Four-star defensive lineman Jalen Thompson’s recruit is starting to wind down.
Earlier this week, the 2023 Michigan prospect announced a top five of Ohio State, Michigan State, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and Penn State.
Top5#AGTG @recruitgfx pic.twitter.com/qV8gURiFXr
— Jalen Thompson (@__4jalen) July 9, 2022
“I would say it’s a dream school and Chase Young is someone I model my play style after,” Thompson told Eleven Warriors of why he included OSU in his top five. “I kind of look up to him to this day. Also to be great, you have to be coached by the best and I feel like coach Johnson is one of the best defensive line coaches in the country. The academic side of things at Ohio State is great too.”
Thompson earned his OSU offer after an impressive camp with the Buckeyes on June 1. He’s been in weekly contact with defensive line coach Larry Johnson.
“I talk to him once a week for sure,” Thompson said. “The main thing he really cares about is my well-being and seeing how I’m doing on the field and how practice is going. He talks about how he wants me to get back down there and how he wants me to be on his team.”
Thompson plans to return to Ohio State later this month, and a decision could come shortly after that.
“I talked to coach Johnson and he said they open back up (for visits) between the 25th and the 29th,” Thompson said. “I’ve talked with my mom about when we can do that. We’re working on what’s the best date to get down there.”
Earlier this summer, the 6-foot-3, 245-pound defensive end took official visits to Cincinnati and Pittsburgh. He will also visit Michigan State and hopes to take a visit to Penn State before making a decision.
“I really want to do it either at the end of July or early August,” Thompson said of his commitment. “I want (to go somewhere) that I have a relationship with and it feels like family. Somewhere that will help me on and off the field and somewhere that will best develop me as a football player.”
Wilson includes Buckeyes in top five
Four-star 2023 defensive end Damon Wilson has narrowed his recruitment to five schools. The 6-foot-4, 230-pound Florida prospect announced a top five of Alabama, Ohio State, Texas, Miami and Georgia on Wednesday.
Wilson has not scheduled an official visit to Ohio State as of yet but hinted he may make one for the season opener against Notre Dame. He told 247Sports this week all five of his top schools are “pretty much even” and he will likely make a decision in November or December.
“If you are an edge rusher, that’s a school you got to look at,” Wilson told 247Sports of OSU. “Just going into a meeting with (coach Johnson) on my visit, he had everything laid out for me. He wants you to be an All-American and get good grades. It’s more than just football with him. He’s a really good person.”
Gullette puts OSU in top three
Ohio State is among three finalists for 2023 four-star Texas linebacker Derion Gullette, along with Texas and Texas A&M. Although he released his top three Thursday, he has yet to set a commitment date.
I want to thank all the coaches that have been recruiting throughout this process and that has believed in me and my talents! But with that being said, these are the schools that Im focusing on! pic.twitter.com/I7cXrJzliJ
— Derion Gullette (@DerionGullette) July 14, 2022
Gullette took an official visit to OSU on June 10 and enjoyed his time in Columbus.
“The visit was great,” Gullette told Eleven Warriors in June. “Got to really learn more about the Buckeyes and understand their culture. They made a great impression on me, I love how coach Day is all about development. That’s big for me.”
The 6-foot-2, 220-pound linebacker also took an official to Texas on June 24. While he hasn’t taken an official visit to Texas A&M, he’s visited the Aggies multiple times.
OSU would like to take two linebackers in the current cycle and are eyeing Troy Bowles, Tackett Curtis and Arvell Reese as top targets. While Gullette included OSU in his top 3, Texas is the heavy favorite to land him.
