On the latest edition of Real Pod Wednesdays, we discuss another massive commitment for Ohio State's 2024 class and take a look at what's on the horizon for the Buckeyes.
With regular podcast co-host Dan Hope on vacation, resident Eleven Warriors recruiting expert Garrick Hodge joins the show once again as Griffin Strom returns from a trip to Florida. While we usually record the show on Tuesday, the Fourth of July pushed things back a day, so we hope you don't mind a rare Thursday edition of RPW.
Ohio State kicked off the new month with a bang before the holiday, landing a commitment from five-star defensive tackle Justin Scott – OSU's highest-rated DT prospect in the modern recruiting era. Garrick breaks down just how surprising Scott's decision was, what the Buckeyes are getting in the Chicago native and how important his commitment was for Larry Johnson.
Although Ohio State missed on Chicago defensive end Marquise Lightfoot, who committed to Miami on Monday, Garrick believes Scott's commitment – and where the Buckeyes stand with multiple five-star pass rusher prospects – will go a long way and making OSU fans forget all about it.
Next, we take a look at upcoming commitment dates for a slew of priority targets for the Buckeyes and the likelihood that they could end up playing for the scarlet and gray. Garrick previews the potential commitment of Arizona cornerback Miles Lockhart, who will announce his collegiate destination on Thursday, and several other coveted 2024 recruits.
We wrap up the show by discussing a number of headlines around the world of Buckeye sports, including recent NFL betting suspensions, Ohio State men's basketball's charity exhibition game against Dayton and contracts for the Buckeyes' non-conference foes on the hardwood.
The full rundown for this week’s episode:
- 0:32: Griffin is back from vacation, but with Dan enjoying some well-deserved time off, we welcome Garrick back to the show
- 2:27: The surprising nature of Justin Scott's commitment and what it means for Larry Johnson and the Buckeyes
- 9:43: Ohio State is starting to stockpile five-star talents in 2024 with Scott giving the Buckeyes four such commits in the cycle
- 10:47: How stability on the NIL front could be helping shape Ohio State's star-studded class after landing just one five-star prospect in 2023
- 13:02: Marquise Lightfoot chooses Miami over Ohio State, but should that be any cause for concern for Buckeye fans?
- 17:45: Where Ohio State stands with five-star 2024 defensive ends prospects Eddrick Houston and Dylan Stewart
- 22:05: Ohio State's recent trio of defensive commitments has gone a long way to dispel any notion that defensive recruiting was lagging in 2024
- 25:48: Miles Lockhart appears to be trending toward the Buckeyes with a commitment announcement coming on Thursday
- 29:13: Breaking down Ohio State's chances with several other 2024 recruits that have set commitment dates this month, including Kyngstonn VilIamu-Asa and Aaron Scott
- 37:36: Nicholas Petit-Frere and Rashod Berry receive suspensions from the NFL for sports betting
- 40:59: Ohio State's charity exhibition game against Dayton to benefit the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation and the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Ohio
- 42:35: How much Ohio State's non-conference basketball opponents will be paid to appear at the Schottenstein Center in 2023-24
