April 25 was a big day in the recruitment of Andrew Stargel.
Ohio State offensive line coach Justin Frye stopped by Roswell High School (Roswell, Georgia) to take a firsthand look at the Georgia offensive lineman. With Frye watching, Stargel went through a tenacious workout, showcasing his various skill sets.
One day later, Frye called Stargel with some good news. He had impressed the staff enough in the showcase to earn an offer from the Buckeyes.
After a great conversation with @CoachJFrye I am blessed to receive an offer from THE @OhioStateFB ! pic.twitter.com/p9iGyOVz1X
— Andrew Stargel 3 (@astargel34) April 26, 2024
“You get all these offers, I had 33 before Ohio State, and you can make your film look so perfect, but until you actually work out in front of the coach and earn it yourself, it’s not really that special until you do that,” Stargel told Eleven Warriors. “I felt really proud of myself for that. It was definitely one of the greatest feelings of my life.”
Frye gave Stargel plenty of feedback after observing him and also lauded his coachability.
“There’s obviously things I need to fix, like build up my body,” Stargel said. “But (Frye said) I can play any position, guard, tackle or center. I was able to snap the ball, I can move, I can run. One thing he said also was that I was very coachable.”
Stargel has played right tackle for the past three seasons, but will start at left tackle for his high school his senior year. But his future in college may be as an interior offensive lineman.
“I think if I was to commit to Ohio State I’d likely play center,” Stargel said. “I’d have no problem with that at all.”
I will be in Columbus May 10th!! @CoachJFrye @CoachSollenne pic.twitter.com/AQ3g7EPkRO
— Andrew Stargel 3 (@astargel34) May 4, 2024
About two weeks after Stargel picked up the offer, he and his family have set their first visit to Columbus. Stargel says he’ll be in Columbus early Friday morning and stay until Saturday for a quick unofficial visit. He’ll have meetings with various members of the coaching staff and get to tour the campus and the football facilities.
“I’m definitely looking forward to seeing the way a program at this level operates,” Stargel said. “I’m excited to grow a closer relationship with all the coaches and let them grow a close relationship with my family.”
While he’ll have a better indication of his fit with Ohio State after he visits Columbus, the Buckeyes have already started to move the needle for Stargel in his recruitment.
“Ohio State is definitely in my top five,” Stargel said. “They jumped up there immediately. That’s definitely an opportunity you don’t push away. They’re national championship contenders every year and feel like they could develop me into a better player and a better man. Also the fanbase is unbelievable. They’ve been texting me all week. They’re incredible. I feel like that’s something my family and I would want to be a part of for sure.”
While Friday will be Stargel’s first visit to Columbus, it’s not likely to be the last. Stargel says he plans on taking an official to Ohio State sometime this summer and also plans on taking trips to UCF, Pittsburgh, Kentucky and potentially NC State.
“I will be taking (an official visit to OSU), 100 percent,” Stargel said.
