Ohio State recruiting: Newly assembled staff at full speed on the recruiting trail

From the transfer news of former Ohio State quarterback Tate Martell, and recruiting in general, the Buckeyes seemingly never sleep. With a newly assembled coaching staff under Ryan Day though, there’s no time to lose. Day and his crew are focused on solidifying the rest of the 2019 class with an important official visitor weekend with guys such as current commit Doug Nester, someone they’re hoping to keep in the fold with a signature. Beyond this weekend though, the staff has been fast and furious on the recruiting front. With news never ending, there really is no offseason for Ohio State football.

Buckeyes head back to Missouri

Yesterday, the Buckeyes were the latest offer for yet another Missouri native, when class of 2021 prospect Travion Ford took to his Twitter account to announce Ohio State was his latest offer. A superstar in the making, the Saint Peters product currently holds offers from the likes of Alabama, LSU, Tennessee and Kentucky. Currently, Ford does not hold a 247sports ranking due to his class, but four-star status seems to be the easy range when considering his talents along with size.

If Ohio State’s success in and around St. Louis holds true, this recruitment could see the Buckeyes as a clear leader for his services come commitment time. Granted, Saint Peters is about 30 miles away from St. Louis, but with a past Buckeye presence in the state, it could help the expansion efforts in the Ryan Day era. If Ford watches football on Sundays and sees the homegrown Zeke running wild for Dallas, then maybe the Buckeyes recruiting strategy is already set. Add that to the fact the Buckeyes are pumping out NFL defensive ends each and every year, and you have another selling point for the program. Nevertheless, look for Ohio State and Ryan Day (along with Larry Johnson) to once again be in it for another prized defensive end.

Sunshine State recruiting never ends

Ohio State, regardless of coach, is a national brand that can—and will—recruit the best players regardless of location. One state that holds true in is Florida. A Buckeye program not recruiting Florida talent doesn’t exist and Day intends to keep it that way.

Yesterday, Ohio State went back to a familiar program in Florida and offered their next top prospect Agiye Hall. A 2021 receiver, Hall is a product of Armwood High School, the same school that produced current Ohio State running back Brian Snead. At 6-foot-3, 190 pounds, Hall already has impressive size that top level programs are taking notice of, but with two full years left of prep football, he may only continue to grow and get stronger. Ohio State is certainly interested after offering, but they’re not alone. Hall already has an impressive offer list that includes West Virginia, Auburn, North Carolina and South Carolina.

Time will tell how big of a threat Ohio State plays for Hall, but with Brian Hartline as the full-time receivers coach, his proven track record may just give Ohio State the edge.

Quick Hit:

• Ohio State coaches Ryan Day and Greg Mattison were in Michigan yesterday as they stopped at River Rouge High School in the Detroit area, and De La Salle High School—a powerhouse program.