I’m not usually one to give life advice, but allow me to impart some small wisdom to anyone listening: If you’re an Ohio State recruiting writer, try your best to avoid taking vacations in the month of June, even if your best friend is getting married.
Kidding aside, a Monday following a big OSU official visit weekend after you’ve been gone for a few days is certainly one of the busier catch-up days you’ll have on the beat. Especially when there was another commitment on the way soon after Ty Lockwood and Luke Montgomery teased as much on Twitter Monday afternoon.
— Luke Montgomery (@lukeMonty8) June 27, 2022
Stay tuned in today Buckeye Nation!
— Ty Lockwood (@TyLockwood7) June 27, 2022
And wouldn't you know it, they were right. Four-star Georgia cornerback Kayin Lee committed to the Buckeyes Monday evening.
With that, let’s catch up on all the biggest recruiting news from last week.
Mathews sets commitment date for Friday
Ohio State will soon get its answer whether it did enough to land one of its top remaining cornerback targets in the 2023 cycle. Four-star cornerback Jermaine Mathews dropped a top 6 consisting of Ohio State, Penn State, Oklahoma, Jackson State, LSU and Cincinnati on Wednesday. Shortly after his list was revealed, he also picked up an offer from Alabama.
AGTG ! The Decision July 1st Tune in pic.twitter.com/VHO2oXbVR2
— Jermaine Mathews Jr (@Jr2Maine) June 22, 2022
What’s more, the 6-foot, 175-pound Ohio cornerback has set a commitment date for 2 p.m. on Friday and will make his college selection at a public ceremony at Winton Woods High School. Ohio State seems to be a clear front-runner for his recruitment, but all will be revealed by the end of the week.
Mathews picked up his OSU offer on June 1 after excelling at Ohio State’s first recruiting camp. His performance was so impressive that Dan ranked him as his second most impressive prospect he saw in the Buckeyes’ entire June camp cycle and was bolstered by the fact that nearly 10 Ohio State players were in attendance cheering him on and screamed “offer him” after his reps.
“It felt really good,” Mathews told Eleven Warriors after receiving his offer. “It’s really hard to explain because it’s something you’ve been waiting on for so long. And then when it happened, it’s just like, wow. (Day) said I earned it.”
Mathews said an OSU offer would change his recruitment “a lot” and in four days, we’ll learn if he decides to commit to the school he grew up rooting for.
“Just growing up in Ohio, everybody wants to go to Ohio State. Everybody just dreams of playing for Ohio State and getting recruited by them. And now, my dream is coming true,” Mathews said after his camp performance.
Bonsu to commit Aug. 20
Another OSU defensive back target has set a commitment date, but it will be later this summer before any decision is made.
Fresh off an official visit to Ohio State June 17-19, four-star New Jersey safety Jayden Bonsu dropped a top five of Miami, Michigan State, Ohio State, Penn State and Alabama on Saturday. He will make his college decision on Aug. 20.
5. Who can show the most love ?!https://t.co/Jiwim7f9WF pic.twitter.com/hOpharsL6g
— Jayden Bonsu (@JaydenBonsu) June 25, 2022
Ohio State has two safeties committed in the current cycle with Cedrick Hawkins and Malik Hartford, and would take up to four in 2023 from any combination of Caleb Downs, Joenel Aguero and Bonsu. Bonsu is very intriguing as a prospect, as he’s versatile enough with his speed and frame to where he could either play safety or linebacker in college.
“I’d do anything to help the teams that I play for,” Bonsu told Eleven Warriors in May.
Bonsu also says that he and OSU safeties coach Perry Eliano try to communicate at least once per week. With two months remaining in Bonsu’s recruitment, the Buckeyes remain in a good position to land the New Jersey product.
Green, Hoffler commit to Clemson
Two Ohio State 2023 defensive line targets have made commitments elsewhere.
Four-star prospects Stephiylan Green and AJ Hoffler both pulled the trigger and committed to Clemson last week, setting the pair of Georgia prospects up to be teammates with the Tigers.
All in@Hayesfawcett3 @ClemsonFB pic.twitter.com/9uHdW40agB
— Stephiylan Green (@stephiylan) June 22, 2022
COMMITTED!! Happy Birthday Mom @CkHoffler pic.twitter.com/RQw7fnZxfI
— AJ Hoffler (@yungajh) June 21, 2022
Green canceled his OSU official visit scheduled for the June 17 weekend and the Buckeyes had been slowly drifting away from Hoffler the past few months, so neither commitment is terribly surprising.
The Buckeyes remain involved in several defensive line targets, a list that includes John Walker, Darron Reed, Keon Keeley, Matayo Uiagalelei, Damon Wilson, Desmond Umeozulu and Jason Moore.
