The first of seven June recruiting camps for high school football players at Ohio State gets underway Wednesday at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center.
While this year’s camps might not lure quite as many top prospects to Ohio State as last year’s did after the COVID-19 dead period that kept recruits and coaches off the road for nearly 18 months, there’s still plenty of interesting prospects scheduled to work out with OSU this month.
Wednesday’s camp will include three promising tight ends who all could be on OSU offer watch: 2023 three-star Jackson McGohan, 2023 three-star Vance Bolyard and 2024 four-star Tayvion Galloway. The Buckeyes have been searching for a second tight end to add to its 2023 cycle for months, and if either McGohan or Bolyard picks up offers Wednesday, either could be a candidate to fill that spot.
The most intriguing prospect participating in Ohio State’s first camp is rising freshman defensive end Tyler Atkinson, whose recruiting stardom is already starting to flourish although he hasn’t even started high school yet. But four-star 2023 defensive lineman Zavion Hardy is closer to college and is a legit prospect in his own right. Hardy is heading to camp determined to pick up an OSU offer, and he’s racked up 20 already from a list of schools that includes USC, Georgia, South Carolina, Florida, Auburn, Michigan, Michigan State and Miami.
Ohio State may have to get creative with its 2023 quarterback plans, but four-star Baylor commit Austin Novosad will camp Wednesday and could be a legit option for the Buckeyes to pursue. Ohio cornerbacks Jermaine Mathews (2023) and Aaron Scott (2024) could also be on offer watch with strong performances. Four-star 2024 safety/linebacker Garrett Stover, the cousin of current Ohio State tight end Cade Stover, will also camp with the Buckeyes.
Here’s a list of some of the prospects expected to work out at each camp this month, with more names likely be added to later dates as the month progresses. Names have been compiled from a combination of our own intel, reports from other outlets and announcements from recruits themselves.
- June 1: Jackson McGohan (2023 tight end), Vance Bolyard (2023 tight end), Zavion Hardy (2023 defensive lineman), Austin Novosad (2023 quarterback), Jermaine Mathews (2023 cornerback), Layth Ghannam (2023 offensive lineman), Tayvion Galloway (2024 tight end), Aaron Scott (2024 cornerback), Jaylen Watson (2024 wide receiver), Garrett Stover (2024 safety/linebacker), Jo’Ziah Edmond (2024 wide receiver), Cameron Frazier (2024 wide receiver/safety), Colton Gumino (2025 quarterback), Stratton Fuller (2025 wide receiver), Tyler Atkinson (2026 defensive end)
- June 6: Justin Henry (2023 offensive line), Jordan Hall (2023 offensive lineman), Nigel Smith (2024 defensive lineman), Tyler Tusai (2024 quarterback), KJ Bolden (2024 safety), Luca Puccinelli (2024 tight end), Tory Blaylock (2025 running back), Austin Alexander (2025 defensive lineman), Emaree Winston (2025 tight end), Jordan Cleaves (2026 WR)
- June 7: A.J. Pugliano (2024 tight end), DJ Pickett Jr. (2025 safety), Jake Cook (2025 offensive lineman), Tavien St. Clair (2025 quarterback)
- June 14: Lucas Simmons (2023 offensive lineman), Jordan Hall (2023 offensive lineman), Kofi Taylor-Barrocks (2023 linebacker), Nikola Milovac (2023 defensive lineman), Luke Hamilton (2024 offensive lineman), Jakorion Caffey (2024 running back), Christian Bentancur (2024 tight end), Samuel Ehret (2024 defensive end), Landon Canady (2025 defensive lineman)
- June 15: Ben Roebuck (2024 offensive lineman), Tyseer Denmark (2024 wide receiver), Kristopher Jones (2024 linebacker), Reggie Powers (2024 safety), Maddox Arnold (2025 linebacker), Weston Port (2025 linebacker), Brodie McWhorter (2026 quarterback), Amar’e Miller (2026 wide receiver and defensive back)
- June 16 (7-on-7 camp): Jeremiah Smith (2024 wide receiver), Ryan Montgomery (2025 quarterback), Tavien St. Clair (2025 quarterback)
- June 21: Kylan Fox (2024 tight end), Demetrius John (2024 defensive end), Jaden Ball (2024 offensive line), Jake Cook (2025 offensive line)
Harbour picks up OSU offer
Ohio State offered two offensive linemen recruit in the 2024 cycle on Monday. The more renowned of the two is four-star Wisconsin prospect Donovan Harbour, who received his offer from offensive line graduate assistant Mike Sollenne.
I am truly blessed to have received an offer from @OhioStateFB and @CoachSollenne can wait to get down there! @Rivals_Clint @AllenTrieu @cmhfootball #AGTG pic.twitter.com/Eas5ZoqnL8
— Donovan Harbour (@donovan_harbour) May 31, 2022
Wisconsin isn’t normally a recruiting pipeline for the Buckeyes, as only three Wisconsin-born players have ever signed with Ohio State. However, the third-ever Wisconsin prospect to join OSU did so in the last recruiting cycle in freshman offensive lineman Carson Hinzman, so perhaps some inroads are being made with linemen in the Badger State.
Harbour is ranked as the 244th-best prospect and the 11th-best interior offensive lineman in the 2024 class, per 247Sports’ composite rankings. The 6-foot-5, 310-pound lineman has picked up 14 Division I offers thus far including Boston College, Cincinnati, Iowa, Michigan State, Minnesota, Oregon, Penn State, Tennessee and Wisconsin.
Cruz gets offer from Buckeyes
Texas offensive lineman Daniel Cruz, who does not yet have a composite ranking, was the other 2024 prospect to pick up an OSU offer Monday. Offensive line coach Justin Frye called Cruz to extend the offer to him.
After an amazing call with @CoachJFrye I am beyond blessed to say I have received an offer from Ohio State University #GoBucks @CoachHiles @FiveStrongOLine @GedKates pic.twitter.com/KkyWbp3wBh
— Daniel Cruz (@DanielCruz_51) May 30, 2022
The 6-foot-3, 285-pound Cruz has landed 15 Division I offers so far including Arizona State, Arkansas, Baylor, Colorado, Florida State, Mississippi State, Oklahoma, TCU and Texas Tech. Cruz helped lead Richland High School (North Richland Hills, Texas) to a 6-4 record last season.
