Edwin Spillman was hopeful to attend Ohio State’s Buckeye Bash & BBQ in late July.
But circumstances prevented the 2024 OSU linebacker target from making his second trip to Columbus of the summer, or any other campus visit in July for that matter.
“I couldn’t, we had practice and a fundraiser thing that I had to be at,” the Lipscomb Academy (Nashville, Tennessee) standout told Eleven Warriors.
The 6-foot-1, 200-pound linebacker visited Ohio State on June 22 when he attended a one-day camp and impressed linebackers coach Al Washington enough that he was given an offer shortly after a private workout. Since then, Spillman has kept in contact with Washington and OSU offensive assistant Reilly Jeffers. Spillman said he hopes to reschedule his visit for sometime this fall.
“(An exact date is) still up in the air, but I’m definitely planning on coming down for a game,” he said.
Even though he's only a sophomore, Spillman has already picked up offers from the likes of OSU, Tennessee, Georgia, Boston College and Eastern Kentucky. He’s also visited powerhouses Clemson and Alabama. Spillman will begin his sophomore season Friday against former OSU offensive line target Addison Nichols and Greater Atlanta Christian (Norcross, Georgia). Nichols committed to Tennessee on Aug. 2 after narrowing down his school list to North Carolina, Ohio State and the Vols.
“I’m really excited to go against one of the best lineman in the Lower South region,” Spillman said. “It should be a really good game. I’ll be excited to play against someone who’s older and already committed somewhere. But also, he’s supposed to be really good and I really like competition so I’m really excited for that.”
Öhrström to commit Wednesday
One of Ohio State's top tight end targets in the recruiting class of 2023 (2022 if he ends up reclassifying) will announce his college decision at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday.
Theodor Melin Öhrström, a four-star rated as the No. 158 overall prospect and No. 13 tight end in 247Sports’ composite rankings for the 2023 class, will give his verbal commitment to either Ohio State, Texas A&M or LSU.
Big day tomorrow #GeauxTigers #GoBuckeyes #GigEm
— Theodor Melin hrstrm (@TheodorMelin) August 17, 2021
The 6-foot-6, 245-pound tight end from Sweden camped at Ohio State on June 8 along with top defensive tackle target Hero Kanu as part of the Premier Players International’s DreamChasers Tour. The Buckeyes’ prospects of landing Öhrström appear grim, however, as five 247Sports analysts have predicted he will land with Texas A&M.
Ohio State currently has one tight end committed for the class of 2022: four-star Bennett Christian. Four-star tight end Benji Gosnell decommitted from the Buckeyes in late July. OSU has no commitment from any position in the 2023 class.
Jake Pope heading to Alabama
An OSU safety target came off the board on Monday evening when Jake Pope, a three-star 2022 recruit rated as the 373rd-best player and 26th-best safety in the class, committed to Alabama.
Committed pic.twitter.com/ZAthCuEJRq
— Jake Pope (@JakePope24) August 16, 2021
Pope picked Alabama over Georgia, Ohio State, Notre Dame and North Carolina. The Buckeyes’ prime remaining targets at safety to fill out the 2022 class are Zion Branch and Xavier Nwankpa.
Luther Burden decommits from Oklahoma
The class of 2022’s best wide receiver is decommitting from Oklahoma. Luther Burden, rated the fifth-best overall prospect in the cycle, announced Tuesday he is reopening his recruitment.
respect my decision..business move pic.twitter.com/KFK1GPQGZJ
— luther (@lutherburden3) August 17, 2021
Ohio State extended an offer to the five-star Burden in April 2020, but don’t expect him to end up in Columbus. The Buckeyes have a full wide receiver class with Kaleb Brown, Caleb Burton, Kyion Grayes and Kojo Antwi all committed. Missouri and Georgia are considered the favorites to land the East Saint Louis (Illinois) High School product, according to 247Sports’ Steve Wiltfong.
