What Jason Moores commitment means to Ohio State football: Buckeyes Recruiting

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Larry Johnson has spent the last two recruiting cycles serving as the Anchor as Ohio State football puts together a class, and the 2023 class is shaping up to be the same.

The defensive line Coach has a hands-on approach, often taking his time in putting together a group, especially when it comes to national targets.

Jack Sawyer became the first commit of the Ryan Day era when he did so just a month into Days tenure as a five-star Recruit in the 2021 class. Almost a year later, Mike Hall joined him in the class, wrapping up Johnson’s in-state recruiting and beginning the waiting game of a class that could prove to be elite.

It wouldn’t be until August that the 2021 group added its first non-Ohio defensive lineman in Tyleik Williams from Virginia. It again took almost a full year for the final member to join five-star JT Tuimoloau from Washington. While the time between commitments wasn’t as extreme, the same waiting game was played in 2022.

With no in-state targets, the first defensive line commit didn’t come until Kenyatta Jackson (Florida) Midway through the 2021 season, then Caden Curry (Indiana) joined him 48 hours before Signing Day. Johnson had to wait until the late signing period to wrap things up with Hero Kanu (California/Germany) and Omari Abor (Texas). Now the same concept is at play in 2023, but the process is moving along much faster.

Will Smith Jr. came aboard in January as an Ohio kid and Buckeye legacy. Now the class has added Jason Moore, and he may not be the last player in the class from Maryland as momentum begins to surge for Desmond Umeozulu. Then Theres John Walker out of Florida, who will announce his decision on July 28.

Theres a good chance Johnson could the bulk of his defensive line class by the end of the summer, leaving plenty of time to put all of his focus on a five-star Recruit from the West Coast of Polynesian descent. The last time that happened it ended with Johnson winning the battle for Tuimoloau. This time the fight will be for Matayo Uiagalelei, who has already made multiple trips to Columbus, including an official visit on June 10.

The Assistant Coach who has turned into Ohio States reliable closer the last two cycles is now ahead of schedule in 2023. Being so could result in yet another fruitful defensive line Haul for the Buckeyes.

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