Ohio State is preparing for the first of three big recruiting weekends this season, as nearly 30 prospects are expected to be in attendance for Saturday’s matchup against Maryland.
“You don’t see as many official visits during the fall, there’s a couple mixed in, we’ve had a couple,” Ryan Day told reporters on Tuesday. “But in terms of unofficial visitors, I think you are going to see that ramped up as we get into the meat of the season.”
Some highly touted prospects will attend Ohio Stadium on Saturday across the 2024, 2025 and 2026 classes, including several Ohio State commits. Five-star Georgia 2024 defensive end commit Eddrick Houston will be back in Columbus this weekend, along with four-star 2024 New Jersey safety Jaylen McClain and several other Ohio State commits.
Two targets from the 2024 cycle will also be attending Saturday’s game. The first is three-star Florida safety Leroy Roker, who is the lone recruit on an official visit.
Roker was offered by both Ohio State and Miami this week and is seeing his recruiting stock swing up in the later stages of the 2024 cycle. It wouldn’t be shocking for him to converse with McClain a good amount while on his visit, and he’ll likely be the priority recruit for the Ohio State coaches to interact with either on Saturday evening after the game or early on Sunday before he leaves.
The second is Ohio 2024 defensive lineman Dominic Kirks, a Washington commit. Kirks has yet to be offered by Ohio State, but the Buckeyes are doing their due diligence on him. There’s still likely a bit more evaluation needed on the team’s end before an offer comes, but this weekend could be a great start to the relationship-building process.
In the 2025 cycle, Ohio State will host four-star 2025 cornerback Blake Woodby one week before the Maryland prospect is expected to commit. A week ahead of the commitment, the Buckeyes are seen as the favorite in the recruiting industry to land Woodby, so this weekend could be instrumental in sealing the deal. Other top 2025 of note attending the matchup include Avery Gach, Mark Zackery, Edward Coleman, Eli Owens and Dawayne Galloway.
Woodby’s high school teammate, four-star 2026 safety Jireh Edwards, is also expected to attend. Edwards is considered the fifth-best safety in the 2026 cycle per 247Sports’ composite rankings.
Back in the this weekend ! @OhioStateFB @Coach_Eliano @RivalsFriedman pic.twitter.com/tdao0YJb7Z
— Jireh Edwards (@jaygolive1k) October 6, 2023
A complete expected recruiting visitors guide is provided below. Ohio State commits are bolded.
2024
- Eddrick Houston, DE
- Mylan Graham, WR
- Garrett Stover, LB
- Jaylen McClain, safety
- Sam Williams-Dixon, RB
- Eric Mensah, DT
- Leroy Roker, safety
- Dominic Kirks, DL
2025
- Tavien St. Clair, QB
- Blake Woodby, CB
- Mark Zackery, CB
- Dawayne Galloway, CB
- Edward Coleman, WR
- Eli Owens, TE
- Jeremiah Koger, WR
- Kentrell Rinehart, RB
- Avery Gach, OT
- Noah Sanders, RB
- Mikey Scott, WR
- Kage Payne, OL
2026
- Jireh Edwards, safety
- Ben Nichols, OL
- Shahn Alston, RB
- Wayne Henry, CB
- Victor Sin, CB
- Kyshawn Robinson, RB
- D'Antae Sheffey, RB
- Jaeden Ricketts, WR
In-state LB Eli Lee picks up Ohio State offer
Ohio State has offered an in-state linebacker in the 2025 class. Three-star Ohio prospect Eli Lee had visited Ohio State several times over the past few months, and on Wednesday, Lee picked up an Ohio State offer after having a conversation with Jim Knowles and James Laurinaitis.
After a great conversation with @CoachJimKnowles and @JLaurinaitis55 I am honored to say I have received an offer from THE Ohio State University!!!! #GoBucks @OhioStateFB @HobanFootball @Birm @alexgleitman @Hoban_Strength @showcaseneohsfb #AGTG pic.twitter.com/nmEnCW4ZtO
— Eli Lee (@EliLee12) October 4, 2023
Lee doesn’t hold a 247Sports composite ranking as of yet, but that will likely change soon as his recruiting stock continues to rise. The Buckeyes are Lee’s third Division I offer, with the other two being Iowa State and UMass. Lee, a 6-foot-3, 215-pound prospect, has impressed Ohio State with his junior tape he’s put out so far, and the Buckeyes were also intrigued by his workout for them in June at a recruiting camp.
At the collegiate level, Lee profiles as an inside linebacker. His high school teammate, 2026 cornerback Elbert Hill, has also been offered by Ohio State. Like many Ohio prospects, Lee grew up rooting for the Buckeyes and Ohio State should be considered the favorite to land him in his recruitment. If he eventually commits to the Buckeyes, it’ll be the fifth straight class the Buckeyes have taken an in-state linebacker commit, with Garrett Stover (2024), Arvell Reese (2023), C.J. Hicks (2022) and Reid Carrico (2021) being the others.
Day discusses impact of NIL on recruiting
We’re not exactly breaking any news to anyone when we say NIL has had a drastic impact on the recruiting industry since its inception.
But on Tuesday, Ryan Day was specifically asked if he’s seen a power dynamic shift in recruiting with high school kids potentially having more leverage because of NIL. He admitted there may be some of that going on, but it wont' change the way Ohio State recruits.
“I think that NIL certainly has had an impact, Day said. “I think that if anyone says it hasn’t, then that’s not accurate. It definitely has had an impact. There have been maybe some swings in that area for sure. But that’s not going to change what we are doing here. We feel great about the opportunity our players have. But also, you know, what it means to be a Buckeye. And we are going to continue to talk about that and we want to always find the right fit here.”
