One of Ohio State’s most highly touted commits in the 2022 class was among the 50-plus recruiting visitors last weekend for the Penn State game.
In-state linebacker Gabe Powers, who is in the midst of an undefeated season for Marysville, appreciated the primetime atmosphere when he saw his future collegiate team take down the Nittany Lions 33-24. It was the second time Powers has attended an Ohio State game this fall.
“It was really good. It was amazing, really, there were a ton of people,” Powers told Eleven Warriors this week. “Just getting back around the (other recruits) and future teammates and stuff like that. Seeing people who are about to commit or would like to commit, it was really good getting around everyone and hang out with them.
“You see them running out of the tunnel, the smoke and the fans going crazy. It definitely gets you very excited to get there.”
Powers interacted with plenty of fellow recruits on the visit and said he especially focused on recruiting 2023 offensive line target Luke Montgomery, mostly due to the friendship Powers and Montgomery have built over the years.
“We’re really trying to get him,” Powers said.
The 6-foot-4, 230-pound linebacker says he talks almost every day to Ryan Day and lauds his relationship with linebackers coach Al Washington. The relationships he’s built with the coaching staff have only reaffirmed his commitment to the Buckeyes.
“When you get there and it feels like home, it’s very reassuring,” Powers said.
The Marysville standout also said he’s watched OSU’s defense progress throughout the year and has been impressed by the schematic changes.
“It’s been really fun,” Powers said. “A complete change from the beginning of the year. It’s been great seeing it.”
Powers said he plans to enroll early at Ohio State to participate in spring practice, but first he is focusing on trying to win a state championship for Marysville, as the 10-0 Monarchs face Perrysburg in the second round of the Ohio high school playoffs Friday night.
“Right now I’m only focused on high school and trying to focus on accomplishing what we want to accomplish,” Powers said. “We’ve had to overcome a lot of things with our program, so we’ve pushed through it and overcome it. We still haven’t played our best football yet, so we’ll see.”
Reaction to Padilla commitment
In case you missed it, Ohio State landed its second commitment of the 2023 class Thursday with the commitment of in-state offensive lineman Joshua Padilla.
Of course, the usual suspects were pleased by the news.
BMMMM pic.twitter.com/KJ1QXNtzl7
— Mark Pantoni (@markpantoni) November 4, 2021
HUGE BM! #OLINEPRIDE pic.twitter.com/cBz6iZZjN1
— Kennedy Cook (@CoachCookOL) November 4, 2021
BM! #OLINEPRIDE#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/qY9digOT8P
— Greg Studrawa (@CoachStudOL) November 4, 2021
Padilla became the second commitment in OSU's 2023 class, joining four-star tight end Ty Lockwood. Lockwood, who has said he plans on helping recruit other players to Ohio State, was quick to greet his future teammate.
LETS GO! Just the start https://t.co/fAZE74ePKz
— Ty Lockwood (@TyLockwood7) November 4, 2021
Several other 2023 recruits who are high on Ohio State's want list were paying attention.
BOOM!! https://t.co/3g71jgrxmR
— Carnell Tate (@carnelltate_) November 4, 2021
yessir ! https://t.co/MQ169R3ju7
— Zachariah Branch (@zachariahb03) November 4, 2021
Congrats Josh! https://t.co/vABbrbasMI
— Luke Montgomery (@lukeMonty8) November 4, 2021
For what it's worth, some guy named Sonny Styles also retweeted Padilla's original commitment tweet.
McDonald reflects on visit
After he was offered by the Buckeyes in September, 2023 defensive lineman target Kayden McDonald visited Ohio State for the first time last Saturday. He didn’t leave disappointed, according to 247Sports.
“It was surreal, too lit,” McDonald told 247Sports. “I really can’t even describe the vibe. The skull session, the game seeing the DL score was crazy. Best game day experience by far.”
On his visit, McDonald interacted with both Day and defensive line coach Larry Johnson. An hour before the game, McDonald hung around five-star 2022 defensive end target Omari Abor.
The Georgia resident has 13 Division I offers to this point, including Georgia, Tennessee, Michigan, Michigan State, Ole Miss and Wisconsin.
