Ohio State offers the nation’s No. 1 recruit in 2022

Did you miss out on some of the latest news from the world of Ohio State Buckeyes recruiting over the weekend? Don’t fret! Land-Grant Holy Land is here to get you caught back up on things.

Buckeyes offer top 2022 prospect

Just because Ryan Day and company have been hard at work putting together a rock solid class of 2021 doesn’t mean they’re sleeping on the 2022 class. Dishing out numerous scholarships recently, the Buckeyes threw their hat in the ring over the weekend for the top overall prospect the junior class has to offer.

Taking to this Twitter page to let college football fans know, five-star defensive end Shemar Stewart now has the opportunity to call Columbus his college home after locking up an offer from the Buckeyes.

Arguably the top pass rusher at the high school level regardless of class, Stewart adds the offer from the Buckeyes to a long list of potential landing spots. Florida, LSU, Miami, Penn State, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oregon, and Tennessee are just a few of the other programs that Ohio State finds themselves up against for the 6-foot-5, 236-pound standout from Monsignor Pace High in Miami, Florida.

Using a mix of strength, and speed, Stewart blew up on the scene last season for the Spartans. Finishing the year off with nearly 50 total tackles, and an eye-popping 15 quarterback sacks, he’s earned his name in the headlines with his play on the field.

Looked by most as a potential first round selection in the NFL Draft down the line, 247Sports director of scouting Barton Simmons had the following to say on what Shemar Stewart brings to the table.

“Long, lean, muscular defensive lineman with no bad weight, an imposing frame, long arms and thick lower half. Body type has the potential to continue to bulk up as a jumbo edge rusher or even kick inside long term given early stage of his development. Plays to his size on film. Brutish pass rusher that has an effective long-arm, can walk offensive tackles back to the quarterback and can win with speed. Has top end combine athleticism. Controls and sheds blocks effectively against the run. Has downfield speed in pursuit. Very limited nuance or finesse in his pass rush. Has some stiffness in space. Plays too high right now but can get away with it. Impact Power Five starter with the potential to be a first round NFL Draft pick and a candidate to be a future No. 1 overall pick but needs continued refinement over the next two years to approach that kind of ceiling.”

Four-star DT puts Ohio State on leader list

While the 2022 class is just starting to receive their offers, we are in the thick of things when it comes to 2021. The Buckeyes’ upcoming recruiting class is already absurd, holding the nation’s No. 1 group with a whopping 15 commits at this point in the game. On Sunday, they got one step closer to adding another potential commitment, when four-star defensive tackle Marcus Bradley listed Ohio State in his top six.

The No. 11 DT in the country, and No. 7 player from his home state of Maryland, the Quince Orchard standout had the Buckeyes in his top 10 back in February, and they have made the cut down to Bradley’s final six schools, which also includes Maryland, LSU, Tennessee, Texas A&M and USC. There are currently four Crystal Ball predictions for the 6-foot-3, 270-pound interior lineman, with two for Maryland, one for Ohio State and one undecided.

Already holding commits from five-star SDE Jack Sawyer and four-star DT Mike Hall, Larry Johnson would love to add more high-quality talent along the defensive line like Bradley to the fold before everything is said and done.

Santa Clara transfer names leaders

Even after picking up a pledge from former Harvard standout forward and Columbus native Seth Towns, Chris Holtmann and the OSU staff are still searching the transfer portal for a guard to add to the fold. The Buckeyes are now one step closer to doing just that.

After hearing from well over a dozen programs from across the country, Santa Clara transfer Trey Wertz is now considering seven schools to continue his education and playing days at. With two years of eligibility left after sitting out next season, Wertz’s next college destination will be either Ohio State, Notre Dame, North Carolina, Arizona, Virginia, Oklahoma, or Butler.

Previously stating to Land-Grant Holy Land that he’s not sure when he’ll make his college choice, Wertz might not know where he’ll wind up, but he does not what he’ looking for in a program and what kind of player they’ll be adding to their roster.

“I’m just really looking for the best overall fit and situation for me both academically and athletically. I think I’ll just bring a player who’s competitive, can shoot and score as well as make plays for myself and others. They’ve all done a great job in this short period of time of getting me up to speed on each of their programs. I can’t really put one ahead of the other right now.”

Quick Hits

• Class of 2021 offensive guard Jager Burton will no longer be making his verbal commit to a program on August 24. Having to switch up his plans due to the Covid-19 outbreak, the four-star rated Kentucky native will now announce his college plans after he finally gets to take his official visits to Ohio State, Kentucky, Alabama, Clemson, and Oregon.
• Ohio State made the top 10 leader list of 2021 Saguaro (AZ) athlete Denzel Burke on Sunday afternoon. Earning over 20 offers throughout the recruiting process, Auburn, Texas, LSU, Nebraska, Oregon, Washington, Arizona State, USC, and Colorado also made the cut for the four-star prospect.
• According to multiple reports, Chris Holtmann and the OSU basketball program have been in touch with Bucknell transfer guard Jimmy Sotos. A sit one, play one transfer, Sotos, who averaged 11.5 points a contest as a junior, is also hearing from the likes of Gonzaga, Minnesota, Missouri, Vanderbilt, and Xavier.