Landon Pace arrived in Columbus 21 days ago at an Ohio State recruiting camp with a mission.
The 2025 tight end wanted to prove he was worthy of an offer to play at Ohio State. Of course, the Buckeyes have always held a special place in Landon's heart, and for good reason.
He's the son of legendary Ohio State left tackle Orlando Pace, a former two-time unanimous All-American selection. His older brother, Jalen Pace, is entering his second year as a walk-on linebacker with the Buckeyes.
After camping with the Buckeyes on June 8, Landon said a chance to continue his father's legacy at Ohio State would be greatly appreciated.
“That'd be awesome to me. That’d mean the world,” Pace said. “That'd be great.”
An offer didn't come after he attended Ohio State's third recruiting camp and worked with tight ends coach Kevin Wilson for more than two hours. But on Tuesday, Ohio State gave Landon the opportunity he so desperately coveted and extended an offer to him.
Blessed to receive an offer from THE Ohio State University. @OSUCoachKDub @ryandaytime @OhioStateFB @CoachAdamCruz1 @SLUHfootball pic.twitter.com/eqXJb1xqvp
— Landon Pace (@LandonPace9) June 28, 2022
OSU was Landon's fourth offer, with Mizzou, UConn and West Virginia making up the other three. Before he camped at OSU, Pace said he had been communicating with Wilson for a few months.
“We have a pretty good bond right now. It's only gonna get stronger from here,” Pace said of Wilson. “He really cares about the athlete or the football player. So I really like that about him.”
Pace currently resides in St. Louis and plays both linebacker and tight end for St. Louis University High School, though Ohio State is exclusively recruiting him as a tight end.
Seeing as he's only entering his sophomore year, Pace is in no rush to make any sort of college decision any time soon. But with his longstanding family connections, the Buckeyes figure to be a huge player for Pace in his recruitment. The 6-foot-2, 216-pound tight end visited OSU for the Buckeyes' spring game on April 16 and said he plans on returning to Columbus for the season opener against Notre Dame on Sept. 3.
“It means a lot to me,” Pace said when asked what Ohio State means to him. “Growing up here going to games like that, so just to be out here and to compete is a blessing.”
