Better Know a Buckeye: Damarion Witten’s Size, Athleticism and Versatility Give Him Potential to Be Playmaker at Either Tight End or Wide Receiver

A lifelong fan of the Buckeyes, Damarion Witten has long dreamed of following in the footsteps of Glenville greats before him by playing for Ohio State. 10 years after he watched fellow Glenville alumnus Cardale Jones lead the Buckeyes to a national championship, the No. 464 overall prospect in the 2024 class is beginning his Ohio State career along two of his Tarblooders teammates.

At 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds, Witten brings an elite combination of length and athleticism to Ohio State that could enable him to be a mismatch-creating playmaker at either tight end or wide receiver.

How He Became a Buckeye

When Witten received an offer from Ohio State following his visit to Columbus for the 2022 season opener against Notre Dame, he was the third player from Glenville's roster that season to receive an offer from the Buckeyes, joining class of 2023 linebacker Arvell Reese and 2024 cornerback Bryce West.

“It was great, getting recruited and offered from a school you have dreamed of since I was little, it’s an honor,” Witten told Eleven Warriors of his offer. “I have always been rooting for OSU. My favorite moment is when (Glenville alumnus) Cardale Jones won the Buckeyes a national championship.”

While Witten didn’t commit to the Buckeyes until nine months later, it seemed inevitable once he received the offer that he would suit up in scarlet and gray.

Witten committed to Ohio State on the same day as West, continuing the Glenville-to-Ohio State pipeline along with Reese. Witten and West are the 23rd and 24th Tarblooders to play for the Buckeyes since 2002.

“I decided to commit to Ohio State because it felt like home,” Witten told Eleven Warriors following his commitment. “The most appealing thing to me (about the commitment) is the fans, one of the best fan bases in the world.”

Witten became the second tight end in Ohio State’s 2024 class, joining Max LeBlanc. It's the first time since 2016 that Ohio State has signed two tight ends in a single cycle, though Witten is expected to start his OSU career at wide receiver.

High School Years

Whether it was at tight end, wide receiver, quarterback, defensive end or even kicker, Witten showcased his athleticism and versatility throughout his time at Glenville while proving he will do whatever is needed to help his team win.

During his junior season, Witten split time between being split out wide, in the slot and lining up with a hand in the ground on the line of scrimmage for Glenville’s offense. He showed great playmaking ability from winning contested jump balls to making long plays in the screen game, including a 99-yard touchdown. Along the way, he helped Glenville win its first state championship in program history and finishing off a perfect 15-0 season.

2022 OHSAA Playoffs
Regional Semifinal Featured Game
(Division IV, Region 14)

2Q | 1:00
#1 Glenville - 34
#4 Elyria Catholic - 7

For the second time tonight, Rucker connects with Damarion Witten for a fourth down TD.

Witten broke 5 tackles on this 45-yard score.#NEOFB pic.twitter.com/SHSXDfccqE

— NEO Zone HS Sports (@NEOZoneHS) November 13, 2022

The Tarblooders won their second straight state title in 2023. Following the state championship game, in which Witten caught five passes for 86 yards and two touchdowns, Glenville coach Ted Ginn Sr. – who has coached 24 players who have gone on to play at OSU in more than 50 years of coaching – told reporters he thinks Witten will “be a superstar at Ohio State,” saying he has seen only two other players come through Glenville with as much versatility as Witten has.

No idea how Damarion Witten caught this, but he did. pic.twitter.com/s9VS3x7iLF

— Garrick Hodge (@Garrick_Hodge) June 14, 2023

Witten concluded his high school career by earning MVP honors at the U.S. Army Bowl, where he caught four passes for 96 yards and three touchdowns.

Immediate Impact

Currently listed at 6-foot-4 and only 215 pounds, Witten is likely to need some time to bulk up physically and develop as a blocker before he’ll be ready to play a major role for the Buckeyes. Freshman tight ends rarely play regularly at Ohio State anyway, and Witten is built more like a wide receiver than a tight end right now.

With that, Witten is expected to begin his time as a Buckeye at wide receiver in 2024. While he could transition back to tight end once he bulks up more, he has the skill set to play either position, potentially giving him a faster path to the field. While his current size played a role in the decision to start Witten out at wide receiver, the fact that OSU had just two wideouts in the 2024 class – Jeremiah Smith and Mylan Graham – and only eight scholarship players in that room was a likely factor in the decision as well.

A redshirt season this fall seems likely as Witten develops, especially since he was not on campus for spring practices. But his ability to play both wide receiver and tight end bolsters the Buckeyes’ depth at both positions.

Long-Term Impact

Walk-on Patrick Gurd is the only tight end on Ohio State's 2024 roster who exhausts his eligibility after this season, so the depth chart at that position won’t necessarily be any clearer next year. Add in that the Buckeyes are adding two more tight ends in the 2025 class in Nate Roberts and Brody Lennon, and Witten will face plenty of competition to climb the depth chart at that position.

His combination of height and speed make him a tough matchup in coverage for any defender, but to be a successful tight end in the Big Ten, he’ll have to add weight to his frame and become a stronger blocker.

That said, Witten’s playmaking ability as a pass-catcher gives Ohio State reason to consider keeping him at wide receiver or utilize him as a hybrid pass-catcher. His path to playing time at wide receiver might not be any easier with how loaded Brian Hartline’s unit is, but Witten offers a unique skill set that could add another dimension to the offense.

“They’ve told me I’m a mismatch tight end,” Witten said. “I can stay (in line), flex, go outside and play receiver and match up with a DB and be used as a mismatch. I want to be used as a tight end and a receiver at the same time."

Player Comparison: Jake Stoneburner

After redshirting as a freshman, Stoneburner appeared in all 13 games while backing up Jake Ballard during his second season at Ohio State. Earning a bigger role in 2010, he notched 21 catches for 222 yards and two touchdowns in his first season as a starter. He then brought in 14 receptions for 193 yards and seven touchdowns in his fourth season in Columbus.

When Urban Meyer took over in 2012, Stoneburner transitioned from tight end to H-back for his fifth-year senior season, showcasing his athleticism and versatility to showcase his skill set and do what's best for the team. He had 16 receptions for 269 yards and four touchdowns in his final season as a Buckeye, helping lead Ohio State to a perfect 12-0 record.

Like Stoneburner, Witten can play both tight end and wide receiver and could make a similar impact for Ohio State’s offense over the course of his career. While he likely won’t see much early playing time because of the talent Ohio State has at both positions, he has the upside to blossom into an impact player for the Buckeyes by the end of his career.