A week has come and gone since Ohio State finished its spring football slate with its spring game on April 16.
OSU assistant coaches now turn their attention to getting back on the road recruiting with full force through May 31 as part of the spring evaluation period. But as spring football concludes, there’s still a few lingering questions regarding Ohio State football recruiting.
We delve into those questions below.
Can Ohio State seal the deal with Austin Siereveld?
The recruitment of four-star 2023 Ohio offensive lineman Austin Siereveld is winding down. The 6-foot-5, 315-pound prospect recently put out a top three of Notre Dame, Ohio State and Alabama, though it really seems like a two-team race between Notre Dame and Ohio State at this point.
Siereveld visited Columbus for OSU’s spring game last weekend, and offensive line coach Justin Frye visited him at his school earlier this week. On Saturday, Siereveld was in South Bend for Notre Dame’s spring game. While Siereveld could certainly extend things into the summer and take official visits to each, it seems like a resolution is coming here sooner rather than later. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him wind up at either Ohio State or Notre Dame at this point.
If not Richard Young, who will be Ohio State’s second RB in 2023?
Ohio State has already landed the commitment of four-star Florida 2023 running back Mark Fletcher, but the Buckeyes hope to take two running backs in the current cycle. The Buckeyes’ top two targets have been Florida products Richard Young and Cedric Baxter, but Baxter is headed in a different direction. He put out a top five list Saturday and left the Buckeyes off, leaving a fair question of where OSU will turn to if it can’t reel in Young.
— Cedric C4 Baxter Jr (@CedricBaxterJr1) April 23, 2022
While Young has received a 247Sports Crystal Ball projection in Alabama’s favor, OSU still can’t be discounted to land the 5-foot-11, 200-pound back. Young’s relationship with running backs coach Tony Alford is as strong as any, and he has visited Ohio State three times over the past year. Young has an OSU official visit scheduled for late June, and plans to make a commitment sometime before the start of his senior year. If the Buckeyes are going to land Young, it’s likely going to happen because of that visit.
But should Young go to Alabama, Georgia or anywhere that isn’t Ohio State, perhaps the Buckeyes ramp up their pursuit of Justice Haynes or Daylan Smothers. While he does not hold an OSU offer at this time, Ohio product Willtrell Hartson has made numerous visits to Columbus over the last year and Alford has scouted the Massillon product in person, so perhaps he gets a late offer.
Of course, there’s always the option OSU just rides with Fletcher as its lone back for the current cycle if the Buckeyes can’t find another player they are comfortable taking to pair alongside the bruising Florida tailback.
Will offensive tackle recruiting pick up more momentum?
While offensive tackle has been Ohio State’s biggest glaring positional need for the 2023 class, it’s been pretty quiet for the most part on that recruiting front.
To start with the good news, Ohio State has certainly established itself as a contender for four-star 2023 offensive tackle Olaus Alinen, who took a visit to Columbus in March and has already scheduled an official visit for late June.
THE FINAL FOUR #AGTG @Hayesfawcett3 pic.twitter.com/HxjrBjmdrF
— Olaus Alinen (@alinen_olaus) April 1, 2022
However, top targets Chase Bisontis and Samson Okunlola did not end up making it to campus this spring after both originally planned to make visits. Ohio State also spent a long time recruiting four-star Florida tackle Payton Kirkland, but he left the Buckeyes off his top five earlier this spring.
The Buckeyes shouldn’t be written off for either Bisontis or Okunlola yet, but getting both on campus for an official visit in June is crucial if OSU wants a chance to land either.
OSU offered four-star Texas lineman Ian Reed last week, and his family spent nearly a week in Columbus for the spring game, so clearly there’s mutual interest there. But he also holds offers from programs such as Alabama, Clemson, Texas, Texas A&M and USC. Reed will likely take his recruitment into the fall, so OSU will have to stay persistent with Reed if it hopes to land him considering the relationship is fairly new.
Thank you @CoachJFrye @CoachSollenne and @OhioStateFB for a great week in Columbus, it was an Awesome trip definitely coming back! @RecruitVandyFB pic.twitter.com/3OUj4iitr0
— Ian Reed (@Ian_Reed72) April 17, 2022
Three-star Indiana product Trevor Lauck has visited Ohio State numerous times over the past year, so he could certainly be another option to fill out the recruiting class.
Who is the next Ohio State commit?
One day after its spring game, Ohio State landed two commitments in a single day: Wide receiver Bryson Rodgers and cornerback Dijon Johnson. With those two in the fold, the natural question is who’s next?
Could it be Siereveld, or perhaps 2024 five-star quarterback Dylan Raiola, who took two visits to OSU this spring? Or will it be someone else entirely? Stay tuned, as there were plenty of prospects who liked what they saw during their Ohio State visits this spring that could decide they’re ready to become Buckeyes sooner than later.
