Monsanna Torbert Jr.’s trip to Columbus for his official visit to Ohio State started a day early.
Torbert’s official visit to Ohio State will formally begin Friday, but the four-star cornerback from Cincinnati was already on campus Thursday for Ohio State’s third high school football camp of the week. While Torbert didn’t work out in the camp himself, he was there to watch his younger brother Sean Torbert, a defensive back in the 2028 recruiting class who also holds an offer from the Buckeyes.
As he watched the camp alongside Ohio State’s current cornerbacks, including fellow Cincinnatians Jermaine Mathews Jr. and Cam Calhoun, Torbert got an up-close look at how Ohio State secondary coach Tim Walton coaches his players. And he liked what he saw.
“It’s been great just watching these guys fly around, just watching how Coach Walt coaches, how he coaches DBs, just watching him get after it,” Torbert said.
Over the next three days, Torbert will get a closer look at every aspect of Ohio State as he makes his official visit – a visit that could play a crucial role in his recruitment and the Buckeyes’ efforts to build their 2027 cornerback class.
“I'm very excited for this official visit, to just really see what all the university has to offer,” Torbert said. “I’ve been up here a couple times, but I really didn't get to see the school and all that the times that I did come here. Now I can see the academic part, just the inside of Ohio State, and spend time with Coach Ryan Day.”
Torbert, who’s ranked as the No. 102 overall prospect in the 2027 class, stands as one of Ohio State’s top cornerback targets in the 2027 class entering this weekend’s official visit. He’s one of four cornerbacks who will make official visits to Ohio State this month along with Jaden Carey, who visited the Buckeyes last weekend; fellow in-state cornerback Deontay Malone, who will also visit this weekend; and John Meredith III, the No. 1 cornerback in the class, who’s scheduled to visit next weekend.
Ohio State is viewed as the frontrunner to land Torbert entering his official visit. While this weekend will give him the chance to get a closer look at the program, he already feels comfortable at Ohio State from his previous visits.
“Honestly, I've seen a lot. Just really the culture, like seeing the culture from the inside, just seeing how the guys like the coaching staff, and just seeing how the people in Columbus treat you,” Torbert said of what he’s looking to see this weekend.
Torbert has a good relationship with Walton, describing him as a “very hands-on, real prestigious coach,” and said Walton frequently gives him feedback that’s helped him improve his game.
“I get a lot of feedback from Coach Walt all the time,” Torbert said. “He’s gonna give it to you straight up. He’s a real honest guy, stand-up coach. He’s not gonna tell you no lie, he's gonna be straightforward. He just always tells me all the time I got a unique skill set, just my ball skills and just knowledge of the football game.”
Torbert also has a close bond with Mathews and Calhoun, who he says have been mentors for him.
“Jermaine and Cam, them guys just help me, mentor me, make sure they lead me in the right direction,” Torbert said. “Like Jermaine’s more of a guy, like, he don't just want me to come to Ohio State, he wants the best interest for me.”
“I'm very excited for this official visit, to just really see what all the university has to offer.”– Monsanna Torbert Jr. on his upcoming official visit to Ohio State
That said, Ohio State still faces competition for Torbert. He originally committed to Indiana and is still considering the Hoosiers. While Torbert decommitted from Indiana in May, he said he made that decision only because they didn’t want him to take visits elsewhere, and said he has “no bad blood” with Curt Cignetti or the Hoosiers, who he expects to be “a great program for years to come.”
Torbert is also considering Michigan, who’s scheduled to host him for an official visit next week, and said Maryland and Louisville are “sneaking in” to his recruitment as well.
Torbert says he isn’t in a rush to make an immediate decision this weekend, but says he is planning to make his commitment before his senior season in August so he can focus on his senior year at Princeton High School. As such, this weekend’s official visit will play a crucial role in whether or not Torbert ultimately joins Ohio State’s secondary next year.
As he evaluates each of the schools he’s still considering, Torbert says the No. 1 thing he’s looking for is a school that he’s confident will develop him into an NFL cornerback. And his expectation for himself aligns with what Ryan Day says the expectation should be for all Ohio State recruits: To be a first- or second-round draft pick.
“Make sure whatever school I'm going to, I got the best plan to get developed,” Torbert said when asked what’s the most important factor in his recruitment. “That's really what I'm looking to see, what school can develop me most to be a first- or second-round draft pick.”
Torbert will be one of six official visitors for Ohio State this weekend along with Malone, five-star wide receiver Monshun Sales, four-star offensive tackle Caden Moss and two players who are already committed to the Buckeyes, five-star defensive end DJ Jacobs and four-star linebacker Quinton Cypher.
