden, so OSU will likely have to either expand its safety board or look for help in the transfer portal this winter.
2026 RB Messiah Mickens commits to Penn State
One of Ohio State’s early running back targets for the 2026 class is off the board.
Four-star Pennsylvania tailback Messiah Mickens opted to stay home, committing to the Nittany Lions on Saturday.
#AGTG COMMITTED #Happyvalley @Hayesfawcett3 @Coach_JHiII pic.twitter.com/oaDNO1l43s
— Messiah Mickens (@Messiah_1M) August 19, 2023
Obviously, it’s still incredibly early in that cycle, but for now, OSU will look at different options. The lone other running back with an Ohio State offer in the 2026 class thus far is Florida prospect Javian Mallory, though there will be no doubt be other prospects that emerge on OSU’s radar between now and that class’ signing day, which remains over two years away.
