Between the commitments of transfers Caleb Downs and Julian Sayin and 2024 defensive end Dominic Kirks, you really couldn’t have asked for a better weekend on the Ohio State recruiting front.
But the Buckeyes may not be done landing impact commitments this month as one of Ohio State’s top priority targets in the 2025 class has set a decision date.
Four-star Ohio offensive tackle Carter Lowe will announce his commitment at 3 p.m. Saturday and choose from a final five of Ohio State, Michigan, Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee.
Toledo Whitmers Carter Lowe, a top five OT in the 2025 class, will announce his commitment on the @247Sports channel this weekend.https://t.co/RWexOPgydo pic.twitter.com/XJSUwjJuz3
— Allen Trieu (@AllenTrieu) January 22, 2024
Heading into the commitment, Ohio State is the heavy favorite to land the 6-foot-5, 290-pound prospect. Lowe visited Columbus last weekend and has taken more trips to OSU than any other school in his recruitment. The Toledo product is considered the 85th-ranked prospect and the No. 9 offensive tackle in the 2025 class, per 247Sports’ composite rankings.
Should Lowe pick OSU as expected, he’d be the seventh commitment in the Buckeyes’ 2025 class and the first offensive lineman to join the cycle. Lowe would also be the third in-state prospect to commit, joining quarterback Tavien St. Clair and linebacker Eli Lee.
Three prospects receive weekend offers
With a bunch of highly touted prospects including Lowe on campus for visits Saturday, Ohio State had a productive recruiting weekend that also resulted in three new offers going out to prospects in the 2025 and 2026 classes, so we’ll break those down next.
Mariyon Dye
Ohio State defensive line coach Larry Johnson offered a talented pass rusher from the Midwest on Saturday, extending an opportunity to four-star Indiana defensive end Mariyon Dye.
#AGTG Blessed and grateful to receive an offer from Ohio State University !!@ryandaytime @R2X_Rushmen1 @ChadSimmons_@SWiltfong247 @IndianaPreps @AllenTrieu @ElkhartLionsFB@CoachCurry213 pic.twitter.com/4Yd340SyFn
— Mariyon Dye (@MariyonDye) January 20, 2024
The 6-foot-5, 235-pound Dye is considered the 319th-best player and the 24th-rated edge rusher in the 2025 class. He’s picked up 25 Division I offers, including Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisville, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, Missouri, Oklahoma, Oregon, Penn State, Purdue, Tennessee, Texas A&M and USC.
Last season, Dye racked up 40 tackles (3 for loss) and a sack for Elkhart High School (Elkhart, Indiana).
Will Conroy
The 2026 class has the potential to produce some of the best in-state prep offensive linemen in recent memory. Ohio State has already offered elite offensive tackle prospects Maxwell Riley and Sam Greer, but on Saturday, the Buckeyes offered another Ohio prospect that’s picked up a slew of Power Four offers in Will Conroy.
Thank you for extending another amazing opportunity to play CFB at THE Ohio State University. @ryandaytime @CoachJFrye @64AMDG @WildcatRecruit pic.twitter.com/bgPhHHbb9g
— Will Conroy (@Wconroy56) January 20, 2024
The Cleveland prospect picked up his offer on Saturday after visiting OSU for the second time as a recruit, which was a dream come true for Conroy.
“I’ve gotten a lot of other offers before, but this one was a little more special,” Conroy told Eleven Warriors. “Growing up in Ohio, every Ohio kid’s dream is to play in The Shoe and beat the team up north. Being here and them wanting me is truly something special.”
The 6-foot-3, 275-pound prospect doesn’t hold a 247Sports composite ranking as of yet but has picked up a bevy of Division I offers, including Arizona, Florida, Kentucky, Miami, Michigan State, Oregon, Purdue, Toledo and Virginia Tech.
Conroy plays right tackle for St. Ignatius High School, but will likely either be a center or guard at the collegiate level.
Cody Haddad
OSU offered another St. Ignatius product Saturday in three-star 2025 safety Cody Haddad.
Thank you @ryandaytime for the offer to play at THE Ohio State University. @MattGuerrieri @OSUCoachHinton @OhioStateFB @WildcatRecruit @AllenTrieu @gobigrecruiting@LemmingReport @Bryan_Ault pic.twitter.com/8nQKB0Airy
— Cody Haddad (@cody_haddad) January 20, 2024
Haddad is considered the 457th-best prospect in the 2025 class and has earned nearly 20 Division I offers, including Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, Texas A&M, Boston College, Cincinnati, Nebraska and Purdue. He committed to Wisconsin shortly before visiting OSU, so the Buckeyes will have to flip him if they want to add him to their 2025 class.
The 6-foot-1, 175-pound Haddad only played in the final four games of St. Ignatius’ 2023 season due to an injury but was electric in those final few contests, recording 42 tackles, three forced fumbles and four interceptions.
Na’eem Offord to visit OSU Feb. 2
Tim Walton continues to kill it on the recruiting trail, having already landed five-star cornerback Devin Sanchez and four-star cornerback Blake Woodby for the 2025 class while also playing a huge role in Downs coming to OSU.
He’ll have a chance to work his magic on another highly-touted 2025 cornerback in a week and a half. Five-star Alabama prospect Na’eem Offord, the No. 1-rated cornerback in the 2025 class, told 247Sports this week he plans on visiting Columbus on Feb. 2.
“(They’re) contacting me every day,” Offord told 247Sports. “Keeping in touch, teaching me the scheme of the defense already. (They’re) welcoming me.”
In his junior season, Offord recorded eight interceptions and added four pass breakups and three punt returns for touchdowns.
