Ohio safety Garrett Stover was seemingly the last one to know he was going to be receiving an offer from Ohio State.
While the 2024 four-star prospect was going through what he described as a misdirection workout with Jim Knowles “that was complete hell,” Ryan Day approached Stover’s mother, who was watching the drills. Day informed her that her son had shown enough to earn an offer from the team he grew up rooting up.
Garrett’s cousin, current Ohio State linebacker tight end Cade Stover was next to find out, as he was at camp watching Garrett work out. Finally, Knowles brought Stover to Day’s office, where the 6-foot-2, 195-pound defensive back was given life-changing news.
“Coach Day called my mom and me to his office and he did it right there,” Stover said. “He put my dad on speakerphone too since he wasn’t there and said we’re offering your son a full scholarship to Ohio State. Obviously, that was a very exciting moment. I got emotional as well. It was really cool.”
Extremely thankful to have received and offer from THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY!!! Thank you! @ryandaytime @Coach_Eliano @CoachJimKnowles @etwill21 #GOBUCKS @Rob_B_Page @Birm @AllenTrieu pic.twitter.com/uSVgeiMUm7
— Garrett Stover (@GarrettStover2) June 1, 2022
While Stover was confident heading into camp, he said he wasn’t necessarily expecting an offer from OSU this early. After leaving Day’s office, Cade was his first call, even though he wasn’t breaking any news to his cousin.
“He was definitely number one on my call list,” Stover said of Cade. “I made sure I called him right after. He was extremely happy for me and congratulated me.”
Stover earned the offer during Ohio State’s first camp of the summer, where he ran a 4.45-second 40-yard dash, recorded a broad jump of 10 feet, 1 inch and showcased great agility in defensive back drills.
Big Walnut 2024 Garrett Stover (@GarrettStover2), the cousin of OSU tight end Cade Stover, working out with the Buckeyes at safety today. pic.twitter.com/kuXWspnFCc
— Garrick Hodge (@Garrick_Hodge) June 1, 2022
“Coach Eliano showed me a lot of different things, stuff I can take home and work on,” Stover said. “So I learned a lot, it was great. From a safety standpoint, being more fluid in my hips and getting out my break faster is a big thing. Having more discipline, things that will make it a lot easier to cover guys and play the game.”
Stover currently has 14 Division I offers, including Michigan State, Notre Dame, Kentucky and Iowa State. But colleges are split on what position he’ll play at the next level. Some colleges are recruiting the Big Walnut product as a linebacker. Others, like Ohio State, are targeting him as a safety. The Buckeyes could see him playing a hybrid role at the collegiate level, though.
“At the camp, I worked out as a safety and also did a little bit of linebacker stuff,” Stover said. “But Knowles has three safeties in the defense, so they were kind of thinking about the bandit position. They were talking about it as like an outside linebacker position that does a little bit of coverage of the tight end. That’s really where they see me.”
Ohio State has been Stover’s favorite team since he can remember. He’s always watched the Buckeyes on television. But he won’t let emotion dictate his recruitment.
“Right now I’m taking my time with it and I’m still interested in everybody,” Stover said. “But they’re definitely at the top of my list for sure.”
Stover has an idea of a commitment timeline for himself, but it won’t be any time soon.
“I’d like to make a decision probably this time next year going into my senior season and get my official visits out of the way and see where the best fit is for me,” he said.
Uiagalelei taking official to OSU this weekend
Ohio State will host a priority 2023 defensive end target this weekend on an official visit. Five-star California edge prospect Matayo Uiagalelei will be in Columbus for the second time in two months on Friday after he previously visited on April 16 for the Buckeyes’ spring game.
On the way to Columbus Ohio for Official Visit. THE OHIO STATE pic.twitter.com/7qfCYrY5ei
— Big Dave Uiagalelei (@DUiagalelei) June 9, 2022
OSU is firmly in the race for the 6-foot-4, 255-pound St. John Bosco product. Uiagalelei also plans on taking official visits to USC on June 17 and Oregon on June 24.
Uiagalelei is not expected to commit any time soon, so this weekend is just the start of a critical home stretch for the Buckeyes in their pursuit of the five-star talent.
Other prospects expected to take an official visit this weekend include four-star tight end Riley Williams, four-star cornerback Daniel Harris and four-star linebacker Derion Gullette.
Babalade locks in official visit to OSU
Ohio State has added another offensive tackle to its June official visitor list.
Less than a month after Ohio State offered four-star offensive tackle Oluwatosin Babalade, the 6-foot-5, 296-pound Maryland prospect has locked in an official visit to Columbus for June 17, according to 247Sports.
Babalade recently included OSU in his top seven and is ranked as the 20th-best tackle in the 2023 cycle. He took an official visit to North Carolina earlier this month, will visit South Carolina this weekend and will make an official visit to Rutgers on June 21.
