The All-American Bowl has come and gone.
Ohio State was well-represented, with 11 signees and commits who were selected to play in the game and seven who were actually able to play after a slew of COVID-19 positive tests. Defensive lineman Caden Curry and wide receiver Kyion Grayes made the biggest headlines from the week with their performances, and deservedly so, but four-star offensive lineman signee Tegra Tshaobla held his own as well.
Tshabola, a Lakota West standout, played primarily left guard for the East team in both practices and the game itself on Saturday.
“It was a pretty good experience,” Tshabola told Eleven Warriors Saturday of his time at the All-American Bowl. “I had a good time competing out here and getting better. I was just grinding every day and trying to improve.”
Tegra Tshabola holds up in pass protection at left guard. pic.twitter.com/MLCUDOom4w
— Garrick Hodge (@Garrick_Hodge) January 8, 2022
Tshabola and Curry, who looked like the West team’s best defensive player for the week, went at it in positional drills and for a few plays in Saturday’s game. The first rep Tshabola was paired against Curry was in a joint practice on Jan. 4. Tshabola tossed Curry to the side like a rag doll, then Curry won the next two reps. They faced each other again for several plays on Saturday, all of which could essentially be called a draw.
Caden Curry and Tegra Tshabola going at it. pic.twitter.com/lJ9sqgEdAL
— Garrick Hodge (@Garrick_Hodge) January 8, 2022
“He’s a really talented player,” Tshabola said of Curry. “He’s going where he’s going for a good reason. We got after it. He got me a couple, and I got him a couple. We just helped each other get better throughout this whole week.”
Tshabola was also pleased with the news Ohio State landed a heavily coveted target, 2022 four-star defensive tackle Hero Kanu.
“I had a couple chances to talk with him at some Ohio State games and at the hotel before (he tested positive for COVID-19),” Tshabola said. “I saw that coming a little bit, definitely excited to have him.”
Tshabola is hoping one more recruit joins him in the 2022 class: Four-star Georgia defensive tackle Christen Miller. Miller was in San Antonio for All-American Bowl week, but did not participate in the game due to a leg injury. He was still at every East practice, giving Tshabola and other OSU recruits some time to sell him on Ohio State.
“Yeah,” Tshabola said with a wry smile. “We talked to him. Stay tuned.”
A few months ago, Tshabola originally planned on going straight from the All-American Bowl to Columbus to enroll early. But he wasn’t able to make that work and will instead enroll in June now.
“Just timing, we had a couple timing issues,” Tshabola said. “There were also a couple of things I wanted to accomplish before I went.”
Eleven Warriors also spoke with Tshabola on Saturday regarding the firing of Greg Studrawa, a few days before the hire of new offensive line coach Justin Frye became official. Tshabola couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed that the Buckeyes moved on from Studrawa.
“It’s definitely a tough one to take,” Tshabola said. “I mean, he played a big part in my commitment. I was looking forward to playing for coach Stud, but we’ll just have to see what happens next and take it step-by-step.”
Tshabola remains committed to Ohio State.
“I’m signed, so I’m going,” he said Saturday. “Go Bucks.”
Hale to visit OSU
One of Ohio State’s priority wide receiver targets for the class of 2023 plans to take an official visit to Columbus this year. Texas five-star wideout Jalen Hale told 247Sports this week he’s unsure when the visit will take place, but he’s confident it will happen.
“It’s going good with coach Hartline,” Hale told 247Sports. “I’m trying to figure out my official visits, but I know Ohio State will be one of them, most definitely. Alabama will probably be one too. The others I don’t know yet.”
Hale was offered by Ohio State in February 2021. He’s considered to be the nation’s 30th-best prospect and the fourth-best receiver in the class of 2023, per 247Sports' composite rankings. Other premier 2023 wide receiver targets are Brandon Inniss and Carnell Tate.
OSU offers Rogers
Speaking of 2023 wideouts, Ohio State extended an offer to four-star wide receiver Noah Rogers on Wednesday.
Blessed and honored to receive an offer from The Ohio State University@brianhartline pic.twitter.com/52WSX3Aot6
— Noah Rogers (@noah1rogers) January 12, 2022
He is the 10th wideout the Buckeyes have offered in the 2023 class.
In 15 games as a junior for Rolesville High School (Rolesville, North Carolina), Rogers caught 70 passes and amassed 1,432 receiving yards and 22 touchdowns. Rogers is ranked as the 55th-best player nationally, the 10th-best wideout and the No. 1 player from the North Carolina in the 2023 class.
Rogers now has 20 Division I offers including Kentucky, Louisville, North Carolina State, North Carolina, Florida State, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oregon, Penn State and Tennessee.
Fitzpatrick excited by Frye hire
Ohio State officially announced Frye as its new offensive line coach on Tuesday afternoon. When the hire was first reported on Monday, offensive lineman commit Carson Hinzman told Eleven Warriors he was excited to meet with Frye.
Offensive line signee George Fitzpatrick, who has already enrolled at Ohio State, echoed a similar sentiment about Frye on Twitter Tuesday.
Lets work coach! https://t.co/H7yRALp1wl
— George Fitzpatrick (@georgefitz88) January 11, 2022
Frye now has to prove himself as a recruiter as Ohio State builds its offensive line recruiting class of 2023, but he’s at least energizing Ohio State’s incoming crop of freshman offensive linemen.
