Ohio State made three new offers to recruits over the weekend.
Two of them were defensive linemen from the 2023 class, while the other was a cornerback from the 2024 cycle. In today’s Hurry-Up, we take a look at the three newest prospects to receive Ohio State offers as well as two new hires who have joined the Buckeyes’ recruiting staff.
Tavoy Feagin
One of the first places former Jacksonville Jaguars assistant coach Tim Walton visited after he officially became Ohio State’s cornerbacks coach in January was Carrollwood Day High School in Tampa, Florida.
He was there to talk to several upperclassmen, but he also wanted to check in on four-star 2024 cornerback Tavoy Feagin.
“He watched my film and stuff and hit me up later on,” Feagin told Eleven Warriors Sunday.
It was early enough in Walton’s tenure that Ohio State’s new cornerbacks coach didn’t even have a Twitter account yet. But just a few days in on the job, Walton already started to make inroads with a fast-rising Florida cornerback. More than a month later, Feagin’s high school coach called him and told him Walton wished to speak with him again. On Saturday, the 6-foot, 170-pound prospect was presented with an OSU offer, just days after Ohio State also offered Carrollwood Day 2024 running back Anthony Carrie last week.
WOW Blessed to receive an offer from the university of Ohio State #GoBucks @CoachTimWalton @MarshallMcDuf14 @ChadSimmons_ @RWrightRivals @JohnGarcia_Jr @MrAlready11 pic.twitter.com/cz6DD6xUWB
— 4 (@FeaginTavoy) February 26, 2022
“He just asked me how I’m doing and that he watched my film and liked how aggressive I am,” Feagin said of the phone conversation. “Ohio State has been a big program for ages, so to get that offer is really a blessing to know that I’m able to play at that particular level.”
Per 247Sports’ rankings, Feagin is ranked as the 57th-best player and the fifth-best safety in the 2024 class, though OSU is recruiting him as a cornerback. Even though he’s just a sophomore, Feagin has already amassed 42 Division I offers, a list that includes Alabama, USC, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Oklahoma, Oregon, Ole Miss, Penn State, Tennessee, Texas and Texas A&M.
Feagin grew up rooting for Alabama because his father played for the Crimson Tide from 1995-99. But no school has taken the lead for Feagin’s recruitment as of yet.
“All schools are open right now,” Feagin said.
On his Twitter profile, Feagin displays the nickname “Seatbelt” in between his first and last name. He says he received that nickname during the 7-on-7 circuit last summer because he kept locking up receivers.
“I started going along with it,” Feagin said. “What seatbelts do for you is when you jump forward in an accident, the seatbelt is going to secure you and pull you back. They’re going to lock you up. That’s why I went with it.”
In nine games for Carrollwood Day last season, Feagin racked up 28 tackles and six pass deflections. Feagin will visit Clemson and Miami later this spring and said he hopes to make a trip to Columbus later this summer.
Stephiylan Green
The first offer Ohio State made over the weekend was to four-star Georgia defensive lineman Stephiylan Green.
Very Blessed to receive another offer from Ohio state @OhioStateFB @R2X_Rushmen1 @ryandaytime @Only1CamSpence pic.twitter.com/I3NYCDIL2j
— Stephiylan Green (@stephiylan) February 26, 2022
The 6-foot-4, 267-pounder is ranked the 259th-best prospect and the 37th-best defensive lineman in 247Sports’ composite rankings. He has picked up 21 Division I offers so far including Alabama, Texas, Tennessee, Notre Dame, Michigan State, Miami, LSU, Kentucky, Georgia, Florida, Arkansas and Auburn.
Jordan Hall
Ohio State also made an offer to four-star Florida defensive lineman Jordan Hall on Saturday.
Thankful and honored to receive an offer from The Ohio State University @OhioStateFB @R2X_Rushmen1 @coachdubose11 @CoachRandall41 @CoachStylesJr pic.twitter.com/BFJdz5ywUg
— Jordan BigBaby Hall (@bigjay77) February 27, 2022
The 6-foot-4, 300-pound defensive tackle is ranked as the 294th-best prospect and the 44th-best defensive lineman in the 2023 class. He also has 21 Division I offers, including Florida, Florida State, Clemson, Georgia, Michigan, Miami, Michigan State, Tennessee, USC and Wisconsin.
In nine games for Westside High School (Jacksonville, Florida) last season, Hall racked up 34 tackles (15 for loss) and five sacks.
Grant, Murphy added to OSU recruiting staff
Right before the start of the March recruiting window, Ohio State made two additions to its recruiting staff on Monday. Zach Grant, who was formerly the general manager and director of player personnel at Western Kentucky, is now director of player personnel for the Buckeyes. Former Charlotte director of player personnel Nick Murphy, meanwhile, joins OSU as the Buckeyes’ director of recruiting strategy.
HI vs. Everybody
— Murph (@N_Murph) February 28, 2022
So excited to join the staff at Ohio State University! Cant wait to carry on the excellence and winning tradition of this flagship university! Tap in with your boy & #GoBucks !!! pic.twitter.com/8ocgDBtaFO
Blessed to be named Director of Player Personnel for ! pic.twitter.com/ISgxjaVWMm
— Zach Grant (@CoachGrantOSU) February 28, 2022
While Grant now holds the title of director of player personnel, Mark Pantoni remains the main braintrust behind Ohio State’s recruiting efforts and has been promoted to general manager of player personnel.