Ohio State offers 2021 Louisville offensive tackle commit

It’s been a real tough time for Ohio State fans as of late. Nobody is hurt more by a cancelled season than the Buckeyes, who likely have the best team in the country and won’t get to prove it on the field this fall. The only silver lining for fans of the Scarlet and Gray in these last few months has been recruiting, where despite everything else going on in the world, Ryan Day has managed to keep things constant.

The staff has really been putting in work in the 2022 class, which has seen a significant ramp up in activity since the beginning of the contact period on Sept. 1. However, on Tuesday they turned their focus back to finishing out their group in 2021, sending out a new offer to three-star offensive tackle Zen Michalski.

Committed to Louisville since the end of April, Michalski is the No. 56 OT in the country and the No. 12 player from his home state of Indiana. The Floyd Central product has amassed 22 offers thus far, including programs among the likes of Cincinnati, Indiana, Kansas, and Ole Miss. He is one of 22 commits for the Cardinals in this cycle, whose class ranks No. 28 in the nation.

Despite the low rating as the No. 677 player overall in 2021, 247Sports national recruiting analyst Allen Trieu had good things to say about Michalski in his scouting report:

Tall with above-average arm length. Has filled in a lot and bulked up into a Power Five prospect after looking very thin and lean initially. A very good athlete who has quickness and coordination. Has good change of direction and bend. Fires out of his stance quickly and with good pad level. Has all the tools to be a great pass blocker, but needs reps against top-level competition and technical polishing there. Added 35 pounds after his junior season so we still need to see how he plays with the added weight and strength. Trajectory is headed upwards. Works very hard. Should develop into a starting left tackle and has the upside to potentially project as an NFL prospect.

Ohio State will be trying to steal the 6-foot-6.5, 288-pound OT from Louisville as the coaching staff looks to add more offensive line talent to an otherwise stacked class. The Buckeyes currently trail only Alabama as the No. 2 group in the nation, but have commitments from just two offensive guards in five-star Donovan Jackson and four-star Ben Christman. Michalski would give the team a much-needed offensive tackle as Day and position coach Greg Studrawa look to close things out.

Quick Hits

• Speaking of offensive tackles, one of Ohio State’s biggest remaining targets in five-star OT Tristan Leigh posted pictures of him on Twitter Tuesday night working out in Buckeyes gear. He appears to be training alongside Matthew Burrell, a fellow offensive lineman who played for Ohio State back in 2016-17, and his younger brother Aidan Leigh. The elder Leigh, the No. 4 OT and the No. 11 player overall in 2021, appears to be leaning towards LSU at the moment, but the Buckeyes remain in the mix for now.