Three-star in-state tight end Joe Royer has seen his recruitment accelerate after Ohio State's one-day camp Thursday.
Cincinnati three-star tight end Joe Royer has seen his Ohio State recruitment take off at mach speed in the last week. He was at the one-day camp Thursday, received his offer Friday, set up an official visit to Ohio State for June 21 over the weekend and then released his top-six schools list Tuesday night.
Ohio State was on that list, as well as LSU, Arizona State, Penn State, Michigan and Wisconsin.
“It felt great to be given that opportunity to workout for the chance of an offer,” Royer told Eleven Warriors. “I didn’t feel pressured or nervous while I was working out there. I was just going to do my best and work my hardest, and if they offered me, then that would be great.”
Top 6 .... (recruitment is still open) pic.twitter.com/HiNacThPUn
— Joe Royer (@JoeRoyer25) June 11, 2019
Royer was essentially given a last-chance opportunity for an Ohio State offer Thursday, and while it wasn’t a competition between him and Luke Lachey for the offer, Royer came away with the only offer between the two.
Royer said the Ohio State staff like what he showed in blocking technique and in the passing game during the camp.
The Ohio State offer served as a catalyst for Royer to narrow down his offers and release the list.
“It was definitely a big one for me to get, and I wanted it,” Royer said.
Following the camp, Royer traveled to Michigan for a visit, and while he was on the visit, three-star tight end Matthew Hibner committed to the Wolverines. That’s Michigan’s second tight end commitment of the class, so it seems like it won’t be needing another one for 2020.
None of the other schools on Royer’s list have landed a tight end commitment yet, though Penn State is heavily involved with Theo Johnson and Wisconsin with Cam Large.
No. 3 tight end Jalin Conyers and Large will both be making official visits to Ohio State on June 21, the same day as Royer.
The Cincinnati tight end said he had always dreamed of earning those types of offers but didn’t expect to actually receive them, especially this late in the recruiting cycle.
And before releasing his top schools list, he let the other schools know ahead of time.
“I called and texted all of the coaches from the schools that didn’t make it on my list beforehand so they didn’t have to find out on Twitter because I feel like that would be rude,” Royer said. “But I was ready to release my top-six.”
The 6-foot-5, 225-pound tight end is teammates with Ohio State offensive tackle commit Jakob James, and the Elder tackle has said his piece on the Buckeyes apparently.
“Being able to play with Jakob would be unbelievable, and he always is telling me good things about the Bucks,” Royer said.
