Ohio State squares off against Rutgers this Saturday in possibly the most lop-sided game the Buckeyes have played in decades. With OSU a 50-plus point favorite over the Scarlet Knights, Ryan Day and his staff promise they’re not looking ahead to the final two weeks of the regular season, but it’s not wrong to believe the Buckeyes’ second and third teams could not only compete, but probably also win big in this weekend’s matchup.
The headlines after the game should read positive for Ohio State and its continued success on the field, but of course earlier this week the biggest headline was learning they will in fact get their star Chase Young back for the remainder of the year after this weekend.
Next week, however, the Buckeyes not only host Penn State for Senior Day, but also have easily their biggest recruiting weekend of the year on the slate. As the staff looks to stay perfect on the field, the effort to stay next to perfect in the recruiting scene will also be taking place.
Ohio State is second-to-none when rolling out the red carpet for its top targets, and the Penn State contest looks to be just that. If the Bucks can win that game, it’s a feather in their cap and another step forward to winning in the eyes of prospects coming from all over the country. It’s a great time to be a Buckeye fan, and that is in large part due to their incredible efforts on the recruiting trail.
Buckeyes looking ahead to 2022
It’s been talked about many times how Ryan Day has a major priority for keeping Ohio’s top recruits in-state for their college years. When you have a dual-threat like the Buckeyes and can recruit nationally while keeping the best guys in your backyard at home, the success on the field tends to repeat itself and that has remained true under both Urban Meyer and now coach Day. The Bucks have all but locked up the top guys for 2020 and have gotten off to an incredible start in 2021. The key now will be to continue the trend in the years to come.
Yesterday the Buckeyes did just that, offering 2022 Marysville, Ohio native Gabe Powers. At 6-foot-4, 220 pounds, Powers has incredible size that will be coveted at the next level, but when you consider that he’s only currently a high school sophomore, the sky is the limit for not only his size, but his abilities as well.
Gabe does not currently have a ranking from 247sports due to his age, but with offers from the likes of Michigan, Florida State, and now Ohio State, it’s only a matter of time before the rest of the blue-blood programs come calling. Fortunately for OSU, the Marysville product is no stranger to the Buckeye program. Being within minutes from campus, the relationship between the two parties is sure to intensify quickly as he can see Ohio State any time he wants without having to sacrifice long-distance travel time and cost.
Blessed to receive an offer from The Ohio State University. Thanks to Coach Washington and the Ohio State staff. #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/1MoEFw0umV
— Gabe_powers21 (@GabePowers21) November 15, 2019
Currently listed as an outside linebacker, Powers already features tremendous size. That kind of stature and potential growth could lead to him playing with a hand in the dirt. For right now as an LB, Gabe has the ability to move laterally and come down hill, making him a force in the run game. A prospect sure to continue heating up in the recruiting process, this is another top talent that Day and his staff have keyed in on early, and will make a push to keep him at home and away from the rest of the college football world.