Ohio State has had some notable recent misses on the defensive side of the ball in recruiting, but the Buckeyes appear to have turned the recruitment of one defensive player back in their favor.
Four-star New Jersey safety Jayden Bonsu has always been a top priority for Ohio State to land in the 2023 cycle. That became even more true when Caleb Downs committed to Alabama in July. On Thursday, four 247Sports Crystal Ball predictions were cast for Bonsu to land at Ohio State.
Bonsu recently announced a commitment date of Aug. 14, almost a month later than his original commitment date of July 20. Had Bonsu stuck with his original commitment date, he was almost certainly trending toward Miami. But OSU seems to have captured momentum back with the Garden State prospect.
I will be committing August 14th at 4pm , any media that is interested in streaming the event please contact me or @coachnazoliver Where is Home? pic.twitter.com/VUdysBAzYI
— Jayden Bonsu (@JaydenBonsu) July 30, 2022
Should Bonsu commit to the Buckeyes on Aug. 14, he’d be their third safety commit of the 2023 class.
“He’s big and physical, but he can still run really well,” Bonsu’s coach, Rich Hansen, told Eleven Warriors in May. “Everybody is looking for those guys that kind of have the best of both worlds in terms of length and physicality but still have those unique types of skill sets.”
Perlotte confirms Notre Dame visit
One of Ohio State’s early top linebacker targets in 2025 has scheduled a return visit to Columbus. Georgia linebacker Jadon Perlotte confirmed with Eleven Warriors he plans on visiting OSU for the season opener against Notre Dame on Sept. 3.
Perlotte, who already has 26 Division I offers, picked up his OSU offer after camping with the Buckeyes on June 14. He was on OSU’s radar months before then, when defensive coordinator Jim Knowles studied his film, then requested Perlotte attend a camp in June.
BLESSED TO RECEIVE AND OFFER FROM THEE OHIO STATE @ryandaytime @CoachJimKnowles @CoachM_Patrick @MattGuerrieri @CoachKMcFarland @Coach_Eliano @CoachTimWalton @N_Murph @CoachMcGrath22 pic.twitter.com/YoZgrxQU5k
— Jadon Perlotte 64 LB 2025 (@Jadon_Perlotte5) June 14, 2022
After seeing him in person, Knowles and Day pulled the trigger on offering the 6-foot-4, 205-pound linebacker.
“Coach Day told me I’m one of their top priorities in the 2025 class,” Perlotte said after receiving his offer in June. “(Ohio State is) definitely top-three right now. It’s a family culture. I love it.”
Gullette to commit Friday
Another domino is set to fall with an Ohio State defensive target in the 2023 cycle. Four-star Texas linebacker Derion Gullette announced Friday he’s ready to choose a school and will commit at 4 p.m. Friday (Gullette lives in Teague, Texas, which is in the Central time zone).
Committing Friday at 3 !
— Derion Gullette (@DerionGullette) August 4, 2022
Gullette will choose between a final three of Texas, Texas A&M and Ohio State. Texas is the heavy favorite heading into the decision.
Ohio State would certainly take the 6-foot-2, 220-pound target should he change his mind, though, as the Buckeyes have yet to land a single linebacker commitment in 2023 and top target Tackett Curtis committed to USC last month.
Gullette took an official visit to Columbus the weekend of June 10-12 and told Eleven Warriors he enjoyed his visit.
“The visit was great,” Gullette said 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.”
Babalade reschedules decision for Friday
The final remaining 2023 offensive line target that took an official visit to Ohio State this summer is set to make a commitment. Four-star Maryland offensive tackle Oluwatosin Babalade will make his college decision at 2 p.m. Friday.
Friday!!!!
— Oluwatosin Babalade (@_Bigtree23) August 3, 2022
@ 2
Babalade took an official visit to Columbus June 17-19, but OSU is not expected to be the pick heading into decision day. The DeMatha Catholic product is expected to pick between South Carolina and Maryland.
Ohio State currently has four offensive linemen committed in the 2023 cycle and may stay at that number unless it can find a premier offensive tackle to add to its class this fall.
