Ohio State has only started recruiting four-star 2024 defensive end Eddrick Houston over the last few weeks.
But the relationship between Houston and the Buckeyes is already growing after OSU safeties coach Perry Eliano visited Houston in his hometown of Buford, Georgia, and extended an offer on Jan. 20.
“I met (Eliano) and he gave me the offer,” Houston told Eleven Warriors. “He told me about my film and how they liked it. They said they liked my work ethic and wanted to offer me.”
Houston has played both tight end and defensive end for Buford High School, but the Buckeyes are interested in his talents on the defensive side of the ball.
“I was shocked that my film was able to get me that type of offer,” Houston said. “It just shows that my hard work is paying off … I’ve been looking at Ohio State since Chase Young was there. I did some research when I was younger about the kids that developed at Ohio State and went to the NFL. They’re still doing what they were doing in college in the league, and that really caught my eye.”
The 6-foot-3, 210-pound defensive end is a four-star recruit ranked by 247Sports as the 82nd-best player and the fifth-best edge rusher in the 2024 class. He helped lead Buford to a 14-1 season last year and both an adept run stopper and a strong pass-rusher.
“I want to make sure the pressure is on the QB so he won’t be able to sit in the pocket and be able to make a good read,” Houston said.
Houston currently has 10 Division I offers, including Alabama, Florida State, Georgia, Michigan State and Ole Miss. He says he does not yet have any top schools at the moment and is still waiting to see what other offers he receives before narrowing down his list, but heaped praise on Ohio State defensive line coach Larry Johnson and his track record.
“I love the way Larry Johnson coaches and the way he develops kids,” Houston said.
Houston hopes to visit Columbus later this year.
“I hope to,” he said. “At least during the summer, I would love to get up to Columbus and see the campus and talk to the coaches.”
Maggs commits to Ohio State
The Buckeyes have added some much-needed quarterback depth for 2022. Mason Maggs, a product of nearby Dublin Coffman High School in Dublin, Ohio, committed to the Buckeyes on Saturday as a preferred walk-on and will join C.J. Stroud, Kyle McCord and Devin Brown this summer in OSU’s quarterback room.
O-H! #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/30cpfIAfJ8
— Mason Maggs (@masonmaggs) January 29, 2022
Maggs, who does not hold a 247Sports composite ranking, is a legacy recruit, as he’s the son of former Ohio State offensive lineman Bob Maggs. In his senior season at Dublin Coffman, Maggs threw for 1,786 yards, ran for 861 yards and scored 30 total touchdowns. The 6-foot-3, 205-pound quarterback also played with 2023 defensive tackle commit Will Smith Jr. at Dublin Coffman.
Ohio State had two walk-on quarterbacks last season in Jagger LaRoe and J.P. Andrade, but neither of them are returning for the 2022 season. LaRoe has transferred to Texas A&M-Commerce while Andrade is also in the transfer portal.
Knowles visits Curtis again
Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles is making it known quickly who one of his top linebacker targets for the class of 2023 is.
Knowles flew down to Many, Louisiana, on Jan. 18 to extend an offer to 6-foot-2, 218-pound four-star linebacker Tackett Curtis. Ohio State’s newly hired assistant coach flew back down south on Friday to make a second visit to see Curtis, who is the nephew of Many High School head coach Jess Curtis.
We appreciate Ohio State DC @CoachJimKnowles for flying back to Many High school today! We appreciate him for making time to get back to by our school and recruiting our kids! #ManyMade #GoBucks #Buckeyes pic.twitter.com/jmhPhLP5fr
— Jess Curtis (@coach_jcurtis) January 28, 2022
Curtis is ranked as the 64th-best prospect and the fifth-best linebacker in 247Sports’ composite rankings for the 2023 class. In 13 games for Many High School (Many, Louisiana) this past season, Curtis racked up 103 total tackles (12.5 for loss), a sack, an interception and a fumble recovery. Curtis also played both ways, as he was the team’s quarterback in a run-first offense, rushing for 494 yards on 43 carries with three rushing touchdowns.
Tackett has more than 40 Division I offers including Arkansas, Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oklahoma State, Oregon, Oklahoma, Texas A&M and USC.
