One of Ohio State’s safety targets in the 2024 class has locked in an official visit with the Buckeyes.
Ohio prospect Reggie Powers told Eleven Warriors at the Under Armour Next Camp in Ohio on May 7 he’ll take an official visit to Ohio State on June 23. Other schools Powers will take an official visit to include Michigan State, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and Northwestern. Powers said he hopes to commit either at the end of June or around July 4.
“I’ll just further evaluate the coaches and the campus,” Powers said of what he’ll pay attention to the most when he takes his official visits. “I didn’t really do a tour of the campus of Ohio State specifically, so getting to see all the little things and talk with coaches one-on-one more and getting to get to know the guys (is what I’m looking forward to).”
Shortly after Powers received his Ohio State offer in late March, a flurry of 247Sports Crystal Balls projecting him to the Buckeyes were cast, five in total.
“(The Ohio State offer) meant a lot to me and my family,” Powers said. “It was great getting an opportunity from a school like that and one I grew up watching. I’m excited to keep building the relationship.”
But the Centerville product insists he’s keeping his options open as his recruitment winds down.
“My eyes are still open to everyone,” Powers said. “Of course, that’s my dream school. So I feel some type of way toward them too. But I’m excited to keep building that relationship with them and everyone else.”
Powers said he talks to Ohio State cornerbacks coach Tim Walton and safeties coach Perry Eliano three or four times a week and has maintained a strong relationship with the pair of secondary coaches. Both have spoken to him in-depth about where they see him fitting into Jim Knowles’ three-safety scheme.
“(I’d play) at weak side safety. It’s a bandit and comes down more in the run fit,” Powers said. “That’s where I fit in my style of play. I’m good in the box and stuff like that.”
Powers visited Ohio State twice in the spring, once on March 25, then again on April 15 for the Buckeyes' spring game.
“The fans were crazy,” Powers said. “Having 75,000, the most in the nation, it was great seeing all the fans there and a great atmosphere seeing the guys compete in a game setting for the first time.”
Javion Hilson picks up an Ohio State offer
Ohio State has offered a high-profile defensive end in the 2025 class, as four-star Florida prospect Javion Hilson became the fourth edge prospect the Buckeyes have offered in that cycle thus far Wednesday.
Hilson attends Cocoa High School in Florida and is a former high school teammate with Ohio State safety signee Cedrick Hawkins. Per 247Sports’ composite rankings, Hilson is considered the 69th-best prospect and the 10th-rated edge player in the 2025 class. He’s picked up 12 Division I offers, including Florida Atlantic, Florida State, Indiana, Kentucky, Pittsburgh, UCF and Western Kentucky.
In 12 games last season, Hilson recorded 36 tackles (9 for loss) with 9.5 sacks and nine quarterback hurries with two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.
DJ McClary earns Buckeyes offer
Tuesday evening, Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles and safeties coach Perry Eliano extended an offer to four-star 2025 New Jersey linebacker DJ McClary.
#AGTG Im blessed to have received an offer from THE Ohio state university !! @CoachJimKnowles @Coach_Eliano@OhioStateFB@BrianDohn247@SWiltfong247@RivalsFriedman@DemetricDWarren@BobbyDeren pic.twitter.com/eWxquqA3ep
— DJ McClary (@tnlDJ_) May 16, 2023
McClary is considered the 148th-ranked prospect and the 18th-rated linebacker in the 2025 class. He’s been offered by 13 Division I schools thus far, including Boston College, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Ole Miss, Penn State, Rutgers, South Carolina, Syracuse, Temple and USC.
In nine games last season, McClary racked up 131 tackles, 20.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and a fumble recovery.
Efrem White offered by Ohio State
Ohio State has entered the recruitment for one of the top emerging wide receiver prospects in the 2026 class, as Ohio State offensive coordinator Brian Hartline and tight ends coach Keenan Bailey offered Florida prospect Efrem White on Wednesday.
Blessed and beyond excited to receive an offer from Ohio State University. @brianhartline @OhioStateFB @VBFootball #WeAreVero pic.twitter.com/imjTsI501P
— Efrem White (@Efrem_White11) May 17, 2023
White holds nine Division I offers so far, the other eight being Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, Kentucky, NC State, Pittsburgh, USF and West Virginia.
The 6-foot-2, 155-pound White played multiple roles in Vero Beach High School’s (Vero Beach, Florida) offense last season. He saw time at running back, taking 56 carries for 249 yards with two touchdowns and catching eight passes for 91 yards and a touchdown. White also completed 19 of 33 passes for 175 yards and three touchdowns.
