Caleb Houser
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Buckeyes still active in the 2024 class, remain just as active in the portal
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Ohio State is showing no sign of slowing down as they continue to monitor the portal and class of 2024 targets.
It wasn’t all that long ago when recruiting slowed down a bit after signing day. In 2023 though, Ohio State and the rest of the college football landscape are just as busy hours after the 2024 class was signed as staffs look to continue their efforts on the trail.
For the Buckeyes, roster management is everything right now even in the midst of next week’s Cotton Bowl. Ryan Day has made it clear that his staff is still on the grind as they work through their current roster, with several players still having decisions to make. Until then, the coaches are all over the transfer portal, and though nobody has been added to Ohio State’s team yet, it will all shake out in the coming weeks.
In the 2023 class, there’s no linebacker target Jim Knowles wanted more than Tackett Curtis. Knowles basically was paying rent in Louisiana with how much he was in town to see Curtis during his recruitment, but the Buckeyes fell short in the end when he chose USC over Ohio State. Certainly a blow when you put that much time into a specific player, the Buckeyes had to see him off to another program. But in today’s world of college football, it’s not really “over” once a player commits elsewhere due to the transfer portal.
Curtis’ name is in fact in the transfer portal, and obviously the relation to Ohio State makes it easy to see why the staff would once again be interested. Reaching out shortly after his name was entered, Ohio State is going to be in on this recruitment for the second time, and you’d think they’d have a strong chance at landing him considering where they finished the first time around.
Still, it’s been reported that other schools too are now in the mix, as LSU, Florida State, TCU, and Nebraska all have also expressed their interest. As of now, the Buckeyes do not have a visit date set with Curtis, but in the coming days that very well could change. Getting through the bowl game will help the scheduling of this, but the Buckeyes have reached out and look to be once again very interested in trying to bring in Curtis to help bolster the linebacker room that will see some departures.
Cody Simon has already announced his return to Ohio State for the 2024 season, and CJ Hicks should almost certainly finally see his time come, but with how many linebackers the Buckeyes use in a season depth is a priority and Curtis just makes sense. The second time around may go better than the first, but a visit needs to get locked in before this really stands a chance.
Though they were able to keep five-star Eddrick Houston in the 2024 class, with only two defensive line signees in the current cycle Ohio State’s depth up front isn’t great. What makes it tough is not yet knowing who is going to come back from the current roster. The Buckeyes are in sort of a pickle as they try to navigate the position until these decision by the players are made, but a plan has to be in place either way.
If Ohio State is able to bring several current guys back for next season, then the need to land more high school defensive linemen or even portal options decreases a bit. That said, Ohio State is definitely still going hard after players knowing there’s at least room for one more prep target after losing out on Amaris Williams to Auburn.
One high-profile target that is hearing from the Buckeyes is Louisiana native, Dominick McKinley. The five-star defensive lineman is the No. 26 player nationally and the sixth best player at his position for the 2024 class per the 247Sports Composite. A Texas A&M commit, McKinley’s recruitment got a whole lot more interesting as he decided not to sign with the Aggies on Wednesday, leaving it wide open for other schools to get in the mix.
Already having an Ohio State offer to his name, the Buckeyes have reached out and expressed their interest, but it’s not going to be an easy battle here as Tennessee has already been able to schedule a visit with the Louisiana native. Texas is also interested, but the Buckeyes do have the advantage of selling to him that with only two signees in the fold, he would have the chance to come in and compete right away.
Once again, this recruitment would get a lot more interesting if the Buckeyes are able to get him to Columbus. If they do, Larry Johnson may just have a little more magic up his sleeve for this class.
Yesterday, Ramsey committed to USC, staying right in LA for his next stop leaving the Buckeyes in the same position. Without another safety, it does lead to the belief for the potential for Lathan Ransom to return, but odds are the staff will know better once again after the Cotton Bowl.
Continue reading...
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Ohio State is showing no sign of slowing down as they continue to monitor the portal and class of 2024 targets.
It wasn’t all that long ago when recruiting slowed down a bit after signing day. In 2023 though, Ohio State and the rest of the college football landscape are just as busy hours after the 2024 class was signed as staffs look to continue their efforts on the trail.
For the Buckeyes, roster management is everything right now even in the midst of next week’s Cotton Bowl. Ryan Day has made it clear that his staff is still on the grind as they work through their current roster, with several players still having decisions to make. Until then, the coaches are all over the transfer portal, and though nobody has been added to Ohio State’s team yet, it will all shake out in the coming weeks.
The second time around
In the 2023 class, there’s no linebacker target Jim Knowles wanted more than Tackett Curtis. Knowles basically was paying rent in Louisiana with how much he was in town to see Curtis during his recruitment, but the Buckeyes fell short in the end when he chose USC over Ohio State. Certainly a blow when you put that much time into a specific player, the Buckeyes had to see him off to another program. But in today’s world of college football, it’s not really “over” once a player commits elsewhere due to the transfer portal.
Curtis’ name is in fact in the transfer portal, and obviously the relation to Ohio State makes it easy to see why the staff would once again be interested. Reaching out shortly after his name was entered, Ohio State is going to be in on this recruitment for the second time, and you’d think they’d have a strong chance at landing him considering where they finished the first time around.
Still, it’s been reported that other schools too are now in the mix, as LSU, Florida State, TCU, and Nebraska all have also expressed their interest. As of now, the Buckeyes do not have a visit date set with Curtis, but in the coming days that very well could change. Getting through the bowl game will help the scheduling of this, but the Buckeyes have reached out and look to be once again very interested in trying to bring in Curtis to help bolster the linebacker room that will see some departures.
Cody Simon has already announced his return to Ohio State for the 2024 season, and CJ Hicks should almost certainly finally see his time come, but with how many linebackers the Buckeyes use in a season depth is a priority and Curtis just makes sense. The second time around may go better than the first, but a visit needs to get locked in before this really stands a chance.
Looking for more in the 2024 class
Though they were able to keep five-star Eddrick Houston in the 2024 class, with only two defensive line signees in the current cycle Ohio State’s depth up front isn’t great. What makes it tough is not yet knowing who is going to come back from the current roster. The Buckeyes are in sort of a pickle as they try to navigate the position until these decision by the players are made, but a plan has to be in place either way.
If Ohio State is able to bring several current guys back for next season, then the need to land more high school defensive linemen or even portal options decreases a bit. That said, Ohio State is definitely still going hard after players knowing there’s at least room for one more prep target after losing out on Amaris Williams to Auburn.
One high-profile target that is hearing from the Buckeyes is Louisiana native, Dominick McKinley. The five-star defensive lineman is the No. 26 player nationally and the sixth best player at his position for the 2024 class per the 247Sports Composite. A Texas A&M commit, McKinley’s recruitment got a whole lot more interesting as he decided not to sign with the Aggies on Wednesday, leaving it wide open for other schools to get in the mix.
Already having an Ohio State offer to his name, the Buckeyes have reached out and expressed their interest, but it’s not going to be an easy battle here as Tennessee has already been able to schedule a visit with the Louisiana native. Texas is also interested, but the Buckeyes do have the advantage of selling to him that with only two signees in the fold, he would have the chance to come in and compete right away.
Once again, this recruitment would get a lot more interesting if the Buckeyes are able to get him to Columbus. If they do, Larry Johnson may just have a little more magic up his sleeve for this class.
Quick Hits
- Recently Ohio State was able to host Kamari Ramsey for a visit. The former UCLA safety hit the transfer portal, and the three schools to surge to the top for his services included USC, Washington, and Ohio State.
Yesterday, Ramsey committed to USC, staying right in LA for his next stop leaving the Buckeyes in the same position. Without another safety, it does lead to the belief for the potential for Lathan Ransom to return, but odds are the staff will know better once again after the Cotton Bowl.
Continue reading...