Ohio State targets to announce leaders this week

During your time with loved ones this Holiday weekend you probably missed out on some of the latest recruiting news surrounding your Ohio State Buckeyes. Don’t worry! Land-Grant Holy Land is here to help you get caught back up with things.

Will the Buckeyes make the cut?

In just a few days the rich could be one step closer to getting even richer. Already blessed with the top-rated overall 2022 recruiting class, Ryan Day and the Ohio State football squad will learn if they’re still in the mix for two more highly rated junior prospects later this week.

Before the ball drops and we put 2020 in the rearview mirror, four-star class of 2022 offensive tackle Tyler Booker will release his top 10 college leader list on New Year’s Eve.

Picking up his scholarship to be a Buckeye from OSU back in October, Booker, a 6-foot-4 290-pound junior, holds offers from the likes of Ohio State, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Penn State, and Alabama.

Suiting up for prep powerhouse IMG Academy (FL), Booker would help continue a long pipeline with Ohio State. Landing numerous IMG products throughout the years, current Buckeye defensive tackle Taron Vincent, and defensive backs Marcus Williamson, and Lejond Cavazos are just a few of the former Ascenders to call Columbus their college home.

The next day the Buckeyes will be back on list watch when fellow highly sought after class of 2022 recruit Xavier Nwankpa will take to social media to also release his top programs.

The No. 7 safety and 76th overall prospect in the entire class of 2022, per the 247Sports Composite Rankings, Nwankpa might be pegged as a Ohio State lean at the moment, but the four-star defensive back has a solid amount of college coaches trying to make sure that doesn’t happen. The teammate of newly offered 2023 OSU target Kadyn Proctor at Iowa’s Southeast Polk High School, Iowa, Iowa State, LSU, and Missouri are just a few of the over 20 programs trying to pursue him to join up with their program.

Want to know more about Xavier Nwankpa and how his game could translate to the college level? Recruiting analyst Allen Trieu had the following to say on what the Iowa native could bring to a program.

“Great height length and has added good weight to his frame through his high school career. As a junior, he was excellent on defense, offense and special teams. Not afraid to deliver big hits and can also come down and blitz. But then can play man to man even out on the corner or go into the deep part of the secondary. Long arms and ball skills make him able to challenge any receiver or tight end on contested balls. Shows smooth change of direction and has good acceleration. Long strider who can cover a lot of ground. Shows instincts and smarts and gets himself into good position to make plays. Can still get stronger and refine man to man technique. Should be a great all-around safety who can line up in a variety of spots. Has a chance to be an early impact guy in college and has all the markings of an early round draft pick.”

Quick Hits

• Tyler Booker added a new teammate over the weekend. Announcing his plans to attend IMG Academy, 2022 four-star weakside defensive end Jihaad Campbell will leave New Jersey for the sunny weather of Florida. The 6-foot-4 pass rusher has picked up over 20 college offers throughout the process. Ohio State, Clemson, Florida, Michigan, Oregon, Penn State, Texas and West Virginia are just a few of the programs currently after Campbell’s talents.