Caleb Houser
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One month away from decision day for Ohio State’s top remaining target
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
Plus, the Buckeyes are likely set to add another 2025 commitment on Thursday.
It’s a little bit of a slow period for Ohio State recruiting. The staff not as active on the trail and the headlines decreasing the last week or two, it correlates with the season getting closer to being here. Recruiting, while always important, does take a bit of a back seat in comparison to the current on-field development.
Still, Crystal Ball predictions have been submitted in Ohio State’s favor this week, and though July is a bit of a slower month compared to June, there’s still big-time players out there getting closer to decisions of their own. Fortunately, the Buckeyes are very much in the mix for multiple of those top targets.
The coming weeks should give Ohio State some good news for their top-ranked class, and with Alabama right on their heels, regaining that infamous No. 1 class ranking depends on these remaining uncommitted players.
Arguably the most important player in the 2025 class and certainly the top remaining target on Ohio State’s board, five-star offensive tackle David Sanders Jr. is now just a month away from making his commitment to the school of his choice.
The No. 2 player nationally and top offensive tackle in the class per the 247Sports Composite, Sanders Jr. is slated for an Aug. 17 decision date between the likes of Ohio State, Tennessee, Georgia, and Nebraska. Of the four programs, the Buckeyes and Tennessee are thought to be the two in the lead for his services, but watching his next steps in terms of visit plans will shed light towards where his mind is at.
The Buckeyes have done any and everything they can to appeal to Sanders Jr., and with an inside track to early playing time atop of the list, Ohio State is in the thick of this recruitment for a reason. Knowing how well the rest of the staff has recruited and the need for offensive linemen in a hurry, all eyes have been on Justin Frye during this recruitment. The question of whether or not he can pull his own weight almost resides with the coming announcement.
The Buckeyes will continue pulling out all of the stops for this one, and that definitely includes current members of the current 2025 class as quarterback commit, Tavien St. Clair isn’t shy about sharing his thoughts via social media. We’re just a month away, but this recruitment will be watched closer than any other knowing how critical he would be to an already loaded group of commits.
Not an Ohio State target down the stretch, five-star cornerback DJ Pickett surprised some people on Wednesday when he chose LSU over the likes of Miami and Oregon.
The Florida native’s commitment to the Tigers doesn’t hurt Ohio State by any means, who boast the nation’s top two players at the position, but Pickett’s decision does have at least some impact on the Buckeyes, as Oregon was thought to potentially be the landing spot up until he made it public.
Specifically, Ohio State now avoids having to face DJ in conference play, but maybe more closely related, the previous commitment by Dorian Brew to Oregon may be further cemented, as he had feelings of choosing elsewhere due to the fact that Ohio State did have two elite guys already in the fold.
Brew being so closely linked to the Buckeyes made it tough to see him choose the Ducks, and thoughts of Pickett heading to Oregon may have given Ohio State a puncher’s chance at flipping him down the stretch. With Pickett now committed to LSU, it certainly decreases that likelihood — at least for now.
Ohio State is in prime position right now with Devin Sanchez and Na’eem Offord as two huge parts of the 2025 class, but keeping them locked in is the goal until pen hits paper.
Going as far as to say the Buckeyes are the top school on his list right now, Larry Johnson continues to impress in North Carolina. There’s a ton of time before the 2026 class enters decision mode, but leading early for a top player at a position of importance is always great to see.
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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
Plus, the Buckeyes are likely set to add another 2025 commitment on Thursday.
It’s a little bit of a slow period for Ohio State recruiting. The staff not as active on the trail and the headlines decreasing the last week or two, it correlates with the season getting closer to being here. Recruiting, while always important, does take a bit of a back seat in comparison to the current on-field development.
Still, Crystal Ball predictions have been submitted in Ohio State’s favor this week, and though July is a bit of a slower month compared to June, there’s still big-time players out there getting closer to decisions of their own. Fortunately, the Buckeyes are very much in the mix for multiple of those top targets.
The coming weeks should give Ohio State some good news for their top-ranked class, and with Alabama right on their heels, regaining that infamous No. 1 class ranking depends on these remaining uncommitted players.
One month from decision day
Arguably the most important player in the 2025 class and certainly the top remaining target on Ohio State’s board, five-star offensive tackle David Sanders Jr. is now just a month away from making his commitment to the school of his choice.
The No. 2 player nationally and top offensive tackle in the class per the 247Sports Composite, Sanders Jr. is slated for an Aug. 17 decision date between the likes of Ohio State, Tennessee, Georgia, and Nebraska. Of the four programs, the Buckeyes and Tennessee are thought to be the two in the lead for his services, but watching his next steps in terms of visit plans will shed light towards where his mind is at.
The Buckeyes have done any and everything they can to appeal to Sanders Jr., and with an inside track to early playing time atop of the list, Ohio State is in the thick of this recruitment for a reason. Knowing how well the rest of the staff has recruited and the need for offensive linemen in a hurry, all eyes have been on Justin Frye during this recruitment. The question of whether or not he can pull his own weight almost resides with the coming announcement.
The Buckeyes will continue pulling out all of the stops for this one, and that definitely includes current members of the current 2025 class as quarterback commit, Tavien St. Clair isn’t shy about sharing his thoughts via social media. We’re just a month away, but this recruitment will be watched closer than any other knowing how critical he would be to an already loaded group of commits.
Buckeyes impacted by a player committed elsewhere?
Not an Ohio State target down the stretch, five-star cornerback DJ Pickett surprised some people on Wednesday when he chose LSU over the likes of Miami and Oregon.
The Florida native’s commitment to the Tigers doesn’t hurt Ohio State by any means, who boast the nation’s top two players at the position, but Pickett’s decision does have at least some impact on the Buckeyes, as Oregon was thought to potentially be the landing spot up until he made it public.
Specifically, Ohio State now avoids having to face DJ in conference play, but maybe more closely related, the previous commitment by Dorian Brew to Oregon may be further cemented, as he had feelings of choosing elsewhere due to the fact that Ohio State did have two elite guys already in the fold.
Brew being so closely linked to the Buckeyes made it tough to see him choose the Ducks, and thoughts of Pickett heading to Oregon may have given Ohio State a puncher’s chance at flipping him down the stretch. With Pickett now committed to LSU, it certainly decreases that likelihood — at least for now.
Ohio State is in prime position right now with Devin Sanchez and Na’eem Offord as two huge parts of the 2025 class, but keeping them locked in is the goal until pen hits paper.
Quick Hits
- Ohio State will have a chance to add to its 2025 class on Thursday, when four-star defensive lineman Jarquez Carter is set to announce his commitment. The Newberry, Florida native is the No. 42 DL and a top-400 player nationally, and is set to choose between a top five of Florida, Miami, Penn State, UCF and Ohio State. Notably, the Buckeyes have landed a swarm of Crystal Balls in their favor for Carter over the past week, and so this recruitment appears to be trending towards Columbus.
- Ohio State is currently in the lead for 2026 defensive lineman, Zavion Griffin-Haynes. A 6-foot-6, 220 pound edge rusher out of North Carolina, Griffin-Haynes is the No. 127 player nationally and 11th best edge rusher in the 2026 class per the 247Sports Composite.
Going as far as to say the Buckeyes are the top school on his list right now, Larry Johnson continues to impress in North Carolina. There’s a ton of time before the 2026 class enters decision mode, but leading early for a top player at a position of importance is always great to see.
“Ohio State is definitely No.on my list right now.”
Four-star EDGE Zavion Griffin-Haynes is high on Ohio State after working with Larry Johnson at camp last month️
READ: https://t.co/qsLa1OoVcA pic.twitter.com/zjaZuh7ywy
— Mick Walker (@mickdwalker) July 17, 2024
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