One of the fastest-rising linebackers in the 2025 class has locked in a visit to Ohio State for the Buckeyes’ Oct. 22 game against Iowa.
Georgia linebacker Mantrez Walker confirmed to Eleven Warriors he’ll be taking a two-day trip to Columbus in a little more than a week.
“I’m extremely excited to go on the trip to Ohio State,” Walker said. “I’ll be on a two-day visit and I’m mostly looking forward to the environment and game atmosphere. I’ll get a chance to sit down and meet with coach Jim Knowles and coach Ryan Day. Hopefully, they offer me, I expect them to based off what the staff has been telling me.”
I WILL BE AT THE LEGENDARY OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY OCTOBER 22TH ! #GoBucks #BIA @CoachM_Patrick @ryandaytime @CoachJimKnowles @MattGuerrieri @CoachKMcFarland @Coach_Eliano @CoachTimWalton @CoachMcGrath22 @OhioStateFB @Coach_Davis22 @JaYHay08 pic.twitter.com/okPCtL3GaW
— Mantrez Walker (@MantrezWalker) September 28, 2022
Walker holds close to double-digit Division I offers, including the likes of Arkansas, Duke, Florida, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Ohio, South Carolina, UCF and Virginia Tech. The 6-foot, 210-pound linebacker said OSU has been recruiting him since the beginning of spring, with quality control coach Miguel Patrick and Director of Recruiting Strategy Nick Murphy serving as his two main recruiters. Both Patrick and Murphy have told Walker they are interested in his physical and mental makeup as a player and see him as a middle linebacker at the next level.
“Coach Patrick and I talk about every other week, I’ve also talked to coach Murph a lot and he has really sold me on Ohio State,” Walker said. “I’m actually considering committing on the spot if they offer me down there. It would mean the world (if they offered), they’ve been one of my dream schools since I was young.”
Walker is high school teammates at Buford (Buford, Georgia) with a pair of five-star 2024 prospects the Buckeyes have high on their recruiting board; safety KJ Bolden and defensive end Eddrick Houston. They've also offered 2025 Buford five-star linebacker Jadon Perlotte. Walker said he’s talked about Ohio State “a lot” with both Houston and Bolden.
You Know What We On Brotha @Jadon_Perlotte5
— Mantrez Walker (@MantrezWalker) September 17, 2022
@lilymcgphoto @GDPsports pic.twitter.com/TiUyLWbpLR
“They have texted the coaches about me as well, and they said it’s one of their top schools,” Walker said.
Walker’s visit is about a week away, and he’s already anticipating what he’s going to see when he walks out of the tunnel and onto Ohio Stadium's field.
“Playing in front of 100,000 fans every home game and building a legacy as one of the best linebackers to ever come out of the school,” Walker said when asked what would be the most appealing thing about playing for the Buckeyes one day.
Taumua picks up OSU offer
Ohio State has extended an offer to another offensive lineman in the 2024 cycle. Four-star Hawaii prospect Preston Taumua picked up an offer from OSU Wednesday. While Justin Frye offered Taumua for his football talents alone, it surely can’t be a downside to have a potential future recruiting trip to Hawaii on the docket after this season.
BLESSED!! I am honored and blessed to have received a BIG TIME offer from @OhioStateFB!!
— Preston Taumua (@PrestonTaumua) October 13, 2022
@CoachJFrye @ryandaytime @N_Murph @Coach_Cass @ZMauga50 @Da1AndOni @atown_media @LiiliiMika @BrandonHuffman @bangulo #GoBuckeyes pic.twitter.com/v53JmqUA1z
Taumua does not yet hold a 247Sports composite ranking but is considered a four-star prospect, the 200th-best player and the 11th-ranked interior offensive lineman in 2024 per the recruiting network. Ohio State was the 6-foot-4, 315-pound offensive lineman’s fourth Power Five offer along with Arizona, Oregon and Utah and he’s also been offered by FCS program Northern Arizona.
Day visiting McDonald
Ryan Day has had a busy off week hitting the road on the recruiting trail and checking in to see some of the Buckeyes’ top 2023 defensive line targets, such as Keon Keeley and Damon Wilson.
He continued that trend on Thursday, stopping at North Gwinnett High School (Suwanee, Georgia) to visit priority defensive tackle target Kayden McDonald, according to 247Sports.
McDonald has set a decision date for Oct. 31 and has narrowed down his decision to Ohio State, Oklahoma, Clemson, Michigan and Florida. He’s already taken officials to Michigan, Florida and Ohio State and will use his visit to Oklahoma on Oct. 22.
When he visited OSU on Sept. 24 for the Wisconsin game, the Buckeyes put on a full-court press for McDonald.
“The staff made it very clear that Columbus is home for me,” McDonald told Eleven Warriors earlier this month.
