Ohio State is keeping an eye on a rising Ohio linebacker in the 2025 class.
Maddox Arnold is currently in his second year playing varsity football for Cincinnati Elder, and the 6-foot-2, 208-pound linebacker attended his first Ohio State game on Oct. 1 when the Buckeyes hosted Rutgers.
“It was incredible, my first time at a game in The Shoe,” Arnold told Eleven Warriors. “They knew my name when I showed up. Waiting outside to get in, inside, the people that came up to me knew my name. I pay attention to that. I could see myself there, playing there. I noticed how many guys from Cincy was on the team, Jakob James and Joe Royer played at Elder too.”
Arnold spoke with OSU graduate assistant Koy McFarland, who has been his main recruiter from OSU, on his visit and said the two had a “great talk and good connection.”
Had a great time @OhioStateFB today! Had a great talk wit @CoachKMcFarland, My host was great every1 made me feel like they wanted me there! 1st time in The Shoe was amazing! Thanks @CoachKMcFarland @N_Murph @OhioStateFB for having me.. cant wait to come back! #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/1PSj7NxPFE
— Maddox Arnold (@MaddoxArnold_37) October 2, 2022
Oct. 1 was Arnold’s third trip to Ohio State, as he participated in Ohio State recruiting camps in each of the last two summers.
“I was at camp this past June and was the only underclassman pulled into a small group of seven by coach Jim Knowles and coach McFarland out of five larger linebacker groups,” Arnold said. “Coach McFarland pulled me and my dad back and talked after camp this summer. They said they were interested in me and wanted to bring me to a game. He isn’t allowed to talk to me right now but I could call and tell him what game I was coming to.”
While on the visit, McFarland told Arnold he was impressed with how much Arnold has grown in the past few months and liked what he saw on film. Now that OSU is on a bye week, McFarland told Arnold he’ll likely take another look at his film to evaluate further.
No one from OSU has told Arnold what specific role he may play if he were to become a Buckeye, but he has been told by other colleges he could play inside linebacker, outside linebacker or even safety.
At the moment, Arnold holds one Division I offer from Purdue that he picked up in September. He’s hoping to eventually receive one from the team he grew up cheering for.
“I’d have no words. Awesome, insane,” Arnold said of how he’d feel about getting an offer from OSU. “Ohio State is one of my dream schools. It’s a dream for everyone to play there, so an offer would be a dream. My relationship with the coaches and football program community is most important to me.”
Arnold believes he has many assets he will bring to a college football program.
“I am coachable,” Arnold said. “I’m the hardest worker in the room. I focus on just doing my job. I think that’s kinda rare for my age. I play fast, I’m strong, I can run sideline to sideline, use my hands pretty good, I can take on blocks and makes plays. I can play inside. I read good and fill. I can play outside, I can cover. I have a high football IQ for my age and around the ball.”
Frye visits Moore
Ohio State coaches are taking advantage of the open week by hitting the recruiting trail. Justin Frye’s focus on Monday was on a key 2024 target, four-star offensive lineman Ian Moore. Moore confirmed to Eleven Warriors that Frye indeed stopped by New Palestine High School (New Palestine, Indiana).
Thanks to Ohio States @CoachJFrye for stopping in yesterday on fall break to watch our Dragons lift before practice. #WinTheDay
— Kyle Ralph (@NPCoachRalph) October 11, 2022
“He’s starting to feel like family,” Moore said of Frye after his second visit to OSU this fall in September. “Him and (graduate assistant) coach (Mike) Sollenne.”
Moore attended the OSU contests against both Notre Dame and Wisconsin earlier this season and is planning to make a commitment soon. His final four schools in consideration are OSU, Wisconsin, Iowa and Nebraska. With a commitment coming sooner rather than later, it’s no surprise Frye would make visiting Moore a priority this week.
“I’m basing (my decision) on a collective of things,” Moore said earlier this month. “How far is it, will my family be taken care of, academics, recruits and the least important is the coaches but they still make an impact on my decision.”
Wilson visits Pringle
Moore wasn’t the only priority offensive line target in the 2024 class to get a visit from OSU on Monday. Offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson traveled to South Carolina to visit four-star offensive tackle Kam Pringle at Woodland High School (Dorchester, South Carolina), according to 247Sports.
Pringle received his offer from Ohio State in March after visiting Columbus for a spring practice. The 6-foot-7, 330-pound tackle hopes to make a game visit to OSU sometime this fall.
