Ohio State finally secured a two tight end class in the 2024 cycle with the commitments of Damarion Witten and Max LeBlanc.
It remains to be seen whether OSU will try for another two tight end class in 2025 or keep it to a single prospect, but either way, one of the top prospects at that position in that cycle resides in Ohio. And like most Ohio recruits, four-star prospect Luka Gilbert grew up rooting for Ohio State.
Gilbert, considered the 135th-ranked prospect and the fourth-best tight end in the 2025 cycle per 247Sports' composite rankings, was offered by the Buckeyes on March 7, a moment that meant the world to the Lakota West product.
“It's a huge honor, because I grew up rooting for Ohio State my whole life,” Gilbert said in June of picking up his offer. “So obviously, that was a huge honor. It seems like all my friends, they're like huge Ohio State fans. So it was kind of cool to get some recognition that way.”
Priority Ohio State 2025 tight end target Luka Gilbert looks impressive at OSU camp today. pic.twitter.com/XRCMiUDwrC
— Garrick Hodge (@Garrick_Hodge) June 20, 2023
Gilbert has since visited OSU multiple times, most recently on June 20 to compete at the Buckeyes’ final recruiting camp of the summer.
“It was great, it was an honor to be at the best college in college football and play for the most electric tight ends coach in the nation,” Gilbert said after the camp. “(Coach Keenan Bailey) is a great coach, I’d love to play for him and I could definitely see myself being his player one day … It might be the energy and how he always goes above and beyond. He cares more about you than himself.”
Gilbert said his favorite all-time OSU player is Cade Stover, because he tries to build his game around him and tries to “play like him on the field” and produce at the next level.
“I got the chance to talk with him when I visited OSU for a practice, but I’d like to sit down with him and get some more information from him.”
Gilbert is the former high school teammate of Ohio State freshman safety Malik Hartford, as the pair played together at Lakota West last season. The 6-foot-7, 235-pound tight end said he’s talked to Hartford about what life in Columbus is like so far.
“He says he loves it here. Obviously, we have a couple of dudes that have gone to Ohio State (from Lakota West), so I get to build off what they say about it. I could definitely see myself playing here in the future. Tegra (Tshabola) and I were both on offense when I was a freshman and I’ve talked with him as well.”
During Gilbert’s camp, his talent was on display in individual drills and one-on-one competition, but he still believes he has room to grow in his junior season.
“I’m trying to improve my route running, I’ve been doing a lot of training,” Gilbert said. “I think coach Bailey sees my speed and how I could fit into the offense perfectly,” Gilbert said. “He can teach me all the route running, that’s what he’s good at because he used to be a wide receiver coach. I think I’m better at blocking right now, and coach Kee specializes in in receiving.”
Gilbert said he’ll likely be back at OSU for a visit in the near future, either later this summer or sometime in the fall.
Gude commits to UCF
As expected, Ohio State was not the selection on Thursday for four-star Georgia safety Jakob Gude. UCF continued its hot streak on the recruiting trail after Gude gave his verbal to the Golden Knights on Thursday.
WE LITTY IN DA O @CoachGusMalzahn @CoachWilliams_7 @Im_Dlaw pic.twitter.com/r1TydltIAj
— Jakob Gude (@Jakob6Gude) July 6, 2023
Officially joining the Big 12 has done wonders for UCF, who have landed the likes of Stacy Gage, Kylan Fox, Waltclaire Flynn Jr., and Qua Birdsong this cycle, all of whom are four-star prospects.
Ohio State has one safety commitment in the 2024 class in Jaylen McClain, and are in heavy pursuit of top target KJ Bolden, who has a commitment scheduled for Aug. 5.
5-star DE Rushing commits to Arizona
If five-star prospects aren’t going to make their way to Columbus, I always think it’s awesome when they bet on themselves and pick a program close to home that doesn’t necessarily have a national reputation.
That’s not usually the case, of course, but it was Thursday when five-star Arizona defensive end Elijah Rushing committed to Arizona. Rushing, who had an OSU offer, is considered the 27th-ranked prospect and third-best edge rusher in the 2024 class. He picked the Wildcats over Oregon, who some had as the favorite in the weeks leading up to his decision.
Announcement https://t.co/QxSmM5vx87
— Elijah Rushing (@elijah_rushing) July 6, 2023
