Al Washington coming to Ohio State appeared to be a match only fate could’ve planned, as new head coach Ryan Day and Ohio State searched for a coach to address its most problematic position on the roster — the linebackers.
Having been originally from the Columbus area, developing a relationship with new head coach Ryan Day at Boston College in Massachusetts and coaching All-American linebacker Devin Bush in just his second season as a linebackers coach, Washington had to be the suitor for the job. And he was.
But what Washington brings to the table as a linebackers coach that not many other 34-year-old position coaches can bring is his eye for talent and his natural recruiting ability. He’s already proven that he can produce in that department.
In his only season at Michigan, Washington was able to assist the Wolverines in bringing in six Ohio recruits to its 2019 class. He also had a close relationship with five-star defensive end Zach Harrison from Olentangy Orange High School, but Harrison ultimately chose the Buckeyes instead.
Washington also recruited Fairfield, Ohio defensive end Malik Vann, who chose Washington and Cincinnati over Alabama, Oklahoma and other top programs in the nation.
But for the 2020 class, Washington can already benefit the Buckeyes. He’s already developed connections with Ohio recruits, and with Ohio State’s recruiters already working the prospects, some recruits could be in the process of swaying further in the direction of Ohio State with Washington’s move to Columbus.
These are some recruits that fall right into that sweet spot — Ohio prospects recruited by Ohio State before Washington’s hire and whom Washington was recruiting before he came to Ohio State.
Paris Johnson, Jr.
Five-star offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr. was being recruited by Washington out of Cincinnati, and even though Johnson committed to Ohio State before Washington moved to Columbus, having Michigan’s primary recruiter for Johnson within his committed school will only help to insulate the tackle’s commitment.
Darrion Henry
This point might be the most significant contribution Washington could make for this class. The linebackers coach was recruiting both four-star defensive end Darrion Henry and four-star linebacker Jakeim Thomas out of Princeton High School in Cincinnati before he came to Ohio State. Washington played defensive tackle at Boston College and is coaching the linebackers position at Ohio State. Landing both Henry and Thomas would be a massive immediate success contributed by Washington for the Buckeyes.
Michael Drennen
With the decommitment of Arizona four-star running back Darvon Hubbard, four-star Dublin Coffman High School running back Michael Drennen’s decision becomes more significant to the Buckeyes, who would hope to grab two tailbacks out of the 2020 class. While they’re in good position for five-star Arizona running back Bijan Robinson and five-star backs MarShawn Lloyd and Demarkcus Bowman, Drennen — being the No. 3 Ohio prospect so close to home — would be a recruit of heightened emphasis moving forward, and Washington was Michigan’s primary recruiter for Drennen in what could, or could have been a two-program race for his commitment.
DeaMonte Trayanum
Four-star Akron outside linebacker DeaMonte Trayanum’s recruitment between Ohio State and Michigan was similar to Drennen’s before Washington came to Ohio State. The No. 5 Ohio prospect was being recruited by Washington at Michigan and by Bill Davis at Ohio State. Now that Washington has replaced Davis at Ohio State, Trayanum’s odds of choosing the Buckeyes over the Wolverines have increased for a position that could use additional depth and is also coached by the recruiter.
Jutahn McClain
Three-star all-purpose back Jutahn McClain is the No. 6 all-purpose back in the country and the No. 9 prospect out of Ohio, and Washington was the secondary recruiter behind Michigan running backs coach Jay Harbaugh before Washington left for Ohio State. Ohio State running backs coach Tony Alford, who is already a heralded recruiter, was and is the primary recruiter for McClain and the Buckeyes, but adding Washington into the mix only helps the chances of McClain adding some depth to the position. If — and it’s a bit of a big if — Ohio State lands all of the recruits listed, McClain would be the sixth top-10 Ohio recruit Ohio State would welcome into Columbus for the class.
