Ohio State is approaching one of the biggest recruiting weekends during Ryan Day’s tenure.
More than 60 visitors are expected this weekend, including 13 five-star recruits in the 2023 and 2024 classes. That’s not even counting several highly-touted prospects from the 2025 class, where recruiting services have not yet delved out five-star rankings.
In addition to the pressure Ohio State faces to perform against a top-five opponent in Notre Dame out of the gate, the Buckeyes will also have the opportunity to make strong cases to players they believe could be finishing pieces for the 2023 cycle and jumpstart the 2024 class.
“We've had conversations leading up to this game about a lot of our recruits coming to this game, and it's been exciting for them,” Day told reporters on Tuesday. “We are going to have a big number here. I think most of the conversation leading up to the game has been the recruiting. Now it's time to go play the game and just allow them the opportunity to see what an atmosphere at Ohio State is like, playing in Ohio Stadium. It's a top 10 matchup, ESPN game, you know, just the whole atmosphere, just take it all in and then picture themselves being on that field.”
Through Saturday evening, Day fully expects his coaching staff to focus on beating the Fighting Irish. But the following day, he believes there will be ample opportunities for face-to-face time with recruits and their families. Hosting visitors on Labor Day weekend also potentially allows prospects to fly home on Monday instead of leaving on Sunday as they would on a typical weekend.
“All the focus is going to be on the game,” Day said. “We have a great recruiting staff that's going to do everything they can to make sure they put on a great show and be great hosts for our recruits. But time will be limited. Maybe after the game on Sunday, we'll have some time to catch up. But we got to focus on Notre Dame.
“We have a lot of people flying in from different parts of the country. They play on Friday night, and they're able to come in on Saturday because it's a night game, so this is unique that way, and we have big numbers. And I say all the time, every time you come to visit it's a different experience. This one is about watching the atmosphere and watching a game at Ohio State.”
Lacy hopes to attend OSU game in September
An Ohio State running back target in the class of 2024 is hoping to find a weekend to visit campus later this month. Three-star Texas prospect Kewan Lacy told Eleven Warriors he wants to attend an OSU game sometime in the next three weeks of September.
The 5-foot-11, 195-pound running back picked up his offer from Ohio State on June 11 after a breakout sophomore season where he ran for 1,402 yards on 137 carries while scoring 13 touchdowns for Lancaster High School (Lancaster, Texas).
He currently holds 19 Division I offers, including Alabama, Baylor, Boston College, California, Houston, Indiana, Miami, Michigan State, Oregon, Purdue, SMU, TCU, Tennessee and Utah.
Freeling commits to Georgia
Four-star 2023 South Carolina offensive tackle Monroe Freeling did not pick Ohio State Monday evening when he announced his commitment. Instead, he will play for the defending national champion Georgia Bulldogs.
BREAKING: Four-Star OT Monroe Freeling has Committed to Georgia!
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) August 29, 2022
The 67 295 OT from Mount Pleasant, SC is ranked as a Top 35 Player in the 23 Class (No. 5 OT)
More Here (FREE): https://t.co/FBfTJVedwa pic.twitter.com/UnAOqQexSD
Freeling included Ohio State in his top seven that he released earlier this year. However, he never visited campus in the spring or summer. With Luke Montgomery, Austin Siereveld, Joshua Padilla and Miles Walker already committed, the Buckeyes may be content finishing their 2023 class with those four unless a path forms to landing another highly-touted offensive tackle.
