Newly hired Ohio State safeties coach Perry Eliano had plenty of familiarity with a rising four-star wide receiver from Texas dating back to his Cincinnati tenure.
Eliano flew from Ohio to Texas on Jan. 18 to visit 6-foot, 186-pound wideout Micah Hudson at Lake Belton High School (Temple, Texas).
“Coach Eliano came down from Ohio. I went to my coach’s office, and he and I had a great conversation,” Hudson told Eleven Warriors. “He just told me how I would fit there, what I could look forward to in academics and things of that nature. After we were done talking, he just let me know I received an offer from Ohio State.”
Eliano had been Hudson’s lead recruiter at Cincinnati, so it only made sense for Eliano to be Hudson’s introduction to Ohio State.
“I’d say (Eliano is) pretty good because he’s a man of his word,” Hudson said. “He showed that he really cared about me coming down all the way from Ohio just to see me. I think that’s a pretty big factor on someone wanting to go somewhere, is loyalty with somebody they can trust. Someone that’s straight up and real.”
Hudson is ranked as the 63rd-best player and the 13th-best wideout in the 2024 class, according to 247Sports. He said a recruiter from Texas has compared his playing style to former Ohio State wide receiver Garrett Wilson.
“I can see myself playing (at Ohio State) because I lot of people say I have similar play to Garrett Wilson,” Hudson said. “I think it would be a great fit for me to go there. They’re definitely in the top five for me.
“I’ve been watching them for a while, but I didn’t think they would offer me. It’s crazy and unbelievable. It feels good, because that’s a big school and it shows my hard work is paying off and not to get complacent.”
In nine games as a sophomore, Hudson caught 45 passes for 851 receiving yards with five touchdowns. He views himself as an outside wide receiver.
“If I go the slot, it’s usually a quick play, like a corner route or something,” Hudson said. “Just to get some separation for a first down if it’s like a fourth down situation. But I’d primarily say outside.”
Hudson is in the early stages of his recruitment, but he already has an idea of what he’s looking for in a college.
“(A place that makes) me feel like I’m at home,” Hudson said. “People actually caring and trying to get to know me instead of looking at me as just a football player.”
Hudson hasn’t done much traveling outside of the state of Texas, with Florida being the only other state he’s visited in his life. That may change soon, though.
“Hopefully I can get up to Columbus,” Hudson said. “Coach Eliano said that he’d try and get me up there, so hopefully it all works out. I know it’s going to be a good time.”
Johnson picks up Ohio State offer
Ohio State added another cornerback to its offer list on Tuesday afternoon. Three-star 2023 Florida cornerback Dijon Johnson picked up an offer from Ohio State and running backs coach Tony Alford on Tuesday, calling it a “dream offer.”
AGTG!
— Dijon Johnson (@DijonJohnson13) January 25, 2022
Extremely blessed to receive my Dream Offer from THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY! @CoachTonyAlford @CoachLikeMike @Coach_Baham @DemetricDWarren #GetMore pic.twitter.com/SVRczBhpLw
Johnson is ranked as the 407th-best prospect and the 42nd-best cornerback in the 2023 class. The 6-foot-1, 180-pound standout currently holds 24 Division I offers, a sheet that includes Florida, Florida State, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Michigan State, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Penn State, Tennessee, Texas A&M and USC. In 10 games for Wharton High School (Tampa Bay, Florida) last season, Johnson racked up three interceptions, one fumble recovery, 10 pass deflections and 12 total tackles. Ohio State plans on taking at least two cornerbacks in the class of 2023, and their top targets remain five-stars AJ Harris and Cormani McClain.
Lester adds Buckeyes offer
Ohio State extended an offer to one of the top-rated cornerbacks in the class of 2024 on Tuesday. Four-star Florida cornerback Charles Lester III announced he had been offered by the Buckeyes on Tuesday.
WOW!!! Highly Blessed to receive a OFFER from THEE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY #gobuckeyes #OhioState @CoachTonyAlford @RamsRhsFootball @jsmithers33 @RWrightRivals pic.twitter.com/s1zrOynCsO
— 4charles CL3 lester III (@clester_ktk) January 25, 2022
Lester is ranked as the 30th-best prospect and the fourth-best cornerback in the 2024 class. Ohio State is only the fourth Division I school to offer him, following Indiana, Florida State and Michigan State.
Day, Frye visit Okunlola
Newly hired Ohio State offensive line coach Justin Frye has been a busy man on the recruiting trail. Last week, Frye stopped in New Jersey to visit four-star offensive tackle Chase Bisontis. Bisontis told Eleven Warriors Frye planned to be back to visit Bisontis on Monday, this time alongside Ryan Day.
Day and Frye continued their East Coast offensive line tour by also visiting four-star Massachusetts offensive lineman Samson Okunlola on Monday, according to 247Sports. Okunlola, who was offered by Ohio State in May, is planning to visit OSU in the spring, per 247Sports. The 6-foot-6, 295-pound Okunlola is the No. 36 overall prospect and the third-highest-ranked offensive tackle in the 2023 cycle.
