When Ohio State returns from its week off and faces Maryland on Oct. 7, it will host a very important visitor from the 2025 recruiting class.
Four-star Michigan 2025 offensive lineman Avery Gach confirmed to Eleven Warriors he’ll be making the trip to Columbus for the contest against the Terps, which will be the first time the 6-foot-5, 275-pound lineman returns to Ohio State since participating in an OSU recruiting camp in June.
Gach is the 138th-ranked prospect and the 13th-ranked offensive tackle in 247Sports’ composite rankings for the 2025 class. He’s maintained a strong relationship with Ohio State ever since he was offered last October.
“I love (Coach Justin) Frye, he’s a really good coach,” Gach told Eleven Warriors in June. “He produces a ton of NFL talent and he’s a really good guy.”
Gach resides in Michigan and holds an offer from the Wolverines, but that won’t keep him from strongly considering the Buckeyes as a potential school.
“It’s a really big rivalry,” Gach said. “People are surprised I’m really interested in Ohio State being from Michigan. But it’s really cool to see them go at each other every single year. (They talk about each other) a little bit, they’re definitely fighting against each other to get me.”
Dez Jones earns OSU offer
Brian Hartline has added another target to his wide receiver board for the 2025 class.
Four-star New Jersey wideout Dez Jones picked up an offer from Ohio State on Thursday, which meant a lot to the 6-foot, 180-pound product.
Blessed and honored to receive an offer from hio State University. #humble #GlorytoGod pic.twitter.com/8Nc4luse80
— dez jones (@dezjones88) September 28, 2023
Jones is considered the 283rd-ranked player and the 43rd-best wideout in the 2025 class. He has picked up 13 Division I offers, also including offers from Duke, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Nebraska, Ole Miss, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Syracuse, Texas and UConn.
In three games this season, Jones has caught 17 passes for 349 yards and three touchdowns. Jones recorded 56 receptions for 923 yards and five touchdowns last season.
Nathaniel Marshall lands offer from Buckeyes
Illinois four-star Nathaniel Marshall has only played competitive football for two years, but he’s already shot up national rankings, slotting in as a top-100 prospect (No. 88) and a top-seven defensive lineman in the 2025 class.
On Wednesday, Marshall earned his 22nd Division I offer from Ohio State defensive line coach Larry Johnson and the Buckeyes.
Blessed to receive an offer from The Ohio State University @R2X_Rushmen1 @FenwickCoachB @FenwickFB @PrepRedzoneIL @AllenTrieu @HSFBscout @LemmingReport pic.twitter.com/o2oBoMUGa4
— Nathaniel Marshall (@AllNateMarshall) September 28, 2023
Other schools that have offered Marshall thus far include Alabama, Auburn, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Iowa State, Kent State, Louisville, Miami, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Oregon, Penn State, Rutgers, Syracuse, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin.
Marshall is a two-sport athlete who also plays basketball, which makes a lot of sense considering his grandfather is Ken Norman, a former NBA player selected No. 19 overall in the 1987 NBA draft by the Los Angeles Clippers.
Nasir Wyatt puts Buckeyes in top eight
One of Ohio State’s top linebacker targets in the 2025 class has narrowed down his recruitment. Five-star California linebacker Nasir Wyatt released a top eight on Wednesday consisting of Ohio State, Alabama, Texas, Michigan, Notre Dame, USC, Tennessee and Oregon.
Business is Business.. #Last8 pic.twitter.com/qQ9T3p0lBP
— Nasir Wyatt (@wy4att) September 27, 2023
Wyatt is considered a top-20 player and the second-best edge player in the 2025 class. He says he’s interested in Ohio State because of his relationship with James Laurinaitis and the vibe of the program around Ryan Day at the moment.
“I've built a connection with them solely based on the fact of coach (James) Laurinaitis,” Wyatt told 247Sports. “He was a legend at Ohio State and to have him come back. He says he really likes the way I play, I play like him and he wants me to play that same position. Having a legend and a Hall of Famer like that come back, he was telling me that and he wants me to play off the edge.
“Seeing the energy coach Ryan Day is bringing right now, it's a real great experience. The mindset he has for his team, he has that good love for them. I was hearing that speech from coach Day, I was like 'Wow, he really has love for his players.' Having the ability to have that kind of connection with coach Day and coach James, all those guys up there, it's a good spot."
In 2022, Wyatt recorded 14 sacks for California powerhouse Mater Dei. He’s recorded 12 tackles (6 for loss) and four sacks so far this season.
