Ohio State has one more 2024 target on its radar.
Four-star Ohio defensive end Dominic Kirks is expected to visit Columbus this weekend, and the timing couldn’t be better. Kirks had been committed to Washington since June 30, but has continued to explore his options in his recruitment and did not sign with the Huskies in the early signing period.
On Friday, Washington head coach Kalen DeBoer left the Huskies to be the successor to Nick Saban at Alabama, and a few hours later, Kirks officially decommitted from the Huskies the day he started his official visit in Columbus.
After careful consideration, I will be humbly de-committing from The University of Washington. @AllenTrieu @SWiltfong247 @ChadSimmons_ @Rivals_Clint
— Dominic DK Kirks (@Domkirks) January 13, 2024
The two programs most connected to the 6-foot-4, 255-pound standout outside of Washington are OSU and USC, and this weekend will be crucial for both the Buckeyes and Kirks. While Kirks has visited OSU in the past, he hasn’t been officially offered by the Buckeyes as of yet.
Should Larry Johnson and other Ohio State staff members put on a full-court press for Kirks, landing him as the 21st commit in the 2024 class seems well within the realm of possibility.
This weekend will be Kirks’ first visit to Ohio State since Oct. 7, when he attended the school’s contest against Maryland. Per 247Sports’ composite rankings, Kirks is considered the 251st-ranked prospect and the 33rd-ranked defensive lineman in the 2024 cycle.
The Painesville resident had a magnificent senior season, racking up 86 tackles (17 for loss), 11 sacks, an interception and four pass deflections for Riverside High School.
Should OSU be successful in flipping the talented pass rusher, Kirks would become the third defensive lineman in the 2024 class, joining signees Eddrick Houston and Eric Mensah. He’d be eligible to sign with the Buckeyes on Feb. 7 and would be a summer enrollee.
Ohio State hit the road to visit 2025 in-state targets
OSU coaches are also taking advantage of the recruiting dead period ending on Friday, with multiple visits to in-state prospects planned for Friday. Graduate assistant James Laurinaitis visited both OSU linebacker commit Eli Lee and OSU linebacker target Justin Hill on Friday, as the Buckeyes being down one assistant coach after the firing of Parker Fleming allowed Laurinaitis to go on the road to recruit. Tim Walton was also at Winton Woods to see Hill with Laurinaitis, while Jim Knowles went to Archbishop Hoban as well for Lee.
Thanks @CoachTimWalton @JLaurinaitis55 & @OhioStateFB for stopping by checking on our guys!! #OH pic.twitter.com/l5PSbvgfxO
— Winton Woods HS Football (@Winton_WoodsFB) January 12, 2024
I really appreciate @CoachJimKnowles and @JLaurinaitis55 taking the time to visit me at @hoban this morning. Cant wait to play for these guys and Buckeye Nation! #GoBucks @HobanFootball @Hoban_Strength
— Eli Lee (@EliLee12) January 12, 2024
Other 2025 prospects that are expected to receive visits from OSU’s coaching staff on Friday include running backs Marquise Davis and Bo Jackson, defensive lineman Brandon Caesar, offensive tackle Carter Lowe and quarterback commit Tavien St. Clair.
Jordon Davison high on Ohio State, could visit next weekend
One of the country’s best running backs in the 2025 class is maintaining heavy interest in Ohio State.
In an interview with On3 earlier this week, four-star 2025 running back Jordon Davison said Ohio State, Alabama, Oregon and Texas are among the schools standing out the most to him as of now. He said he plans to visit either Texas or OSU next weekend but is undecided on which trip he’ll be making as of now.
Should Davison visit OSU next weekend, it would be his fourth time on campus. One of the selling points for Davison is his relationship with running backs coach Tony Alford.
“Once I got to know him as a person, it made me like the school even more,” Davison told On3 earlier this week. “The development that he’s had with his players is off the chain with (TreVeyon Henderson), other guys like Miyan (Williams) and other non-four-and-five-star recruits that he has sent to the league. It’s always good to hear from guys on the team and see if the coaches are being real and that’s how they act at all times.”
Alabama wideout Isaiah Bond hits transfer portal
It seems obvious, but now that DeBoer is hired, his first priority for Alabama should be figuring out his coaching staff and doing his best to retain as many players from one of the most talented rosters in the sport as he can. Shortly before the hire was announced, the Crimson Tide’s second-leading receiver in the 2023 season, Isaiah Bond, entered the transfer portal.
News: Alabama receiver Isaiah Bond has filed the paperwork and is expected to enter the transfer portal to explore his options, sources tell @tuscaloosanews. Name not in portal as of noon Friday, though. https://t.co/4ELY2zq3aG via @tuscaloosanews
— Nick Kelly (@_NickKelly) January 12, 2024
Texas is a likely destination for Bond if Alabama can’t retain his services via various reports. While no other Alabama player had entered the transfer portal since Saban’s retirement as of this writing, several athletes on the Crimson Tide’s roster – such as sophomore safety Caleb Downs and left tackle Kadyn Proctor – were recruited by OSU in high school and could be of interest to the Buckeyes should they decide to enter the portal.
