2022 standouts name Ohio State among leaders

Spending time with family and friends over the weekend you might’ve 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.

Buckeyes make the cut

Currently sitting pretty in both the 2021 and 2022 classes, Ryan Day and crew still have a shot at landing numerous other highly sought after recruiting targets. While Ohio State might not know exactly when they will take the field this season, what they do know is two more top notch juniors are still interested in suiting up for the Buckeyes when it’s their turn to sign on the dotted line with a college.

Taking to Twitter on Friday to share his newly trimmed leader list, four-star linebacker Jalon Walker cut things down from around 25 potential college destinations to 10. Considering schools from across the country, Ohio State, North Carolina, Georgia, Texas, Notre Dame, Clemson, LSU, Auburn, Arizona State, and Texas A&M are still in the mix for the 6-foot-2, 220-pound Salisbury, North Carolina native.

Walker, the No. 2 outside linebacker, and 41st overall prospect in the class of 2022, according to the 247Sports Composite, put up some rather eye-popping numbers last season as a sophomore. Always around the ball for Salisbury High, he finished the year off with 121 total tackles, three forced fumbles, and two quarterback sacks for the Hornets.

Just a few hours later five-star 2022 wide receiver Luther Burden let the world know where he might be calling his future home. Picking up 40 offers throughout the process, Burden is now taking a closer look at 12 programs.

Rated a top-15 prospect in his class, either OSU, Auburn, Missouri, Texas, Georgia, Alabama, Penn State, Illinois, Baylor, Florida State, Oklahoma, or LSU will land the 6-foot-2 playmaker from Cardinal Ritter College Prep (MO) — the same program the produced current Buckeye wide out Jameson Williams.

A big time talent on the gridiron as well as the basketball court, recruiting analyst Allen Trieu had the following to say on how Burden’s skills translate to the college level:

“Above-average size and build. Very good athlete who is also a standout basketball player. Has been productive in two varsity seasons. Shows the ability to make plays from all over the field. Can take screens and break long gains and can be a downfield receiver who wins contested passes. Long strider, very smooth and has excellent body control. Has not been verified as far as speed. Can still get more explosive in and out of his breaks. Still on the raw side as far as craft, but has great upside with his natural athleticism and competitiveness. Should be an early impact college player and have a chance to be an early NFL pick.”

Quick Hits

• The Ohio State basketball staff offered 2023 in-state standout Rayvon Griffith over the weekend. Still three years away from the college level, the Buckeyes join the likes of Oklahoma State, Alabama State, and Grambling State on the hunt for the Taft High sophomore. There are not yet ratings for the sophomore class, so we will have to wait and see how the Cincinnati native stacks up later in the process.

• Ohio State offered another 2023 in-state product on Sunday, this time of the football variety. Pickerington North safety Sonny Styles announced his latest offer via Twitter, as the Buckeyes joined Indiana as the two earliest entries for the sophomore. The 6-foot-4, 205-pound safety does not yet have a rating, but he is an OSU legacy, as his father Lorenzo Styles Sr. played his college ball in Columbus.