Although it may have been an off week for Ohio State on the gridiron, assistant coaches were as tenacious as ever on the recruiting trail.
Throughout the week, Buckeye coaches made various stops at high schools spread across the nation to prospects from multiple classes. From the weekend alone, three new offers went out to recruits, one from the 2023 class and two from the 2024 cycle.
We’ll delve more into those below.
Adon Shuler
Starting with the prospect closest to stepping foot on a college campus, Ohio State is officially trying its hand at flipping a Notre Dame safety commit. Four-star New Jersey prospect Adon Shuler picked up his OSU offer on Sunday after personally speaking with safeties coach Perry Eliano.
After a great Talk with @Coach_Eliano I am beyond Blessed to receive an offer from THE Ohio State University! #irvingtontuff #GoBuckeyes @CoachSmokeNJ @Blessedking1000 @IbkBender pic.twitter.com/523avQ4paj
— Adon Shuler (@adon_shuler) October 16, 2022
Shuler committed to Notre Dame on Aug. 15, but since then, the Fighting Irish have had an up-and-down season, starting 3-3 under first-year coach Marcus Freeman. The fact Ohio State offered the 6-foot, 197-pound prospect this late in the recruiting cycle is telling regarding two factors.
- OSU wouldn’t have offered Shuler if it didn’t think it had a chance of flipping him, though that’s far from a certainty.
- The Buckeyes want to add another safety in the 2023 cycle, and Shuler is their top option barring successfully flipping Caleb Downs (more on that later).
According to 247Sports’ composite rankings, Shuler is the 293rd-best prospect and the 28th-ranked safety. In his recruitment, he picked up 23 Division I offers, including ones from Georgia and Alabama.
Jaylen Harvey
During the off week, Ohio State defensive line coach Larry Johnson visited Quince Orchard High School in Gaithersburg, Maryland. A few days later, he offered one of the school’s defensive standouts in four-star 2024 defensive end Jaylen Harvey.
#AGTG I am truly blessed and honored to receive a offer from The Ohio state university@R2X_Rushmen1 @CoachMcGrath22 pic.twitter.com/17PEpOIA4X
— Backfieldgeneral (@JaylenHarvey_) October 16, 2022
Great to have one of the of college football @R2X_Rushmen1 stop by today!!! #QOpride pic.twitter.com/ncqijTjMse
— John A. Kelley (@QO_Coach_Kelley) October 14, 2022
Harvey is considered the 212nd-best player and the 17th-ranked edge prospect in the 2024 cycle. He’s picked up 15 Division I offers thus far, including Kentucky, Louisville, Maryland, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Penn State, Tennessee and West Virginia.
James Peoples
The final prospect offered over the weekend was 2024 Texas running back James Peoples. Ohio State running backs coach Tony Alford was the coach that delivered the offer to the 5-foot-10, 192-pound running back.
After an AMAZING Conversation with @CoachTonyAlford Im BLESSED To Have EARNED An offer from THE Ohio State University #GoBuckeyes @irvin8robert @Jtimmy83 @Perroni247 @RivalsNick @adamgorney @SWiltfong247 @Fhall565Hall pic.twitter.com/603o57GYfZ
— James (@James_peoples17) October 17, 2022
Peoples does not hold a composite ranking but has racked up 10 Division I offers, including Texas, Missouri, SMU, TCU and Texas Tech. More are likely on the way after what’s turning into a breakout season for Peoples at Veterans Memorial High School in San Antonio, Texas.
Peoples has racked up 1,078 yards on 107 carries (10.1 yards per carry) with 18 touchdowns so far while adding eight receptions for 68 yards and a touchdown in the passing game.
Day, Eliano attend Buford v. Mill Creek
There was no shortage of star power on Friday evening between a pair of Georgia high schools in Buford and Mill Creek, both the on-field and on the sidelines, in regards to the representation from colleges at premier college football programs.
Ryan Day and Perry Eliano were both in attendance for Ohio State, and Georgia head coach Kirby Smart also made an appearance. Many other colleges, including Alabama, had a representative there in some form or fashion.
There are easily at least 20 Power 5 players on the field tonight. Probably six current or future 5-stars.
— Jeff Sentell (@jeffsentell) October 14, 2022
That brings Ohio State head coach Ryan Day down to Georgia tonight. pic.twitter.com/4jwr1Y7pjO
In a battle of the top two teams in the state in Class 7A, No. 1 Buford bested No. 2 Mill Creek 39-27. There were plenty of prospects of interest to Ohio State on both teams, including five-stars KJ Bolden, Caleb Downs, Eddrick Houston and Jadon Perlotte, as well as four-star defensive end KingJoseph Edwards and a few other prospects.
While Downs is committed to Alabama, Ohio State isn’t giving up on the pursuit of flipping him by the early signing period. It’s still probably only a puncher’s chance at best. Still, based on Jim Knowles’ defensive scheme that utilizes three safeties and the success of that position so far this season for OSU, the Buckeyes have to feel good about the chances of convincing another potential safety (Downs or Shuler) to join the class.
