Ohio State football recruiting reset: Are the Buckeyes primed for a big payoff following recruiting weekend?

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State football is coming off its biggest recruiting weekend of the Ryan Day era, so of course, the next question is when and if it will reap the benefits of it.

While the Buckeyes were opening their season with a 21-10 win over Notre Dame on the field, the stands were filled with targets spread across three different classes who got to see what a gameday environment in Columbus is like.

Meanwhile, OSU was doing its best to show off how cool being part of the program can be with a long list of star-studded guests headlined by LeBron James.

The 2023 class has already zeroed in on its focus as to who its final targets are, with three five-star defensive linemen at the top of that list. The 2024 class is home to just one commit in five-star quarterback Dylan Raiola. but he could be getting some company sooner rather than later.

OSU’s top 2024 targets

To see Ohio States full 2024 recruiting class, click here.

Whos trending towards OSU?

Wide receiver Coach Brian Hartline might be the best recruiter in the country, even if he doesn’t like to classify himself as such. He locks in on his guys early, reels them in, then quickly moves on to the next class.

Typically the guys he pulls in are five-stars or top-100 recruits, and Jeremiah Smith may be the next name on that list. The Florida native and Joshisa Trader come from the same high school as current OSU freshmen Kenyatta Jackson and Ryan Turner.

The first time Mylan Graham came to Columbus, he left with an offer over the summer after an impressive showing at a day camp. Now he’s leaving his second trip with some OSU momentum as the nations No. 99 players and No. 14 wide receivers. He would join Smith, as Hartline recruits a class that already has a five-star quarterback in Raiola should this momentum turn into a commitment down the road.

The 2024 class will be the first offensive line coach Justin Frye gets to start from scratch as an OSU Assistant and he’s already aiming high.

Ohio States Offensive line moved people at the line of scrimmage in the run game on Saturday and Stroud was only sacked once. Ian Moore, a four-star prospect from Indiana, watched that from the stands as the nations No. 91 player and top interior Offensive lineman.

Tackles are still the main question mark going forward. But Fryes Philosophy is to start everybody outside and move them around from there, so its best to consider everybody as one until shown otherwise. That can apply to Moore, who is already 6-foot-5 and 295 pounds with two years of high school left. He might end up at tackle anyway, regardless of his current description.

Who’s trending away?

Kady McDonald is scheduled to be on the Ohio States campus for the Wisconsin game in two weeks. Itll be his third official visit, with Florida getting one over the summer and Michigan getting one this weekend. None of those schools are in the lead for the nations No. 243 players and No. 35 defensive linemen.

Clemson has built up some momentum over the past two weeks and that official visit date is still to be determined. Even if the Buckeyes lose this battle, interior defensive line isn’t the thing still missing from this class Jason Moore and Will Smith Jr. already check that off. OSU needs defensive ends and are in the hunt for three five-stars in Keon Keeley, Matayo Uiagalelei and Damon Wilson.

Projecting the next OSU commit

Garrett Stover is the cousin of current Ohio State tight end Cade Stover. Hes also the nations No. 244 players and No. 39 athletes as one of a handful of in-state players expected to eventually be part of the 2024 class. He might be the first to pop, and attending the win over Notre Dame might have helped put the finishing touches on making that happen.

Ill predict him as the next Buckeye commit, and I wouldn’t be shocked if it happens sooner rather than later.

Where does OSU rank nationally?

Ohio States 2023 class enters the season with the nations No. 5 recruiting class and at the top of the Big Ten. Notre Dame spent most of the year in the top spot, but losing Keon Keeley has allowed Alabama to take over and the Crimson Tide may never give it back up, especially if Keeley eventually chooses them instead of coming north to Columbus.

To see Ohio States full 2023 recruiting class, click here.

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