In Monday’s Hurry-Up, we highlighted how much five-star defensive end Keon Keeley was beaming when he walked out of the tunnel and onto Ohio Stadium’s field. Probably the only recruit that could have matched his excitement from an initial pure joy standpoint seeing the field and crowd for the first time was four-star Georgia defensive end KingJoseph Edwards.
While taking a few steps toward the field, Edwards had an ear-to-ear grin, cell phone in hand, capturing video of everything he was taking. Upon initially entering, he humored a fan’s request from the stands to take a selfie with him.
The love be so real too! dont tell nobody but I think Ill be back 11/26! But keep that between me and you b0$$ https://t.co/swLaMotGcS
— KingJoseph Edwards (@KingjosephE) September 4, 2022
He then watched Ohio State start its season on the right foot by taking down Notre Dame 21-10.
“This was my second visit. It’s always a pleasure when I’m at Ohio State,” Edwards told Eleven Warriors. “I got on campus around 11 a.m. I saw the team, spoke to coach Day and coach Johnson and watched them do walkthroughs and team meetings. It was a really good day.”
When people ask me what my relationship is like with @ryandaytime I smile. U cant hear him in this video but he spoke to me about adversity and being prepared for it when you are as great as me. Told me dont fold keep pushing! #IAmKing pic.twitter.com/i4YKwn3jpP
— KingJoseph Edwards (@KingjosephE) September 4, 2022
Saturday was the first time recruits could watch Jim Knowles’ scheme play out in person at Ohio State. If Week 1 is any indication, it lived up to everything Edwards thought it would be and more.
“Their defense is next level,” Edwards said. “Very strong and persistent. I want to keep working so I can perform at the level that they do.”
The 6-foot-5, 242-pound Edwards spoke with both Day and Johnson on his visit and said he appreciated Johnson’s message to him and added it resonated with him when he left Columbus.
“The highlight of my trip was speaking to coach Johnson about hard work and staying mentally locked in no matter what God challenges me with,” Edwards said. “Coach day told me adversity is a way of life and don’t fold. He told me to stay focused, and everything will work out in my favor.”
Yall know him @EzekielElliott former @OhioStateFB currently resides with @dallascowboys #DallasCowboys #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/oKkkDUlagB
— KingJoseph Edwards (@KingjosephE) September 5, 2022
Edwards has already locked in his next visit to Columbus. He said he plans to attend OSU’s rivalry game with Michigan on Nov. 26 for his third visit to Ohio State.
Scott picks up an Ohio State offer
Ohio State has entered the race for one of the premier defensive tackles in the 2024 class, extending an offer to five-star Chicago defensive lineman Justin Scott on Monday.
Proud to be offered by THEE Ohio State University! #GoBuckeyes @IgnatiusFB @Rivals_Clint @ChadSimmons_ @CoachMmiller15 @AllenTrieu pic.twitter.com/1C6TtzoQHb
— Justin Scott (@juustinscott) September 6, 2022
According to 247Sports’ composite rankings, Scott is considered the 28th-best player and the third-best defensive lineman in the 2024 class. The 6-foot-5, 310-pound defensive tackle has 26 Division I offers in total, including Auburn (which he also picked up Monday), Cincinnati, Illinois, Iowa, Iowa State, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas A&M, USC and Washington.
Raiola dazzles in season opener
Last Thursday, Eleven Warriors reached out to a plethora of 2024 recruits inquiring whether or not they had heard from Ohio State, as Sept. 1 was the first day college coaches are allowed to directly contact junior recruits with texts, calls or emails. Five-star 2024 Ohio State quarterback commit Dylan Raiola was one of the many prospects we contacted. He quickly responded by saying he hadn’t even gone through all his text messages yet because he was focusing solely on his high school’s season opener the next day and wanted to make sure getting a win was his top priority.
That mindset is probably one of the many reasons Ryan Day was so enthralled with Raiola in the first place, considering Day also mentioned multiple times last week he’d be putting recruiting on his secondary list of priorities behind preparing to beat Notre Dame. Nevertheless, Raiola’s enhanced focus seemed to pay off, as Chandler High School (Chandler, Arizona) cruised to a 63-7 win over Cathedral Catholic on Friday.
Raiola completed 16 of 19 passes for 277 yards, three touchdowns and one interception in the win. He also added a rushing touchdown on the ground.
After a blocked punt, Chandler scores again. Dylan Raiola goes in from 1-yard out. 13-0 Chandler, 2:31 Q1. pic.twitter.com/cOpJ1wj7xY
— Bodie DeSilva (@SDPreps) September 3, 2022
Dylan Raiola connects with Kaden Anderson for a 15-yard touchdown. Chandler leads 7-0, 4:34 Q1. pic.twitter.com/w5qTtv3qBt
— Bodie DeSilva (@SDPreps) September 3, 2022
Dylan Raiola finds Kaden Anderson again, this time for an 11-yard touchdown. Chandler leads 42-7, 2:57 Q3. pic.twitter.com/uwHABYrKRF
— Bodie DeSilva (@SDPreps) September 3, 2022
Dylan Raiola made this throw look easy. Escapes pressure, finds Destin Johnson for a 78-yard score.
— Zach Alvira (@ZachAlvira) September 3, 2022
27-0 Wolves | 3:41 2Q #VXLive #HonorBowl pic.twitter.com/mg2D2NAVXD
On Saturday, Raiola flew to Columbus to be in attendance for Ohio State’s season-opening win against the Fighting Irish. He also continued to be a prolific peer recruiter on social media.
You know what it is @peypey_wood https://t.co/6jqnZxGcDL
— Dylan Raiola (@RaiolaDylan) September 5, 2022
Zone 6!! https://t.co/vDKbiZaqyN
— Dylan Raiola (@RaiolaDylan) September 5, 2022
