One of Ohio State’s top tight end targets in the 2024 class has narrowed his recruitment down to three schools.
Four-star Illinois prospect Christian Bentancur announced a top three Monday of Oregon, Clemson and Ohio State and set a commitment date for Jan. 13 at his school.
@Rivals @247Sports @On3sports @On3Recruits @ChadSimmons_ @Rivals_Clint @EDGYTIM @AllenTrieu @MarianCentralFB #AGTG #blessed pic.twitter.com/Rb4xidBGXt
— Christian Bentancur (@cbentancur18) December 26, 2022
As a junior for Marian Central Catholic (Woodstock, Illinois), Bentancur racked up 54 receptions for 1,058 yards and 11 receiving touchdowns. His sophomore season might have been even more impressive, as he caught 53 passes for 1,165 yards with 16 receiving touchdowns.
The 6-foot-5, 240-pound prospect visited each of his three finalists this fall and attended Ohio State’s season-opening win against Notre Dame in September.
“Ohio State’s offense was explosive and exciting to watch,” Bentancur said after the game. “They moved the tight end a lot and it was crazy to see the atmosphere at the game.”
Bentancur picked up his offer from the Buckeyes in June after impressing the coaching staff with a notable recruiting camp workout.
“It’s crazy to have an offer from one of the top schools in the nation,” Bentancur told Eleven Warriors in June. “It’s just nuts. (Wilson) just said he liked what he saw. He said he just needed to see like how I ran and he liked how I moved and like my flexibility and stuff like that.”
Bentancur is considered the 102nd-best prospect and the fourth-ranked tight end in the 2024 cycle per 247Sports’ composite rankings.
Carter includes OSU in top five
A four-star running back prospect in the 2024 class is narrowing down his recruitment. Tennessee two-way player Boo Carter cut his recruitment down to five teams on Tuesday, a list that included Ohio State, Oregon, Colorado, Tennessee and Michigan.
Top 5 @ncec_recruiting @CSmithscout @NatlPlaymkrsAca @coachTBarr@ChadSimmons_ @SWiltfong247 @OhioStateFB @CoachTonyAlford @Vol_Football @Coach_Nez_ @CUBuffsFootball @CoachBox6 @UMichFootball @coachclink @oregonfootball @coach_meat pic.twitter.com/cpNqhTAy53
— Boo Carter (@boo_Carter6) December 27, 2022
While Carter is both a running back and a defensive back for Brainerd High School (Chattanooga, Tennessee), OSU is recruiting the 5-foot-10, 184-pound Brainerd primarily as a tailback, with running backs coach Tony Alford serving as his main recruiter. Carter picked up his OSU offer after visiting Columbus for the Michigan game in November.
“I have taken two visits to Ohio State and I have felt at home,” Carter told On3. “Me and coach Alford have already had some great talks and he makes me feel comfortable. Ohio State likes me as a running back and they have had some great players come through there. I really liked the game day atmosphere, the fans and the love the fans show the players. There is something about the feeling I had when I visited Ohio State. It is different.”
While Carter’s top five is set, a commitment isn’t imminent. He plans on taking his recruitment through the summer and making a decision after his official visits.
“I am open to playing running back or safety, so I am looking for a school that shows me how I can be successful after football,” Carter told On3.
Bryan Jackson leaves Buckeyes off top five list
While OSU made the top school lists of Bentancur and Carter, it missed the cut for four-star Texas running back Bryan Jackson, who held an Ohio State offer.
Jackson released a top five Saturday consisting of USC, Oklahoma, Texas, Baylor and Oklahoma.
. @McKinneyHS_FB pic.twitter.com/Vc7CKe7ptZ
— Bryan BJack Jackson (@bj2ckk) December 25, 2022
The 6-foot, 225-pound Jackson first picked up his offer from OSU in January, but will now likely wind up somewhere else besides Columbus. Other running backs the Buckeyes have offered in 2024 include Carter, Stacy Gage, Jordan Marshall, Jerrick Gibson, James Peoples, Davion Gause and Kewan Lacy.
