With more than four months still to go until the early signing period, the Buckeyes are one commitment away in the 2024 class from matching their Signing Day total from a year ago (21).
Currently, Ohio State sits at No. 2 overall in 247Sports’ national recruiting class rankings, only trailing Georgia. Four of the Buckeyes’ commits are five-star prospects in 247Sports’ composite rankings and seven total are ranked within the top 100 players nationally.
| Pos | Name | Rating | Rank | Size | School |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WR | JEREMIAH SMITH | ★★★★★ | #2 NATL | #1 WR | 6-3 | 198 | Chaminade-Madonna Prep (Opa Locka, Florida) |
| DT | JUSTIN SCOTT | ★★★★★ | #14 NATL | #3 DL | 6-4 | 310 | St. Ignatius (Chicago, Illinois) |
| WR | MYLAN GRAHAM | ★★★★★ | #18 NATL | #6 WR | 6-1 | 170 | New Haven (New Haven, Indiana) |
| QB | AIR NOLAND | ★★★★★ | #33 NATL | #4 QB | 6-3 | 195 | Langston Hughes (Fairburn, Georgia) |
| CB | BRYCE WEST | ★★★★ | #46 NATL | #4 CB | 5-11 | 177 | Glenville (Cleveland, Ohio) |
| CB | AARON SCOTT | ★★★★ | #52 NATL | #5 CB | 6-0| 170 | Springfield (Springfield, Ohio) |
| RB | JAMES PEOPLES | ★★★★ | #85 NATL | #7 RB | 5-10 | 192 | Veterans Memorial (San Antonio, Texas) |
| WR | JEREMIAH MCCLELLAN | ★★★★ | #108 NATL | #18 WR | 6-0 | 190 | Christian Brothers College (St. Louis, Missouri) |
| OT | IAN MOORE | ★★★★ | #126 NATL | #8 IOL | 6-5 | 295 | New Palestine (New Palestine, Indiana) |
| LB | GARRETT STOVER | ★★★★ | #147 NATL | #11 LB | 6-0 | 195 | Big Walnut (Sunbury, OH) |
| RB | JORDAN LYLE | ★★★★ | #169 NATL | #12 RB | 6-0 | 180 | St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Laderdale, Florida) |
| LB | PAYTON PIERCE | ★★★★ | #170 NATL | #16 LB | 6-1 | 225 | Lovejoy (Lucas, Texas) |
| S | JAYLEN McCLAIN | ★★★★ | #261 NATL | #23 S | 6-0 | 185 | Seton Hall Prep (West Orange, New Jersey) |
| TE | MAX LEBLANC | ★★★★ | #268 NATL | #14 TE | 6-4 | 222 | Baylor School (Chattanooga, Tennessee) |
| CB | MILES LOCKHART | ★★★★ | #348 NATL | #27 CB | 5-10 | 185 | Basha (Chandler, AZ) |
| TE | DAMARION WITTEN | ★★★★ | #351 NATL | #18 TE | 6-4 | 215 | Glenville (Cleveland, OH) |
| OT | DEONTAE ARMSTRONG | ★★★★ | #416 NATL | #32 OT | 6-6 | 280 | St. Edward (Lakewood, OH) |
| OL | DEVONTAE ARMSTRONG | ★★★ | #448 NATL | #26 IOL | 6-5 | 297 | St. Edward (Lakewood, OH) |
| OL | MARC NAVE | ★★★ | #603 NATL | #40 IOL | 6-5 | 315 | Central Catholic (Toledo, OH) |
| RB | SAM WILLIAMS-DIXON | ★★★ | #745 NATL | #78 ATH | 5-11 | 203 | Pickerington North (Columbus, OH) |
| Prospect Rating Data: 247Sports | |||||
The Buckeyes are well-stocked at most positions in the 2024 class, but there’s still some work to be done on both sides of the ball.
With just over four months to go until the early signing period, we put together a position-by-position breakdown of who Ohio State has already landed in the current cycle and where the Buckeyes are still looking to make further additions. Prospects listed in the remaining targets category have all been offered by Ohio State and either took an official visit this summer or are considering making one in the fall.
Offense
Quarterback
2024 commits: Air Noland
Spots to fill: None
Targets remaining: None
Analysis: Ohio State has a five-star talent at quarterback secured for its 2024 class in Air Noland, so there’s nothing to complain about with quarterback recruiting at the moment.
Running Back
2024 commits: James Peoples, Jordan Lyle, Sam Williams-Dixon
Spots to fill: None
Targets remaining: None
Analysis: Ohio State has a full class at running back. In Peoples, Lyle and Williams-Dixon, OSU has three capable running backs ready to join its position group next season.
Wide Receiver
2024 commits: Jeremiah Smith, Mylan Graham, Jeremiah McClellan
Spots to fill: Between none and one
Targets remaining: Chance Robinson
Analysis: Brian Hartline is just showing off now. For the current cycle, the Buckeyes have two five-star receivers committed between Smith and Graham, and a borderline top-100 prospect in McClellan that just committed on Sunday. That’s three receivers who would be the crown jewel of many recruiting classes in the country all about to be on the same team that already has an embarrassment of riches at the position. Yet, OSU would still take a fourth wideout if four-star Florida prospect Chance Robinson decides to flip from his Miami commitment.
Tight end
2024 commits: Max Leblanc, Damarion Witten
Spots to fill: None
Targets remaining: None
Analysis: Ohio State has finally secured its first two-tight end class since 2016, so first-year tight ends coach Keenan Bailey can pat himself on the back for a job well done.
Offensive line
2024 commits: Deontae and Devontae Armstrong, Ian Moore, Marc Nave
Spots to fill: One or two
Targets remaining: Brandon Baker, Jordan Seaton
Analysis: Justin Frye started off strong recruiting offensive linemen for the 2024 class. Now it’s just a matter of if the second-year offensive line coach can secure a big fish. The biggest chance of that happening is with five-star offensive tackle Brandon Baker, but the Buckeyes still have competition from Texas and Oregon for the prized California prospect. There’s an outside chance of landing Jordan Seaton too considering he’s scheduled an official visit to OSU for later this fall, but that one seems to be less likely.
Defense
Defensive line
2024 commits: Justin Scott
Spots to fill: One to three
Targets remaining: Eddrick Houston, Booker Pickett Jr., Dominick McKinley, Nigel Smith
Analysis: No question about it, losing Dylan Stewart to South Carolina hurt. Houston now becomes priority one, two and three this month for Ohio State, with the five-star defensive lineman set to decide Aug. 22. But OSU could still salvage its defensive line class if you can pair Scott with Houston and someone like Pickett Jr., who is planning to take an official visit to Columbus later this fall. McKinley and Smith remain uncommitted after making official visits to OSU this summer, but both are seen as longshots to wind up with the Buckeyes.
Cornerback
2024 commits: Bryce West, Aaron Scott Jr., Miles Lockhart
Spots to fill: Zero to one
Targets remaining: Kobe Black
Analysis: Ohio State would be content with its haul of two top-60 in-state prospects and a very capable slot cornerback in Lockhart. That may be the likeliest scenario for the 2024 class. But five-star Texas prospect Kobe Black is still uncommitted, and the Buckeyes would certainly take a player of his caliber if he wanted in, though they’ll have to beat out the home-state Longhorns.
Safety
2024 commits: Jaylen McClain
Spots to fill: One to two
Targets remaining: Zaquan Patterson
Analysis: Ohio State is in a tough position with this one after missing out on top priority target KJ Bolden. There’s not a ton of backup options outside of Zaquan Patterson, who will likely take an official visit to OSU sometime this fall, but it’s hard to consider the Buckeyes the frontrunner for him. Hitting the transfer portal for a safety could be in play this offseason, and it’s always possible OSU could try to circle back to a player like Reggie Powers, who committed to Michigan State earlier this summer.
Linebacker
2024 commits: Garrett Stover, Payton Pierce
Spots to fill: Likely zero
Targets remaining: None
Analysis: Considering the Buckeyes added transfer linebacker Nigel Glover to its 2023 roster a few days before fall camp, they could be done with 2024 additions outside of their two commitments. If former OSU target Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa decided to flip from Notre Dame to OSU, the Buckeyes would certainly make room for him. And there’s always the chance a late bloomer arises that OSU likes late in the cycle. But for now it’s likely Stover and Pierce will be the lone freshman linebackers next year.
