Ohio State is five days away from the beginning of the Early Signing Period.
One of the biggest questions surrounding the Buckeyes ahead of National Signing Day was what it would do regarding its quarterback recruiting, but that question was answered Wednesday as OSU successfully flipped four-star former Washington commit Lincoln Kienholz. But there are a few other goals still remaining for the Buckeyes’ 2023 class, which currently sits at 20 commits and seventh overall in 247Sports’ national rankings.
Ryan Day and Ohio State’s coaching staff have been putting the miles in on the recruiting trail over the past few weeks and are trying to balance their recruiting efforts with preparing to face Georgia in the Peach Bowl.
“You just don’t sleep,” Day said earlier this week of how he balances recruiting high school players and potential transfers and preparing for a College Football Playoff game. “You know, when you hear the month of December, you think about Christmas and holiday times and everything else. And when I think of December I think about bowl practice. Think about recruiting, think about home visits, think about transfer portal, think about all these different things … That's what you want, to be in the CFP this time of year and you want to be involved with great recruits.”
Two recruits OSU’s staff is still pushing hard for are five-star defensive ends Damon Wilson and Matayo Uiagalelei. Both prospects are expected to announce their decisions on Wednesday.
Wilson is trending toward Georgia, but OSU still has a very real shot with Uiagalelei. OSU visited Uiagalelei this week and the Buckeyes are doing everything they can to secure the five-star California target. But it will be a close battle between Ohio State, Oregon and USC for his commitment.
It will also be worth watching four-star Georgia OSU cornerback commit Kayin Lee to make sure he signs with the Buckeyes. Lee visited Auburn earlier this month and was seen sporting Tigers gear before he played in the state championship, but momentum seems to have cooled on the Auburn front a bit. Lee will make a final decision on whether to stay with OSU or flip to Auburn on Wednesday.
Byers, Cornelius to visit OSU this weekend
Two of Ohio State’s top transfer portal offensive tackle targets will be visiting Columbus this weekend, per 247Sports.
Rhode Island’s Ajani Cornelius and UTEP’s Jeremiah Byers are both expected to be on campus this weekend. Byers will be at OSU on Friday then visit Oregon Saturday, while Cornelius is visiting Tennessee Friday then will be in Columbus on Saturday and Sunday. We’ve already written about the success both Cornelius and Byers had for their respective teams in 2022, and either would be a welcome addition for an Ohio State team that needs offensive tackle help for next season with the likely departures of Paris Johnson Jr. and Dawand Jones.
Per the report, they may also be joined on campus by former Arizona State long snapper John Ferlmann, who is regarded as one of the top long snappers in the portal.
Sperling to visit OSU Saturday
On the high school recruiting front, Ohio State is also reportedly expected to host 2023 three-star Ohio running back Lamar Sperling on a visit this weekend. The Buckeyes are currently without a running back in the 2023 class and would have to flip Sperling from Buffalo should OSU decide to offer him before Wednesday’s beginning of the Early Signing Period.
The numbers the 5-foot-10, 180-pound running back put up this year would be impressive career stats for any high school running back. In 14 games, he ran for 3,348 yards on 339 carries and scored a whopping 51 rushing touchdowns as he led Archbishop Hoban to an appearance in the state championship game and earned Ohio Mr. Football honors.
