Ohio State September offensive recruiting goals, priorities
Ohio State recruiting is a year-round venture, and Lettermen Row is trying to keep everyone up to speed on just how the Buckeyes’ efforts are going. At the beginning of each month, our staff will make a to-do list for Ryan Day and his staff on the recruiting trail while reviewing the prior month’s list. A look at what September should contain for Ohio State.
COLUMBUS — Ohio State is one or two more pieces away from being completely finished with its 2024 offensive class.
The Buckeyes have a pair of tackles they’re trying to land as Brandon Baker and Jordan Seaton remain uncommitted and interested in Ohio State. Those two and their recruitments are the top priority and goal for Ohio State this month and every month they remain uncommitted.
That said, there are a few other notes Lettermen Row is going to touch upon on the offensive recruiting trail.
Confirm Visits
Ohio State doesn’t have the luxury in 2023 that it did in 2022 — a home game imbalance. Last fall the Buckeyes’ 12-game schedule had eight games inside Ohio Stadium whereas they have a true six-and-six split.
That means fewer opportunities to have recruits and their families to take in a game this fall, and see what Ohio State is about on Saturdays. The biggest names that need to see Columbus are Jeremiah Smith, Brandon Baker and Jordan Seaton.
Yes, the five-star Hollywood (Fla) Chaminade-Madonna wide receiver is already committed, but it’s never bad to remind the No. 1 overall prospect why he’s committed. As for Baker and Seaton, it’s pretty clear why they need to visit. Those are the Buckeyes’ last two remaining big targets in the cycle and there is something different about a Saturday in the Horseshoe.
That’s just in 2024. The 2025 list is never-ending, but it all starts in-state and after quarterback commit Tavien St. Clair, the next name is four-star Toledo (Ohio) Whitmer offensive tackle Carter Lowe.
Add to 2025
Speaking of 2025, St. Clair is the lone man in the class, but that could very well change this fall. And if that’s going to change this fall, it starts in September.
Ohio State only has two home games this month and both of them are not exactly the most marquee events on their schedule. That’s no intentional slight to Youngstown State or Western Kentucky, it is just an assessment of the whole product.
That said, there is more room for 2025s to make it to campus on Saturdays. The in-state crowd for 2025 is a little small at the moment, but the push will be biggest offensively. We’ve seen now in two cycles where Ohio State assembles its offensive class first and then the defense.
Having a quarterback makes that a lot easier. A name that I could see making a decision but I’m not expecting to make a decision is four-star West Chester (Ohio) Lakota West tight end Luka Gilbert. In July the No. 4 tight end per On3 said he wanted to take more visits and go in-depth in his recruitment. That could change if he wants to be at Ohio State, however, as the tight end situation in his cycle around the country is more fluid with Nate Roberts reopening his recruitment.
More Scouting
Ohio State needs one or two more offensive tackles in the 2024 cycle.
Yes, Brandon Baker and Jordan Seaton are out there. Yes, neither of them is expected to make any decisions in the next 30 days. But the Buckeyes would be doing a disservice if it didn’t look for back-up options and then back-up options to those.
Whether that’s flipping prospects from other schools or watching senior tape, the evaluations cannot stop while other recruitments are going on.
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