For the second time this week and the third time since January, Ohio State has added a defensive back from Florida to its recruiting class of 2022.
Hollywood, Florida's Ryan Turner became the latest DB from the Sunshine State to join Ohio State's recruiting class of 2022 on Wednesday, when he announced his commitment to the Buckeyes.
Turner joins fellow Floridians Kye Stokes (who committed on Sunday) and Jaheim Singletary as well as Ohio cornerback Jyaire Brown in the Buckeyes’ class of 2022 as they continue to load up on secondary reinforcements in a class that now includes 12 total commitments.
While he's only rated as a three-star prospect (No. 380 overall) in the 247Sports composite rankings, Ohio State's decision to take his commitment now and the competition it beat out to land him – including Clemson – indicates he's a better prospect than his ranking might suggest.
On the Field
Turner likely projects as an outside cornerback for the Buckeyes, where he plays for Chaminade-Madonna College Preparatory School. He has good length and the frame to continue to grow at 6-foot and 180 pounds, while he's also a track sprinter who lists times of 4.5 seconds in the 40-yard dash and 10.9 seconds in the 100-meter dash.
Perhaps most noticeably, his highlights show lots of physicality and the ability to play in press man coverage, an area where Ohio State defensive coordinator Kerry Coombs expects all of his cornerbacks to excel.
“Every coach I’ve talked to, they talk about my technique,” Turner told Eleven Warriors in March. “They say my technique always stands out on my film compared to other high school kids. They say other high school players play strictly off talent, really no coaching basically. But with me, I play off my technique, and I make my job way easier because I’m not running with my guy. I’m jamming them off the line, and that makes my job way easier.
“I stand out very physically, coming down, too. They like that, too, me coming down and hitting people.”
Turner has recorded 72 total tackles with two tackles for loss and three interceptions in three seasons at Chaminade-Madonna, earning second-team All-State honors from FloridaHSFootball.com in his junior season after missing part of his sophomore season with a shoulder injury.
Since receiving his offer from Ohio State just over three months ago, Turner has climbed nearly 200 spots in 247Sports' composite rankings. He was ranked as the No. 561 overall prospect when he was offered; now, he could be on the cusp of becoming a four-star.
In the Class
Turner has received offers from more than two dozen schools, also including Florida, Georgia, Miami, Oregon, Penn State and Texas A&M, among others. Boston College and former Ohio State secondary coach Jeff Hafley have also been a contender in Turner's recruitment as one of the first schools to offer him. Leading up to his commitment, however, the battle for Turner was largely viewed as a two-horse race between Ohio State and Clemson.
After flipping Jordan Hancock away from Clemson last year, Coombs and the Buckeyes have now won another recruiting battle over Mike Reed and the Tigers for a cornerback both programs coveted. Turner's choice to become a Buckeye comes after he made self-guided visits to both Ohio State and Clemson this spring.
The commitments of both Turner and Stokes this week give the Buckeyes some momentum on the recruiting trail after a commitment drought of more than two months, and move Ohio State back up to No. 2 in the recruiting class rankings behind Georgia.
Summer hasnt even officially started, but things are really heating up in Columbus! #thistrainismovingtimetogetonboard! #moregreatkidsfromgreatfamilies #Whosnext? #BIA #BOOM22 #Fight #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/AwT4nnIusY
— Kerry Coombs (@DB_CoachCoombs) May 5, 2021
Florida also now becomes the second-most-represented state in Ohio State's class of 2022, behind only Ohio and just ahead of Texas, with three prospects committed to the Buckeyes. Assuming they all sign with Ohio State, that would mark the highest total of Floridians the Buckeyes have signed in a class since 2018, when they signed five. They join a list of recent defensive backs from Florida to commit to the Buckeyes that's also included Damon Arnette, Shaun Wade and Tyreke Johnson.
That could potentially help the Buckeyes gain momentum with other players they're recruiting in the Sunshine State, too, including four-star defensive end Kenyatta Jackson, who plays with Turner at Chaminade-Madonna.
Future Teammates? https://t.co/BuVkpIRAiw
— Kenyatta Jackson Jr (@_21shotz) May 5, 2021
Even though the Buckeyes now have four committed defensive backs after signing six in 2021, they're likely not done adding to their secondary yet. It's still possible they could add one more cornerback to the class, particularly if St. Louis four-star Toriano Pride – another prospect whose recruitment could come down to Ohio State and Clemson – wants to become a Buckeye. Texas four-star Austin Jordan and New Jersey three-star Jayden Bellamy are also set to visit Ohio State in late June.
The bigger priority now though is at safety, where Ohio State is still looking to add at least one more to its 2022 class after landing Stokes as its first commitment at the position. Iowa four-star Xavier Nwankpa has long been the Buckeyes' top target at that spot, while Nevada four-star Zion Branch and California four-star Kamari Ramsey are also safeties the Buckeyes would love to sign. All of them are also scheduled to visit Ohio State in June.
