One of the more impressive offensive linemen to work out with Ohio State over the summer only came from a state away.
Indiana four-star 2024 offensive lineman Ian Moore dominated the Ohio State camp he attended on June 15 and left Columbus with an offer. Moore said Ohio State’s offer was appealing, particularly because of his Midwest roots and the powerhouse program the Buckeyes have established.
“It felt amazing to get it,” Moore told Eleven Warriors after getting the offer in June. “When coach Day told me, I was speechless. He just told me I had a great day at camp and they really like me and told me I had an offer. If I had to rank (where the offer stands), it’d be pretty high on my list.”
The 6-foot-5, 295-pound prospect arrived on campus a few days earlier and got to tour the facilities and campus.
“I've been to plenty of places and like, this is one of the most impressive ones I've been to,” Moore said of Ohio State.
While camping with OSU, Moore took reps at both left and right tackle in one-on-ones and even lined up at guard occasionally. Moore said he hadn’t lined up at left tackle since the sixth grade and hadn’t ever played guard except for a few reps in various camps, so it was a bit of an adjustment, but he held his own anyway. The Indiana product primarily plays right tackle for New Palestine High School (New Palestine, Indiana). It’s unclear what position he’ll play at the collegiate level.
Ian Moore (@IanMoore2024) with a nice rep in one-on-ones. pic.twitter.com/GL7QHf9PvJ
— Garrick Hodge (@Garrick_Hodge) June 15, 2022
“Coach Frye says I have the size to really play anything,” Moore said.
Moore, considered the 102nd-best prospect in 2024 per 247Sports’ composite rankings, has started to build a strong bond with Frye.
“It was just extremely knowledgeable to learn from him,” Moore said of Frye. “And he was just, like, kind of like teaching pro-style offense. Like he was just kind of teaching that instead of like what you learn playing for high school. He's teaching us to play from the pros and colleges.”
Alinen to commit next week
Ohio State's top remaining offensive tackle target in the 2023 class, Olaus Alinen, announced Friday he'll make his college commitment in one week, choosing from a final five of Ohio State, Miami, Alabama, Oregon and Georgia on July 22.
JULY 22ND, TUNE IN!!! #GoCanes #RollTide #GoDawgs #GoBucks #ScoDucks @Hayesfawcett3 pic.twitter.com/nHd4nYE7o8
— Olaus Alinen (@alinen_olaus) July 15, 2022
Unfortunately for OSU, Alinen's recruitment appears to be heading in the wrong direction, with a flurry of 247Sports Crystal Ball projections cast for Alinen to land at Miami. Should Alinen land elsewhere as expected, it remains to be seen whether OSU would pivot to four-star Maryland offensive tackle Oluwatosin Babalade, who commits on July 31, or try to re-connect with a more highly ranked prospect such as South Carolina product Monroe Freeling.
Montgomery brothers to visit for Notre Dame game
There will be no shortage of premier recruits on hand for Ohio State’s season opener against Notre Dame on Sept. 3.
Both 2023 offensive tackle commit Luke Montgomery and Ryan Montgomery, Luke’s younger brother and a OSU 2025 quarterback target, will be in attendance according to their father, Mike Montgomery. It won’t be the only OSU game they attend this fall.
“Luke will be at most games,” the elder Montgomery said. “The plan is to bring Ryan to the Notre Dame and Michigan games.”
Ryan also plans to be at Wisconsin on Sept. 10 and Tennessee on Sept. 24, with other visits still to be determined.
Luke visited Ohio State multiple times this summer. He went through a private workout with Justin Frye and fellow 2023 commits Ty Lockwood, Austin Siereveld and Joshua Padilla at a recruiting camp in June, then also came to support Findlay and his brother during the team’s seven-on-seven competition at OSU later that month.
Bowles, Thurman to commit this weekend
Two of Ohio State’s high-priority targets in the 2023 class will make their commitments this weekend. Four-star Florida linebacker Troy Bowles will commit Saturday, while four-star tight end Jelani Thurman is scheduled to make his decision Sunday. Both are currently at the Under Armour Future 50 football camp in Florida.
Bowles will choose from a final three of Ohio State, Georgia and Oklahoma. Georgia is the frontrunner to land Bowles.
“These are my final three not necessarily because they have been showing me the most love, but they have been very consistent with me even after staff changes and everything," Bowles told 247Sports. "They still have shown that they want me a lot and basically based on scheme and people, those are the three schools that I like the most.”
Meanwhile, Thurman is down to Alabama, Auburn, OSU and Michigan State, but it’s really more of a race between the Buckeyes and Spartans.
“I’m basically down to the last two schools and it’s just like, wherever I make my decision now is where I feel I will make the biggest impact and be seen the most,” Thurman told On3.
Programming note: I will be on vacation next week, so the Hurry-Up will not run as scheduled. Eleven Warriors will continue to keep you informed on any recruiting news that happens while I am away.
