One of Ohio State’s priority wide receiver targets has locked in a spring visit to Columbus.
Florida four-star wide receiver Bryson Rodgers, who is originally from Warren, Ohio, announced on social media he will visit OSU on March 8.
When he spoke with Eleven Warriors earlier this month, Rodgers said his first priority for March was to take a trip to OSU. A few weeks later, the 6-foot-2, 170-pound wideout is honoring his word.
I will be visiting The Ohio State University on March 8th! @brianhartline @CoachKee #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/AT38DDo1yS
— Iam_uno (@IBryson13) February 20, 2022
“Coach Hartline and my family talked about getting up there when they’re having spring practices so I can get the campus and facilities tour while also watching them live at practice,” Rodgers said earlier this month. “I'm getting everything I could ask for that way. That’s definitely something that’s been discussed and we’ll definitely be in Columbus this coming March.”
Visiting Ohio will be nothing new for Rodgers, who spends six to eight weeks every year visiting friends and family in Warren.
“I’m still an Ohio boy at heart,” Rodgers said. “I grew up an Ohio State fan and love watching Big Ten football. I love Ohio State considering the offense they run and the culture they have. What it means to be an Ohio State Buckeye is what I grew up on. I’ll always love ‘em, so I definitely grew up a fan.”
The visit will be his first to Ohio State since Rodgers received his offer on Jan. 26, when Brian Hartline stopped at Wiregrass Ranch High School (Zephyrhills, Florida) twice throughout the day and eventually presented the opportunity.
“It was a dream come true,” Rodgers said. “There's definitely a great bond between myself and coach Hartline. It’s amazing just getting to know him more and how he puts his players in the best position to succeed. He asked my offensive coordinator and my D-line coach questions about my character and the type of person that I am. He even talked to my family on FaceTime and he said ‘I was trying to find things not to like, and I couldn’t find them.’ Hearing that was awesome. He coached some great dudes all throughout the program and was a NFL wide receiver himself, so it’s like a dream come true and now I’m just taking it step-by-step.”
According to 247Sports’ composite rankings, Rodgers is ranked as the 306th-best prospect and the 41st-best wide receiver in the 2023 class. Lining up at both outside and slot receiver for Wiregrass Ranch last year, Rodgers caught 42 passes for 645 yards with 14 receiving touchdowns.
After Rodgers announced his visit plans, Ohio State’s newest peer recruiter was sure to encourage him to attend OSU in the future.
— Luke Montgomery (@lukeMonty8) February 20, 2022
Pellum hopes to visit OSU in the spring
One of Ohio State’s 2024 wide receiver targets hopes to make his first-ever trip to Columbus this spring.
Four-star 2024 California wide receiver Ryan Pellum told Eleven Warriors Monday he hopes to visit OSU in either March or April for a spring practice.
“I want to see the city, campus and facilities,” Pellum said.
The Buckeyes offered Pellum on Dec. 27 while the Buckeyes were in California preparing for the Rose Bowl. OSU had texted Pellum’s brother the evening before a scheduled practice and encouraged them to attend the Buckeyes’ practice the next day. At the practice, Ryan Day told Pellum’s brother OSU was going to offer him a scholarship. The Long Beach, California, resident was overjoyed.
“It felt really good when my brother announced it to me,” Pellum told Eleven Warriors in December.
Pellum, who said he has not spoken with OSU since the Buckeyes offered him in December, is considered the 56th-best prospect and the 12th-best receiver in the 2024 class, according to 247Sports’ rankings. He has already racked up close to 40 Division I offers including USC, Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Miami, Notre Dame, Oregon, Penn State, Purdue, Tennessee, Texas and Texas A&M.
West looks sharp at Best of Midwest combine
Around one week before NFL hopefuls are scheduled to showcase their talents for prospective teams interested in drafting them, a group of high school prospects had their own showcase in Indianapolis at Monday’s Best of The Midwest Combine.
Participants at the combine included 2024 in-state cornerback Bryce West, who was offered by Ohio State in December.
Cleveland Glenville 2024 CB Bryce West at @BOTMWCombine https://t.co/OuJK4fqyFp pic.twitter.com/adsEz0LVqy
— Steve Wiltfong (@SWiltfong247) February 21, 2022
West told Eleven Warriors after receiving his offer that the Buckeyes were the No. 1 school on his list at that point.
“I’ve always been an Ohio State fan growing up,” West told Eleven Warriors.
It would be a good bet that the Glenville High School prospect will visit Columbus at some point this spring.
