One of Ohio State’s top remaining wide receiver targets in the 2025 class has set a commitment date.
Four-star California wide receiver Phillip Bell will choose from Ohio State, Washington, USC and Georgia on Aug. 31, one day after his birthday. Bell took official visits to all of those schools, but the race for his commitment is seen as a USC vs. OSU battle. His commitment date also happens to coincide with the Buckeyes’ season opener against Akron.
“My mind is made up,” Bell told On3 earlier this week. “The main things for me throughout my whole recruitment stayed the same. They were development, a place I know I can be happy at every day and the place that I feel can help get me to where I want to be. That is what my decision came down to.”
Bell is considered the No. 171 prospect and the No. 17 wide receiver in the 2025 class per 247Sports’ composite rankings. As a junior, Bell caught 56 passes for 644 yards with seven receiving touchdowns.
Josh Petty trending toward Georgia Tech
In three days, Ohio State will find out if it has done enough to land four-star 2025 offensive tackle Josh Petty. As of now, the forecast doesn’t look promising in that regard.
The Buckeyes made a late push in Petty’s recruitment, but his hometown team of Georgia Tech has been the team with the most momentum as of late over Florida State and OSU. Over the past few days, several national recruiting insiders have forecasted Petty will end up at Georgia Tech.
Our own intel aligns with those reports, as it would be a shock if Petty lands in Columbus at this point.
Corey Hadley Jr. thrilled to pick up OSU offer
A top prospect in the 2027 class, Georgia cornerback Corey Hadley Jr., had his day made in May when Tim Walton gave him an Ohio State offer.
“I felt that all my hard work has been paying off,” Hadley told Eleven Warriors after receiving his offer. “I also understand that I must keep working so that this offer will still stand.”
Hadley is a two-way player for his high school, but he is being primarily recruited by OSU as a cornerback. He made his first visit to campus earlier this summer at a recruiting camp in June and got to spend time working out with Walton.
Thankful to receive an offer from The Ohio State University!@OGWalt_ @CoachSmiley983 @CoachGodfrey_27 @CoachMurphySC03 @CoachGotell @CoachBoHeard @CoachDavis314 @CoachKBailey_5 @PassFootball5 pic.twitter.com/ALEFN871IU
— Corey Hadley Jr. (@coreyhadleyjr_) May 20, 2024
The 6-foot-1, 180-pound defensive back has 14 Division I offers, some of which include Auburn, Alabama, North Carolina, Mizzou, Maryland, Charlotte, Florida, Kentucky, UCF, USF and Western Kentucky. Hadley is only the second cornerback in the 2027 class Walton has offered to this point, with the first being Larry Moon III.
Hadley earned second-team All-Fayette County honors as a freshman after recording 17 tackles and a sack on defense as well as two touchdown catches for 40 yards on offense.
Jaime Ffrench Jr. leaves OSU off top 4
Not that it’s a huge surprise to anyone who has followed five-star 2025 Jaime Ffrench Jr.’s recruitment over the past few months, but the Florida prospect left Ohio State off his final four less than a month before his commitment.
Ffrench will commit on Aug. 30 and choose from a group consisting of Miami, Texas, Tennessee and LSU.
— Jaime Ffrench Jr. (@jaimeffrenchjr) August 9, 2024
OSU has three wide receivers committed for its current class and would like to take at least one more wideout if possible. Bell, Preston Bowman and Jerome Myles are among OSU’s top remaining targets.
