Under The Lights: Luke Wypler Faces Michigan Commits While Jack Sawyer Takes on Buckeye Targets

Fall weekends can be hectic with all the football going on Friday through Sunday. Under the lights is your weekly primer on what is going for Ohio State commitments and recruits that weekend.

Every week, Under the Lights will detail the top-three games featuring Ohio State commitments, the game that Eleven Warriors will attend, and some predictions for how Ohio State's commits will perform. 

Future Buckeyes in Action

St Joseph Regional (NJ) vs. St. Frances Academy (MD)

• Day: Saturday
• Time: 1 p.m. ET
• Future Buckeyes: Luke Wypler (SJR)
• Targets: Katron Evans (SFA)

This matchup is not rich in Buckeye commitments or even targets, but it is no doubt full of talent and will provide us an early look future editions of The Game.

Ohio State center commit Luke Wypler – the top center in the country – takes on a few Michigan commits when his St Joseph Regional (NJ) takes on St. Frances Academy (MD), which features a few Wolverine commits.

St. Frances features one of the most talent-riddled rosters in the country that stakes up with national powerhouses like Mater Dei, St. John Bosco, and IMG Academy, etc. Among those talented high school prospects are four players currently committed to Michigan.

Wypler is rated as a center but may very well play guard at Ohio State and currently plays left tackle in high school. He will have his work cut out for him on Saturday, facing either 2020 five-star Alabama defensive end commitment Chris Braswell or 2020 four-star LSU defensive end commitment Demon Clowney every down.

As for Buckeye targets in this game, there are not many. St. Frances has a few players that Ohio State has pursued early but those players have since committed elsewhere. One uncommitted name to watch for is four-star 2021 defensive tackle Katron Evans who has an Ohio State offer.

Rockwall (TX) vs. Longview (TX)

• Day: Friday
• Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
• Future Buckeyes: Jaxon Smith-Njigba (RW)

Jaxon Smith-Njigba is the lone Buckeye commitment in this big-time Texas high school football matchup.

Longview is the defending 6A Texas state champion and defeated Rockwall last year 42-35. This year, Longview is once again talented, led by 2020 five-star Texas A&M quarterback commit Haynes King that has full command of the offense.

In this game last year, Smith-Njigba had 13 catches for 289 yards and 2 touchdowns while also running the ball three times for 36 yards and another touchdown. If Rockwall wants a chance to knock off the defending state champs and remain undefeated, they there are going to need another big game from the Buckeye commit.

There are no Ohio state targets in this game. It's all about if Smith-Njigba can maintain the production he's had all year and knock off Longview.

Pickerington Central (OH) vs. Hillard Davidson (OH)

• Day: Friday
• Time: 7 p.m. ET
• Future Buckeyes: Ty Hamilton (PC)
• Targets: Lorenzo Styles Jr. (PC)

Nothing like some good central Ohio football on a Friday night in September and this game is just that.

Pickerington Central is led by Ohio State commitment Ty Hamilton on the defensive line while Hillard Davidson features former Buckeye target and Minnesota commit, Gage Keys. Pickerington Central is one of the best teams in Ohio and is coming off an upset loss to Groveport-Madison, but they have no time to sulk with the Wildcats coming to town.

The lone Ohio State target in this game is one Buckeye's most important prospects in the 2021 class – Lorenzo Styles Jr.

Styles is a Buckeye legacy and top target for Ohio State wide receivers coach Brian Hartline. His recruitment is shaping up to be an Ohio State vs. Notre Dame matchup with a few other schools running behind.

Expect Pickerington Central to come out fired up and wanting to make up for their stumble last week to Groveport-Madison. Hillard Davidson has a very good player in Keys but does not have the all-around talent keep up with the Tigers in this one.

Where We'll Be

Pickerington North (OH) vs. Dublin Coffman (OH)

• Day: Friday
• Time: 7 p.m. ET
• Future Buckeyes: Jack Sawyer (PN)
• Targets: Micheal Drennen III (DC), AJ Kirk Jr. (DC), Hammond Russell (DC), and Bryon Threats (DC)

As many Buckeye fans know by now, Pickerington North is led by 2021 five-star Ohio State defensive end commitment Jack Sawyer. Dublin Coffman, on the other hand, has one of the more loaded rosters in central Ohio, making this a must-see matchup on Friday night.

Beyond Sawyer, 2020 four-star running back target Michael Drennen and 2021 four-star safety AJ Kirk Jr. are at the top of the list in terms of Ohio State targets in this game. Bryon Threats and Hammond Russell are also players on Ohio State's board, up but not much more than that at this point.

Be sure to follow Zack (@Zack_Carp) and me (@MickDWalker) for updates on throughout this primetime Friday night game.

Five Predictions

1. Ty Hamilton has 2 sacks in a bounce-back win tonight.
2. Jaxon Smith-Njgba has 200 or more receiving yards and 3 touchdowns on Friday.
3. Jake Seibert catches another touchdown pass and nails a field goal.
4. Jayden Ballard returns a kick or punt for a touchdown.
5. Reid Carrico has an interception.