It’s not like four-star California 2024 linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa had never been to Columbus before.
Before visiting for last weekend’s season opener, the St. John Bosco (Bellflower, California) product had visited Ohio State twice, once in the spring and another in the summer of 2021. But last weekend was different.
Viliamu-Asa, the first recruit the Buckeyes offered in the 2024 cycle, had never attended a game at Ohio Stadium before and wanted to experience a gameday atmosphere in Columbus. After visiting with two of his school teammates, five-star 2024 safety Peyton Woodyard and five-star 2023 defensive end Matayo Uiagalelei, Viliamu-Asa got the experience he was looking for and more.
“I had a great time, and I was definitely looking forward to seeing the game environment because this was the first time I had been to a game out there,” Viliamu-Asa told Eleven Warriors of his Notre Dame visit.
The 6-foot-3, 225-pound linebacker watched Jim Knowles’ defense closely Saturday night, trying to visualize how he might fit into the scheme years down the road as a collegiate linebacker. He was impressed with how versatile the linebackers were utilized in the system.
At the shoe tonight pic.twitter.com/irXRChH2Oq
— Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa (@AsaViliamu) September 3, 2022
“It was also a first look at the new defense to see how I would fit,” Viliamu-Asa said. “But I like the way Knowles uses his linebackers, and the defense definitely has a lot of speed.”
Viliamu-Asa has always been intrigued by the Buckeyes and was told a month after the new defensive staff changes were implemented by Ohio State senior advisor and analyst Matt Guerrieri that the new regime is still very interested in him as a player. He said his spring visit to Columbus felt like “a home away from home.”
A decision on his recruitment likely won’t come until sometime after his junior season, and he’ll probably take another visit to Ohio State before committing.
Rudolph impressed with OSU’s defense
Viliamu-Asa wasn’t the only notable defensive prospect in attendance Saturday.
Four-star defensive end Elias Rudolph also made the trip to Columbus for the Notre Dame game and was blown away by what he saw from the new-look Buckeyes.
“I’ll keep it short and simple, I saw hungry dogs in a big environment playing football for four quarters,” Rudolph told Eleven Warriors of OSU’s defensive performance against Notre Dame.
Rudolph is considered the 181st-best prospect and 18th-best edge in 2024 according to 247Sports’ composite rankings. He received his Buckeyes offer on June 1 after attending an Ohio State recruiting camp.
“I ain’t a fan of too many schools, but I'm a fan of Ohio State,” Rudolph said in June.
Seaton gets OSU offer
Ohio State has offered its seventh offensive lineman in the 2024 cycle. OSU offensive line coach Justin Frye extended an offer to four-star Washington D.C. offensive lineman Jordan Seaton Wednesday, who boasts a 6-foot-6, 295-pound frame.
Blessed to receive an offer from The Ohio State University!!#GoBucks #Buckeyes @CoachJFrye pic.twitter.com/Wwq47bzGKJ
— Jordan Seaton (@JordanSeaton_) September 7, 2022
Seaton is considered the 128th-best prospect in the 2024 class and the eighth-best interior offensive lineman, per 247Sports’ composite rankings. He’s picked up 27 Division I offers thus far, including Boston College, Clemson, Florida State, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Maryland, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Oregon, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas A&M, UCF, USC, Virginia, Virginia Tech and West Virginia.
