Landon Pace was all smiles on June 28.
Three weeks after he had camped at Ohio State, the 2025 Missouri tight end received a call from OSU tight ends coach Kevin Wilson with exciting news: he would be receiving an offer from the Buckeyes.
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
“I was expecting it because both coach Day and coach Wilson really liked how I performed there,” Pace told Eleven Warriors of the offer. “(Coach Wilson) was telling me that he liked my body control and my footwork. He’s recruiting me for me, and not for like my legacy or anything.”
While Wilson is recruiting Pace for the player he is, his family certainly has left a large legacy in Columbus. 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.
“He was pumped,” Landon said of his father reacted when he found out about the OSU offer. “He wanted me to take my time though and said the decision is mine to make. So there’s no pressure at all.”
Orlando has been one of Landon’s biggest influences on the football field and in life, and his father has passed down some of his techniques.
“Just some blocking techniques and how to be a smarter player and make better decisions on the field and handle the little things,” Landon said of how his father has helped him grow as a player.
Sitting at 6-foot-2, 200 pounds, it’s probably no surprise considering his bloodlines Pace considers himself further along as a blocker than a pass-catcher at the moment.
“I’d say right now, I’m more of a blocker,” Pace said. “But I’m developing into more of a pass-catcher.”
OSU’s offer was Pace’s fifth total, joining UConn, Boston College, West Virginia and Missouri.
“I really have to learn patience in a situation like this,” Pace said of his recruitment. “Just learning patience is going to be the biggest thing with this process.”
Pace visited OSU on April 16 for its spring game and again in June to work out with the Buckeyes during a recruiting camp. It’s likely more visits are on the horizon in coming years.
“That really would be special,” Pace said of potentially playing for OSU one day. “Just to play on the same field as them and stuff like that, that would be awesome.”
Bowles puts OSU in top 3, sets decision date
One of Ohio State’s priority linebacker targets in the 2023 cycle has set a decision date. Four-star Florida linebacker Troy Bowles will pick between Ohio State, Georgia and Oklahoma on July 16.
BREAKING: The Nations No. 2 LB Troy Bowles is down to 3 Schools!
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) July 6, 2022
The 61 205 LB from Tampa, FL will announce his college decision on July 16th.
More Here (FREE): https://t.co/usPFz7mZ3f pic.twitter.com/eRqsKETQQS
Bowles has long been a priority target for Ohio State dating back to last year and the 6-foot-1, 205-pound linebacker took his official visit to Columbus on June 24-26. While three schools remain for Bowles, it’s believed to be a two-team race between OSU and Georgia for Bowles, with the Bulldogs sitting as the frontrunner 10 days before his decision. Bowles, the son of Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles, is considered the 44th-best player nationally and second-best linebacker in 247Sports’ composite rankings.
Other linebacker targets this cycle for OSU include Tackett Curtis, Arvell Reese and Raul Aguirre.
Carr commits to Georgia
If there’s one position Ohio State certainly doesn’t need an ounce of help recruiting, it’s wide receivers. Nevertheless, one of OSU’s 2024 wideout targets has come off the board. Four-star Georgia product Ny Carr announced Tuesday evening he’d be staying home and committed to his hometown Bulldogs.
I would like to let the world know im committed to the University of Georgia!. go dawgs @KirbySmartUGA @CoachBmac_
— Ny Carr (@NyCarr1) July 6, 2022
OSU still has plenty of premier targets to choose from in the 2024 cycle, including Jeremiah Smith, Micah Hudson, Joshisa Trader, Ryan Pellum, Tyseer Denmark and Mylan Graham.
