Ohio State coaches have continued to take advantage of the open period and have traveled across the country to get in key face time with various prospects from the 2025 and 2026 classes.
Since Monday’s Hurry-Up was published, the Buckeyes have offered three new players, each of them from the class of 2025. We’ll break down each below.
Brock Schott
It’s no secret by now that Ohio State’s top tight end target for the 2025 class is four-star Oklahoma prospect Nate Roberts. But in Keenan Bailey’s first recruiting cycle as tight ends coach, the Buckeyes landed two signees in Damarion Witten and Max LeBlanc. Ohio State could take two tight ends again in the 2025 cycle if everything goes right.
After a great talk Im extremely grateful to receive an offer from THE Ohio State! @CoachKee @brianhartline @CoachJFrye @TomLoy247 @ChadSimmons_ @Dre_Muhammad pic.twitter.com/wNMTtbn6ok
— Brock Schott (@BrockSchott) January 22, 2024
The Buckeyes have evaluated four-star Indiana prospect Brock Schott for months and took an unofficial visit to Ohio State in October for the Penn State game. On Monday, Bailey felt comfortable enough to extend the 6-foot-3, 215-pound prospect an offer.
Per 247Sports’ composite rankings, Schott is rated the 203rd-best player and considered the 10th-rated tight end in the 2025 cycle. He’s picked up more than 20 Division I offers, including Cincinnati, Colorado, Duke, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisville, Miami, Michigan State, Minnesota, Purdue, Rutgers, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt and Wisconsin.
In Schott’s junior season for Leo High School (Leo, Indiana), he recorded 35 receptions for 743 yards with six touchdowns. He also played linebacker for the team and racked up 67 tackles, 32 tackles for loss, 19 sacks, one interception, one fumble recovery and three pass deflections.
Isaiah Gibson
Larry Johnson has offered another potential impact defensive end.
Four-star Georgia prospect Isaiah Gibson picked up an Ohio State offer on Tuesday after Johnson stopped by his school personally to visit with the 6-foot-5, 250-pound standout.
blessed to receive an offer from Ohio State!! @R2X_Rushmen1 @ChadSimmons_ @MohrRecruiting @RustyMansell_ @JeremyO_Johnson @Coach_Sams15 @lukewinstel @robinsfootball1 pic.twitter.com/K4a0J6zDOR
— Isaiah Gibson (@isaiahgibson99) January 24, 2024
Gibson is considered the 144th-ranked prospect and the 14th-best edge player in the 2025 cycle. He’s picked up more than 30 Division I offers, including Clemson, Georgia, Auburn, Kansas, Louisville, North Carolina State, Oklahoma, Pittsburgh, Florida, Florida State, LSU, Mississippi State, North Carolina, Ole Miss, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, USC and West Virginia.
Beating out Georgia for him likely won’t be easy, but with the Buckeyes’ recent success rate recruiting in the Peach State resulting in major wins such as Air Noland, Jelani Thurman, Eddrick Houston, Kayden McDonald and Caleb Downs as a transfer, the possibility can’t be discounted.
Emmanuel Karmo
James Laurinaitis traveled to Minnesota on Wednesday to offer another linebacker in the 2025 class: Three-star prospect Emmanuel Karmo.
Karmo doesn’t hold a composite ranking as of yet, but has seen his stock rise recently with offers coming this week from OSU, USC and Iowa. He also holds offers from Iowa State, Kansas State, Michigan State and Purdue.
The blessings keep coming and I am very blessed to announce that Ive received an offer to play @OhioStateFB I definitely cant wait to come down to Columbus and check out the environment @JLaurinaitis55 @77williehoward @TPatt17 @cooperhawksFB @AllenTrieu its great to be a hawk pic.twitter.com/M9yYbNOGXs
— Emmanuel Karmo (@EmmanuelKarmo28) January 24, 2024
In his junior season, Karmo racked up 48 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, two sacks, an interception that he ran back for a touchdown and a fumble recovery he returned for a touchdown. On offense, Karmo had 15 receptions for 294 yards and three touchdowns.
Trent Wilson includes Ohio State in top eight
A talented Ohio State defensive lineman target in the 2025 class has narrowed down his recruitment.
Four-star Maryland defensive tackle Trent Wilson released a top eight on Tuesday: Ohio State, Penn State, Florida State, Florida, Texas A&M, Maryland, Oklahoma and Tennessee.
Who will it be ? https://t.co/zhSNKhTPiX
— Trenton Wilson (@iamtrentwilson) January 23, 2024
The 6-foot-3, 270-pound Wilson visited Ohio State multiple times last spring and built a strong rapport with Johnson. He picked up his offer from the Buckeyes in March.
“I was really excited,” Wilson told Eleven Warriors when he picked up the offer in March. “They have an amazing history. Coach Larry is arguably the best defensive line coach in college football. Playing for him would be a rare opportunity. Ohio State is high on my list.”
Wilson is eyeing a commitment for sometime this summer after he takes his official visits. While Ohio State has a puncher’s chance in the recruitment, Penn State is likely the favorite for the Maryland product heading into spring football.
Trey McNutt posts video detailing his Ohio State visit
One of Ohio State’s top priority visitors from last weekend’s recruiting event was four-star Ohio safety Trey McNutt, a frequent visitor to Columbus in the past seven months. McNutt created a video this week that offered a first-hand look at what OSU staff members show recruits while they're on visits. The video is pretty lighthearted and features conversations with new safeties coach Matt Guerrieri and secondary coach Tim Walton.
Ari Watford commits to Clemson
One of Ohio State’s top defensive end targets in the 2025 class is off the board. Four-star Virginia defensive end Ari Watford committed to Clemson on Wednesday, choosing the Tigers over other finalists such as Ohio State, Penn State, South Carolina, Virginia Tech and Syracuse.
BREAKING: Elite 2025 EDGE Ari Watford tells me he has Committed to Clemson!
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) January 24, 2024
The 65 230 EDGE from Norfolk, VA chose the Tigers over Ohio State, Virginia Tech, & Syracuse
Ranked as the No. 1 EDGE in the 25 Class (per On3)
Im All In!https://t.co/HPB7WkPUZU pic.twitter.com/1N00Ldrq60
Ohio State currently has one defensive end committed for the 2025 cycle in Zahir Mathis and will move its pursuits to other targets such as Gibson, Nasir Wyatt, Justin Hill, Mariyon Dye and London Merritt.