In addition to 2023 four-star defensive lineman Jalen Thompson, Ohio State hosted another prospect last week once the recruiting dead period lifted.
Three-star 2024 three-star Florida offensive lineman Jake Guarnera made his first visit to Columbus on July 27, getting a more personal experience because he was the only recruit on campus. He toured the facilities, met with academic and player development personnel and of course offensive line coach Justin Frye. He finished his visit with a photoshoot, a campus tour and a stadium tour.
Excited to be visiting THE Ohio State University tomorrow! @CoreyDennis_ @CoachJFrye @ryandaytime @alexgleitman @Bill_Kurelic @MattParkerLR @Garrick_Hodge @Birm pic.twitter.com/akSHsLHxx4
— Jake Guarnera (@GuarneraJake) July 26, 2022
It was Guarnera’s first team meeting Frye, as quarterback coach Corey Dennis had been his primary recruiter up until that point because he had visited Guarnera’s high school in the spring.
“He came down to visit our school in the spring and my coach got in contact with him,” Guarnera told Eleven Warriors. “(Coach Dennis) said they really liked my film and they really wanted to get me up there for a visit.”
Guarnera currently holds 11 Division I offers, including from Florida, Floria State, Rutgers, Penn State, Michigan, NC State and Virginia. He does not yet hold an offer from Ohio State, but when he met with Frye, he was given tips to help his development.
“He gave me feedback on my film,” Guarnera said. “He told me about his four B’s: Base, bend, balance, burst. That’s just something he preaches to his offensive linemen technique wise. He told me I have to play with more bend, so he was using one of those four B’s to evaluate offensive linemen. He said I had a good base and great balance, I just need to play with a little more bend and work on my burst, and that will come with maturity.”
Though it was his first time meeting Frye, he said he looks forward to continuing to grow the relationship over the next couple of months.
“He said when September 1st rolls around we’re going to be talking on a weekly basis,” Guarnera said. “He just wants to see me play with more bend and see how I do against my opponents this year.”
The 6-foot-3, 290-pound Guarnera said most college coaches are recruiting him as an interior offensive lineman, even though he plays left tackle for Ponte Vedra High School (Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida).
“This camp circuit this June, I was getting reps at most center and guard. Guard is almost similar enough to tackle, it’s just a different mindset and set point you want to get to. It’s a lot quicker action than tackle. At center, snapping the ball and having the guy right on top of you was an adjustment. But I think I handled it fine.”
Guarnera has some football roots in his family, with his father playing defensive line for Rutgers from 1991-1995. The Guarnera family lived in Toms River, New Jersey, until 2015. The 2024 prospect insists he has plenty of interest in Ohio State.
“They’re a great football program, they’ve got a lot of tradition and are a playoff and national championship contender every year,” Guarnera said.
Dylan Stewart confirms visit for The Game
One of Ohio State’s top defensive line targets in the 2024 class has locked in his next visit to Columbus. Top 50-prospect Dylan Stewart told Eleven Warriors he plans on visiting OSU on Nov. 26 when the Buckeyes host Michigan.
Stewart, who was offered by OSU in January, attended OSU’s recruiting camps on June 6 and was one of the more athletic players in attendance. Stewart said in June his interest in OSU is a “10” on a scale of 1-to-10 and said OSU has told him they envision him playing a “Chase Young role” in college.
Dylan Stewart (@Dylan1Stewart_) takes his turn through the hoop drill. pic.twitter.com/TNC5F1qcOo
— Garrick Hodge (@Garrick_Hodge) June 6, 2022
“We have the same body type,” Stewart said after the camp.
Viliamu-Asa says he’ll attend season opener
The very first offer Ohio State extended in its 2024 class was to linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa. The four-star California linebacker has obviously long been a priority target for the Buckeyes in the 2024 cycle. He confirmed to Eleven Warriors his next visit to OSU will be on Sept. 3 for the home opener against Notre Dame.
Viliamu-Asa last visited OSU on April 20-21 and called Columbus “a home away from home.” His St. John Bosco teammate, five-star 2024 safety Peyton Woodyard, will also be in attendance for the OSU v. Notre Dame game.
Had a great time back in Columbus lil bro had a blast too. Thank you @OhioStateFB @MattGuerrieri @CoachKMcFarland @ryandaytime pic.twitter.com/SrSWWrSf3D
— Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa (@AsaViliamu) April 22, 202
