The NCAA Division I Council has passed a rule this week that could have a long term impact on college football recruiting in the future.
On Thursday, the council announced effective July 1, a prospect will no longer be limited to how many official visits they can take to NCAA schools. Under the old rule, a recruit could only make five total official visits. Prospects are still limited to one official visit per school, however, unless there is a head coaching change at a school after they’ve already taken their official visit. That rule doesn’t apply to men’s basketball prospects, though, as they can take two official visits to the same school as long as they occur in separate academic years.
From an Ohio State perspective, it’s unknown how much impact this new rule change will have, though it’s inevitable there will be a give and a take with it.
On one hand, Ohio State staffers may be frustrated they have to wait longer on a prospect to make a commitment if they want to continue visiting other schools and perhaps extend their recruitment into the fall. On the other hand, perhaps the Buckeyes can host a prospect in the fall that has already used five official visits and cover enough ground on that trip to make headway with that recruit.
Brett Clatterbaugh picks up Ohio State offer
Ohio State has extended an offer to a talented linebacker in the 2025 cycle in Virginia prospect Brett Clatterbaugh. Clatterbaugh picked up the offer after visiting Ohio State earlier this week.
After a great conversation with @ryandaytime I am extremely blessed to say I have received an offer from THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY. #gobucks @JLaurinaitis55 @CoachJimKnowles @OhioStateFB @coachlowreh @CycloneEV pic.twitter.com/THaWSy06dD
— Brett Clatterbaugh (@Bclatterbaugh1) April 13, 2023
The 6-foot-2, 220-pound Clatterbaugh does not hold a 247Sports composite ranking as of yet but has picked up 16 Division I offers, including Coastal Carolina, Notre Dame, Penn State, Rutgers, South Carolina, Virginia, Virginia Tech, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
In his sophomore season, Clatterbaugh racked up 87 tackles (8 for loss) with two sacks.
Gideon Davidson puts Buckeyes in top 10
One of Ohio State’s top running back targets in the 2025 class has narrowed down his recruitment. Four-star Virginia prospect Gideon Davidson released a top 10 on Friday consisting of Ohio State, Clemson, Michigan, Oregon, USC, Penn State, Colorado, Notre Dame, Tennessee and Iowa State.
Time to focus. @BrianDohn247 @ChadSimmons_ @RivalsFriedman @adamgorney @SWiltfong247 @LCABulldogsFB @ClemsonFB @Vol_Football @UMichFootball @OhioStateFB @PennStateFball @DigitalVendors @uscfb @NDFootball @IowaStateFB @oregonfootball @Hayesfawcett3 pic.twitter.com/3Aw3vccAnq
— Gideon Davidson (@DavidsonGideon) April 14, 2023
Davidson visited Ohio State for the Notre Dame game in September and plans to visit Columbus next week.
Max LeBlanc could be nearing commitment
Earlier this month, four-star 2024 tight end Max LeBlanc released a top four consisting of Ohio State, Michigan, Tennessee and North Carolina. Per On3, LeBlanc could announce his commitment within a few weeks.
“It’s a tough decision,” LeBlanc told On3. “Every program is a good one. I’m just trying to see the one that offers me the most and find the one that is the best fit for me.”
LeBlanc has visited all four of his top schools. His Ohio State offer came on Jan. 24.
“Ohio State is the team I was rooting for since my brother played football, so visiting the school was pretty crazy for me,” LeBlanc told On3. “For Ohio State and Tennessee, I’d say the energy they had in practice was crazy. The energy of the coaches, the relationships they have with the players is something else. Ohio State’s facilities are crazy too, just like Tennessee’s.”
