Last weekend was one of the busier ones we’ve had at Eleven Warriors since the football season officially ended.
The NFL Draft wrapped up, with six Buckeyes drafted and various others signing undrafted free agent deals. Two of the three transfer targets who visited over the weekend already committed to Ohio State – cornerback Lorenzo Styles and offensive tackle Josh Simmons –and the word coming out of the weekend is that defensive tackle target Tywone Malone’s visit also went well, giving OSU a chance to land all three of them.
If that wasn’t enough, the Buckeyes also landed a commitment from four-star Florida running back Jordan Lyle, effectively cementing OSU’s 2024 class at running back with Lyle, James Peoples and Sam Williams-Dixon.
There were also numerous other recruiting news items over the weekend that may have gotten lost in the shuffle of the draft and the commitments, and we delve into all of those below.
OSU cracks top three for Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa
One of Ohio State’s top linebacker targets in the 2024 class is down to three schools. Four-star California prospect Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa released a top three Friday consisting of Ohio State, Notre Dame and USC.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.
— Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa (@AsaViliamu) April 29, 2023
Proverbs 3:5
All Glory to God !! Thankful for it all pic.twitter.com/HYiJGoZjFl
Viliamu-Asa was the first prospect Ohio State offered in the entire 2024 class in his freshman season, so it’s fitting the Buckeyes have made the final stages of the 6-foot-3, 230-pound linebacker’s recruitment. He’ll take an official visit to USC on June 2, Notre Dame on June 16 and OSU on June 23, per 247Sports. His most recent visit to Columbus was in late March, which was his fourth time visiting OSU.
“I’ve been to Ohio State four times and have a really good comfort level there,” Viliamu-Asa told 247Sports. “They offered me as a freshman and have been recruiting me hard ever since. On my last visit, I was able to talk with James Laurinaitis, the new linebacker coach and he was actually recruiting me when he was at Notre Dame. He’s a legend at Ohio State and someone I think would be not just a great coach but a mentor. I like coach Day a lot too and respect the program he has built there.”
The Buckeyes already have two linebackers committed in Garrett Stover and Payton Pierce, but could take up to two more linebackers in the 2024 cycle.
Four new prospects receive offers
Over the weekend, OSU extended four offers to prospects in the 2025 and 2026 classes.
Deyjhon Pettaway
The four-star Texas cornerback is the most highly touted prospect of the quartet, with 247Sports’ composite rankings listing him as the 58th-ranked player and the sixth-best cornerback in the 2025 class. Pettaway was offered by OSU cornerbacks coach Tim Walton on Friday.
#AGTG Extremely Blessed to receive an offer from Ohio state@OhioStateFB @CoachTimWalton @coachdhicks @Coach_Dever @CoachO1911 @CoachYorloff pic.twitter.com/eZ3teljyyl
— Deyjhon Pettaway (@DeyjhonPettaway) April 29, 2023
The 5-foot-10, 165-pound prospect holds 17 Division I offers, including Arizona, Arkansas, Baylor, Duke, Georgia, Houston, LSU, Miami, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Oregon, Texas A&M and UNLV.
In seven games last season for Paetow High School (Katy, Texas), Pettaway racked up 26 tackles (one for loss) with an interception and a fumble recovery.
Deondrae “Tiger” Riden
Anytime you can offer a prospect with the nickname of Tiger, you have to do it, right? The four-star Texas running back earned his OSU offer from Tony Alford on Sunday.
I Am Honored And Blessed To Receive An Offer From Ohio State University @CoachTonyAlford @CoachSweeny @FootballDesoto pic.twitter.com/mP4u1usRoY
— Tiger Riden (@riden_jr) April 30, 2023
Ridden is considered the 153rd-best player and the 15th-ranked running back in the 2025 class. He’s amassed 25 Division I offers thus far, including Alabama, Arizona State, Baylor, Louisville, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, Oregon, Purdue, TCU, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech and USC.
In 13 games for DeSoto High School (DeSoto, Texas) last season, Ridden ran for 1,339 yards on 194 carries with 18 rushing touchdowns. He also caught 12 passes for 104 yards.
Onis Konanbanny
Konanbanny was the second cornerback offered over the weekend, as the 6-foot-2, 170-pound cornerback was offered by Walton on Saturday.
#AGTG after a great call with @CoachTimWalton I am blessed to receive an offer from THE Ohio State University @CoachDuHart @OhioStateFB @coachdtwhite @RG_Eagles pic.twitter.com/sZ8rKwmfi3
— Onis O Konanbanny '2025 (@KonanbannyOnis) April 29, 2023
The Georgia prospect, who was born in France and grew up in England before moving to the United States, is ranked the 199th-best player and the 21st-rated cornerback in the 2025 class. OSU’s offer was the 14th Division I offer Konanbanny has picked up so far, with others including Kentucky, Michigan, North Carolina, Penn State, Tennessee and Virginia Tech.
Last season, Konanbanny recorded 22 tackles (two for loss) with 11 pass deflections, two fumble recoveries and a blocked field goal.
Talanoa Ili
The California linebacker was the lone 2026 prospect Ohio State offered over the weekend with Knowles offering him on Friday.
Thankful for the Lords blessings, extremely humbled and blessed to have received an offer from The Ohio State University! Thank you @CoachJimKnowles for believing in me and my talents. #GoBucks @OLuFootball @GregBiggins @adamgorney @ChadSimmons_ pic.twitter.com/USTtAz84Xx
— Talanoa Ili (@talanoaili) April 28, 2023
While 2026 prospects do not hold composite rankings as of yet, Ili has picked up seven Division I offers, with the other six consisting of Arizona, California, Michigan State, Stanford, Tennessee and USC.
In his freshman season at Orange Lutheran (Orange, California), the 6-foot-3, 215-pound Ili recorded 70 tackles (15 for loss), four sacks, nine quarterback hurries and three forced fumbles.
Transfer safety target Jaylen Key includes OSU in top 6
Even though it has already added three transfer defensive backs this offseason, Ohio State is exploring adding another safety from the transfer portal to its roster for 2023. Former UAB safety Jaylen Key released a top six on Sunday consisting of Florida State, UNC, Ohio State, Alabama, Oregon and Ole Miss.
Top 6 pic.twitter.com/oRika1A0En
— Jaylen Key (@Jaylen_Key) April 30, 2023
A source told Eleven Warriors on Monday that Ohio State had been in contact with Key, and Key told 247Sports on Monday that he plans to visit Columbus next week. The Buckeyes will need to impress Key on his visit to have a chance to land him, as he’s already visited Alabama and Ole Miss and will also visit Florida State and Oregon.
In his redshirt junior season at UAB, Key played in 13 games and racked up 60 total tackles (4.5 for loss), one sack, three interceptions and two forced fumbles.
Jameson Riggs puts Buckeyes in top 10
Three-star 2024 Georgia offensive lineman Jameson Riggs released a top 10 on Sunday consisting of Ohio State, Georgia Tech, Clemson, LSU, Auburn, Duke, USC, Tennessee, Penn State and Vanderbilt.
Extremely blessed to be in this position, thank you to everyone along the way! Final 10! #GoHornets pic.twitter.com/T8ofEFmoOE
— Jameson Riggs (@RiggsJameson) April 30, 2023
Riggs visited OSU earlier this spring and picked up his Buckeyes offer in January.
