After the dead period lifted Friday, Ohio State coaches hit the road across various cities throughout the country to forge ahead on the recruiting trail.
Those recruiting efforts continued on Monday as the coaches made several key stops to begin their week. Ohio State quarterbacks coach Corey Dennis stayed local to start his week, as he stopped at Findlay High School Monday to check in on priority 2025 target Ryan Montgomery – the younger brother of 2023 commit Luke Montgomery – who visited Ohio State twice this fall, including for the Michigan game on Nov. 26.
“Despite the loss, I enjoyed the visit and the hostile environment in the Shoe for the game,” Montgomery told Eleven Warriors. “I got to talk a little bit with coach Dennis before the game. I also got to be right next to the quarterbacks during their pregame drills. Every time I visit OSU, I feel more and more of a priority for them. Looking forward to growing my relationship with them.”
Appreciate @CoreyDennis_ swinging by to check in on @FootballFindlay #ALLIN pic.twitter.com/qRpZjSisXq
— Stefan Adams (@stefadams87) December 5, 2022
Ohio State also did plenty of recruiting in The Peach State on Monday. Larry Johnson stopped at Buford to check on four-star 2024 defensive end KingJoseph Edwards and other prospects before later doing an in-home visit with 2023 defensive tackle commit Kayden McDonald alongside Ryan Day, Jim Knowles and Tim Walton. McDonald, who committed to the Buckeyes on Oct. 31, will be a summer enrollee.
“Why not OSU?” McDonald told Eleven Warriors in November about why he committed to the Buckeyes. “I picked OSU because of the academics, culture, opportunity to play and compete with the best, my relationship with coach Johnson and coach Day, plus the city of Columbus and the chance to win a national championship.”
Day also visited 2023 tight end commit Jelani Thurman Monday, and Kevin Wilson, who just took the open Tulsa job, visited 2024 offensive lineman Jake Wheelock.
Thanks @OSUCoachKDub for stopping out today @_stebbinsfb pic.twitter.com/vjBjA4Rg9g
— Coachbonifay (@coachbonifay) December 5, 2022
Jadon Perlotte to commit on Thursday
One of the top linebacker prospects in the class of 2025 is ready to end his recruitment. Five-star Georgia prospect Jadon Perlotte announced he’d be making a college commitment at Noon on Thursday and will choose from a top five of Ohio State, Georgia, Alabama, Clemson and Oregon.
Thursday 12:00!!! THE COMMITMENT Thank you GOD! pic.twitter.com/lJip6BlSwJ
— Jadon Perlotte (@Jadon_Perlotte5) December 5, 2022
Perlotte earned his Ohio State offer after attending a recruiting camp in June.
“Coach Day told me I’m one of their top priorities in the 2025 class,” Perlotte told Eleven Warriors after receiving his offer. “(Ohio State is) definitely top-three right now. It’s a family culture. I love it.”
Per 247Sports’ composite rankings, Perlotte is considered the 32nd-best prospect and fourth-rated linebacker in the 2025 class. Ahead of his decision, Perlotte’s hometown Georgia Bulldogs are considered the favorite to land the five-star prospect.
Buckeyes pursuing Virginia cornerback Fentrell Cypress
On Monday, more than a thousand college players officially entered their names into the transfer portal, including two from Ohio State in Teradja Mitchell and Jaylen Johnson. Tuesday, 247Sports’ Steve Wiltfong reported the Buckeyes have significant interest in one of the top defensive players available in the portal, Virginia cornerback Fentrell Cypress.
Cypress, a graduate transfer, was a second-team All-ACC selection this season after he led the conference with 14 pass breakups while making 39 tackles across nine starts.
It’s no surprise OSU would go after a cornerback even with Denzel Burke returning next season, as it's a position where the Buckeyes need to be better next year as inconsistent play has crept up all too often with that unit this season.
Other schools that have reached out to Cypress include Ole Miss, Syracuse and Tennessee.
