One of Ohio State’s most important recruiting visits of the off week took place on Friday.
A few hours before Ryan Day attended a highly-touted Georgia high school football matchup between Buford and Mill Creek, OSU’s head coach stopped at North Gwinnett (Suwanee, Georgia) to see high-priority 2023 defensive tackle target Kayden McDonald, along with Tim Walton.
McDonald took an official visit to Columbus on Sept. 24 and has remained in daily contact with Ohio State’s coaching staff since then. With a commitment date of Oct. 31 fast approaching, Day and company wanted to get another face-to-face meeting with the four-star Georgia prospect.
“Coach Day said, 'We want you. You are a priority,'” McDonald told Eleven Warriors of Ohio State’s visit to his high school.
McDonald added he doesn’t take Day visiting him at his school for granted and that the gesture touched him.
“The head coach of the No. 2 team in the country came to see me,” McDonald said. “It checks another box for Ohio State. It means a lot to me.”
Ohio State certainly has the need for another defensive tackle, as Will Smith Jr. is the lone defensive tackle committed for the 2023 class. Jason Moore could play inside or outside on the defensive line, but that will be determined once he arrives on campus.
No school has publicly emerged as a true front runner for McDonald of his top five of OSU, Michigan, Florida, Oklahoma and Clemson 13 days before his decision date. But OSU believes it has more than a puncher’s chance to land the coveted defensive tackle.
Vaboue Toure to visit OSU this weekend
Last week, Ohio State made an offer to 2024 four-star New Jersey safety Vaboue Toure. It didn’t take long after that for the Irvington High School (Irvington, New Jersey) standout to schedule his first visit to Columbus. Toure told Rutgerswire.com he plans to visit Columbus for the Buckeyes’ game against Iowa on Saturday.
Toure was offered by OSU safeties coach Perry Eliano personally on Oct. 10.
After a great conversation with @Coach_Eliano I am beyond Blessed to receive an offer from THE Ohio State University! #irvingtontuff #GoBucks @CoachSmokeNJ @Blessedking1000 @IbkBender pic.twitter.com/6J1bgcFa0Q
— Vaboue Toure (@VabxToure) October 10, 2022
“Me and coach Eliano have been talking since last May when I first visited Ohio State and our connection was already strong. He flew to Jersey to come offer me, and that was really big to me. It played a big role, to be honest. Coach Eliano is staying in touch. He likes the way I play, go downhill, and how I can cover. To be honest, I can see myself playing at Ohio State. I’m visiting next week.”
Toure is the high school teammate of four-star 2023 safety Adon Shuler, who Ohio State offered on Sunday. Considering Toure is visiting OSU on Saturday, perhaps the Buckeyes can convince the Notre Dame commit to catch a ride with his high school teammate and join him on that visit.
Fletcher to be honored as All-American Wednesday
Ohio State 2023 four-star Florida running back commitment Mark Fletcher will officially be honored as an All-American selection by the All-American Bowl at 8 p.m. Wednesday with a virtual jersey presentation.
Ohio State commit Mark Fletcher (@fletcherjr_mark) will be honored as a 2023 All-American tomorrow night. #GoBucks #theG23ATESTshow #AllAmericanBowl @adidasFballUS pic.twitter.com/s72rWE5Ehg
— All-American Bowl (@AABonNBC) October 18, 2022
Fletcher is one of seven Ohio State commits currently slated to play in the All-American Bowl. Malik Hartford, Calvin Simpson Hunt, Luke Montgomery, Brandon Inniss, Kayin Lee and Carnell Tate will also make the trip to San Antonio in January.
Fletcher, the high school teammate of Inniss at American Heritage High School (Fort Lauderdale, Florida), is having a standout senior season for the Patriots. The Ohio State commit has run for 1,048 yards on 113 carries (9.3 yards per carry) with 10 rushing touchdowns en route to helping his team to a 7-1 record. Fletcher has also caught eight passes for 105 receiving yards and a touchdown.
