Four-star Ohio 2024 tight end Damarion Witten is becoming more comfortable with Ohio State after each visit to Columbus.
The Glenville product camped with the Buckeyes in June alongside several of his high school teammates, then made his way back to OSU for gameday trips in September for the Notre Dame and Wisconsin games.
“My visits to OSU were great,” Witten said. “My main takeaways are the way they do things on game days are amazing and the way they involve everyone in the game.”
But his recent visit to Columbus Saturday was a bit different than the previous two, as he entered Ohio Stadium with an OSU offer already in hand. A few days after his Notre Dame visit on Sept. 3, Witten received news he was hoping to hear for a long time. Ryan Day and Kevin Wilson reached out to Glenville head coach Ted Ginn Sr. to let him know they were going to offer Witten a scholarship. Ginn Sr. let Witten’s parents know about the good news, and they told the standout tight end he landed his dream offer after he came home from practice.
i am blessed and very honored to say i have received a offer from THEE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY #GoBucks Thanks to @OSUCoachKDub @ryandaytime pic.twitter.com/vAWR6MDq7k
— Damarion Witten (@DamarionWitten1) September 7, 2022
“It was great, getting recruited and offered from a school you have dreamed of since I was little, it’s an honor,” Witten told Eleven Warriors. “I have always been rooting for OSU. My favorite moment is when (Glenville alumnus) Cardale Jones won the Buckeyes a National Championship.”
Ohio State offered the 6-foot-4, 215-pound tight end because of his blocking capabilities shown on film already and for his potential as a pass catcher.
“My biggest strength is the way I can run the routes and open up the holes for the running backs,” Witten said.
Witten said he and Wilson talk with each other at least three times a week, and sometimes more, adding the pair have “a really good relationship.”
“The most appealing thing (about potentially playing at OSU) is Coach Day,” Witten said. “He really loves the team and the players.”
Among Glenville prospects, there’s daily chatter about getting the Glenville to Ohio State pipeline re-established. On his Wisconsin visit, Witten attended the game with 2023 OSU linebacker commitment Arvell Reese and 2024 cornerback target Bryce West.
“We talk about it every day,” Witten said with a laugh about how often the possibility of teaming up at OSU comes up in their friend circle. “Especially Arvell, you know he is doing his job as a committed Buckeye. But yeah, we talk about it a lot. We even talk about it with our 2024 running back D’Shawntae Jones, we would love to play with them at the next level.
“It would mean a lot for us to re-open the Glenville to Ohio State pipeline back up. It would be something everyone at Glenville would appreciate.”
Witten said he hasn’t started the process of narrowing down schools or compiling any top lists. It may be a while before he reaches a decision.
“I hope to have a decision by next Christmas or later, don’t have an exact time on when just wanna let the rest of the season and the offseason and next year play out,” Witten said.
Hobbs offered by Buckeyes
Ohio State is adding another target to its defensive line board in the class of 2023, as the Buckeyes extended an offer to four-star North Carolina prospect Daevin Hobbs on Thursday.
Blessed to receive an offer from the Ohio St University@OhioStateFB @R2X_Rushmen1 @ChadSimmons_ @RivalsFriedman @BrianDohn247 pic.twitter.com/jyLY4TNN6V
— Daevin Hobbs (@DaevinH) September 29, 2022
According to 247Sports' composite rankings, the 6-foot-4, 262-pound standout is considered the 150th-best prospect and 21st-rated defensive lineman in the 2023 cycle. He's picked up 26 Division I offers so far, including Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Duke, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Penn State, South Carolina, Virginia Tech and West Virginia.
Last season for Jay M Robinson (Concord, North Carolina), Hobbs recorded 39 tackles (20.5 for loss) in 10 games played with eight sacks and 12 quarterback hurries and one forced fumble.
Other 2023 defensive line targets for the Buckeyes include Keon Keeley, Damon Wilson, Matayo Uiagalelei, Kayden McDonald and Jordan Hall.
Fox visiting OSU this weekend
Ohio State is getting another big-time visitor for its upcoming game against Rutgers. Four-star Georgia tight end and defensive end Kylan Fox confirmed with Eleven Warriors he’ll make the trip to Columbus Saturday for his first gameday visit at Ohio Stadium. It will be Fox’s second trip to OSU.
THE Ohio State University this weekend!! #GoBucks @ryandaytime @OSUCoachKDub @CoachM_Patrick @N_Murph @JeremyO_Johnson @ChadSimmons_ @Coach_FredM pic.twitter.com/aHBgF0fhfm
— Kylan Fox (@Kylan_Fox6) September 28, 2022
Fox worked with both Larry Johnson and Kevin Wilson at a recruiting camp on June 21, as the Buckeyes are evaluating him at both defensive end and tight end in the 2024 cycle.
“OSU is recruiting me for both positions,” Fox told Eleven Warriors in June. “It was good working with them both because I got the inside scoop of how they coach their guys. It was big-time getting the offer because they think highly of me and I appreciate that.”
In five games for Grayson High School (Loganville, Georgia), Fox has caught 13 passes for 158 yards with one touchdown. He’s also recorded a sack defensively.
Hayes includes OSU in his top eight
A four-star 2024 linebacker with an Ohio State offer has included the Buckeyes in his updated top schools list. Four-star Florida standout Adarius Hayes, a top-50 prospect nationally, put OSU in his top eight Thursday that also included Florida, Georgia, Oklahoma, Alabama, Texas A&M, UCF and Notre Dame.
I just want to say thank god for all the blessings that came my way and Im going to be posting my top 8#TrustTheProcess @LargoFootball @ChadSimmons_ @Hayesfawcett3 @On3Recruits pic.twitter.com/pmv1g9lovD
— Adariushayes24 (@adariushayes24) September 29, 2022
Florida is the perceived favorite for Hayes, considering he’s made four visits to Gainesville over the past six months. He likely won’t make a commitment until sometime next year.
