Signed: Four-Star Wideout Kaleb Brown Gives Brian Hartline Another Top-100 Prospect

Welcome to the Brotherhood, @ikaleb35

From Buckeye Legend @PCampbell21#BOOM22 pic.twitter.com/bHXENcP86v

— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) December 15, 2021

Paired with Lake Travis wideout Caleb Burton, the top-rated receiver in Ohio State’s class, Chicago’s Kaleb Brown is the 72nd-ranked prospect in the class, the No. 10 wide receiver and is now officially a Buckeye after signing his National Letter of Intent on Wednesday.

Brown, who also played running back at St. Rita High School, had been one of Michigan's most coveted targets in the 2022 class, and also held offers from programs like Alabama, Notre Dame and Florida before ultimately opting to join the Buckeyes over the summer. Brown became the 13th commit in Ohio State’s class on June 7, as the four-star recruit was the first prospect to commit to the Buckeyes after the dead period ended.

Brown was the third wide receiver to commit to Hartline and company in the 2022 cycle, following Burton and Chandler, Arizona’s Kyion Grayes, who committed in November of 2020 and in February of this year, respectively. While Burton projects as a potential X wideout and Grayes a Z in the Buckeye offense, Brown’s 5-foot-11, 177-pound build make him an ideal fit for the slot position that has produced monster statistical seasons from the likes of Garrett Wilson and Jaxon Smith-Njigba over the past couple years.

As a senior at St. Rita this past season, Brown injured his left leg in the first game and missed the rest of the regular season. However, Brown returned for his team’s playoff run, and scored two rushing touchdowns to send St. Rita a state championship game. The Mustangs were dominated in the title game, but Brown finished the injury-shortened season with 11 catches for 189 yards and three touchdowns through the air and 14 carries for 54 yards and three scores on the ground. Brown played in just four games total.

Very impressive opening drive by St. Rita. Capped off by a 17-yard Kaleb Brown TD run. Snap was high, didnt matter.

Mustangs lead Prospect 7-0 pic.twitter.com/tgk7LQEa9L

— Michael O'Brien (@michaelsobrien) November 21, 2021

The year prior, Brown rushed for 537 yards on 52 carries while catching eight passes for 125 yards and four touchdowns. As a full-time running back as a sophomore in 2019, Brown racked up a whopping 1,967 yards and 28 touchdowns on the ground, and the two-time Chicago Catholic League MVP should be a run-after-catch threat for Ohio State when he gets on the field.

It’s possible that the Buckeyes could use Brown’s rushing ability in a hybrid role, although Ohio State has moved away from using versatile wideouts in the H-back mold of a player like Curtis Samuel in recent years under Ryan Day.

Brown will enter another ultra-competitive, talent-laden wide receiver room at Ohio State, but if Smith-Njigba or Emeka Egbuka moves to an outside position for the 2022 season, it’s possible that the Chicago native could challenge for a backup spot at the slot position as a freshman.