After playing two high school games in Ohio in back-to-back weeks, 2023 five-star safety Joenel Aguero still has Ohio State on his mind.
“They’re probably one of my top schools right now,” Aguero told Eleven Warriors on Aug. 29. “I like (defensive backs) coach Matt Barnes and really the whole coaching staff.”
Aguero listed OSU in his top 12 schools in early July and visited the Buckeyes on June 12. Since his visit to Columbus, he has maintained a close dialogue with Barnes.
“(He’s) just teaching me the game,” Aguero said. “He’s not just trying to recruit me, he’s trying to teach me and recruit me at the same time, so I feel like that’s a good thing.”
The 6-foot, 195-pound Aguero is ranked as the 25th-best player in the 2023 class, per 247Sports’ composite rankings. He has played both defensive back and wide receiver for IMG Academy (Bradenton, Florida), but OSU is primarily recruiting him as a safety.
“We kind of run a similar defense with (IMG Academy) coach Pepper (Johnson), so (Barnes) kind of taught me a couple things,” Aguero said.
As for a recruiting timeline since he announced his top 12, not much is set in stone. Per 247Sports, he has received 26 offers from Division I schools.
“I don’t know yet, to be honest,” Aguero said of his timeline.
As of now, Aguero has no visits lined up for this fall, but did say he hoped to visit Ohio State in the future.
Ricks hoping for OSU offer
The top cornerback in the 2024 class is hoping to hear good news from the Buckeyes soon. Desmond Ricks, the No. 2 overall prospect in 2024, has already procured 23 Division I offers from schools, including the likes of LSU, Oregon and Georgia. But there’s one the IMG Academy standout still hoping to get: Ohio State.
“It would mean a lot with them being one of the powerhouse programs,” Ricks said.
Ricks visited OSU over the summer and had a discussion with Barnes.
“They just said they wanted to get to know me more and get to know my family,” Ricks told Eleven Warriors on Aug. 29. “They want to build a bond before just throwing out a scholarship offer … I like (OSU), it’s a nice facility and a really family-oriented place. I’ll probably be up there for a game soon.”
The 6-foot-1, 170-pound corner is not hurting for confidence.
“I have the speed to run with any receiver in the nation, I feel like,” Ricks said.
Just a few games into his sophomore season, Ricks is in no rush to make a college decision any time soon.
“I just want to go somewhere that feels like home,” Ricks said. “Also somewhere that fits my style of play, a long corner that’s fast and physical.”
Muhammad attending Oregon game
Since we put out our expected visitor list of prospective recruits planning on attending Saturday’s game against Oregon, another target has confirmed his visit plans.
Malik Muhammad, a four-star rated as the 70th-best player and the seventh-best cornerback in the 2023 class, told 247Sports he will be in attendance for No. 3 Ohio State’s matchup with No. 12 Oregon Saturday. Muhammad, a Texas native, is also planning a visit to Notre Dame in October.
Muhammad was offered by the Buckeyes in May and visited Notre Dame, Clemson, Texas, Texas A&M and Oklahoma this summer. He has been offered nearly 40 scholarships by Division I schools.
Lonergan to visit OSU
Did I say one new visitor? Check that, make it two new recruits to add to the visit list.
Dylan Lonergan, a four-star 2023 quarterback out of Georgia, announced he’d also be at OSU’s marquee noon matchup this weekend.
Ill be in Columbus this weekend! pic.twitter.com/709DnO7USA
— Dylan Lonergan (@_dylanlonergan) September 8, 2021
Lonergan is rated as the 77th-best player and the sixth-best quarterback in the 2023 recruiting cycle. He received an offer from the Buckeyes in mid-June after Ryan Day watched Lonergan work out at an Ohio State camp. He has received around 22 offers from Division I schools.
He won’t be the only quarterback of interest in attendance, as Jadyn Davis, the No. 1 national prospect in 2024, will also be making the trip.
I will be in Columbus this weekend#GoBuckeyes @ryandaytime @CoreyDennis_ @OhioStateFB
— Jadyn Davis (@iamjadyndavis) September 8, 2021
