2023 linebacker lands Ohio State offer

In between watching the Buckeyes basketball squad roll past Illinois and all the NFL playoff action over the weekend you might’ve missed out on some of the latest recruiting news surrounding the Ohio State football program. Don’t worry. Land-Grant Holy Land is here to help get you caught back up with things.

Buckeyes offer 2023 linebacker

Unless you’ve lived under a rock for the past several years you probably already know that IMG Academy (FL) is one of the top programs on the prep level that coaches from Ohio State flock to when searching the recruiting trail for future Buckeyes. Urban Meyer’s Florida connections certainly helped out in creating a pipeline with the school, but it doesn’t look like something that will end anytime soon under Ryan Day.

After recently making the leader lists for a few of his IMG teammates, Ohio State has now entered the recruiting race for four-star class of 2023 outside linebacker Malik Bryant. Announcing his offer from the Buckeyes via his Twitter page on Saturday afternoon, the 6-foot-3, 220-pound Bryant adds the chance to call Columbus his college home alongside opportunities at programs such as Cincinnati, Florida, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Miami, Nebraska, Tennessee, and West Virginia.

Finishing last season with over six quarterback sacks for IMG, Bryant finds his name mentioned among some of the best in his graduating class. Per the 247Sports Rankings, he’s pegged as the No. 2 outside linebacker and 57th overall prospect in 2023.

Want to know more on Bryant and his game? Recruiting analyst Andrew Ivins had the following to say on what Malik could add to a college roster.

“Promising frame with some bulk already showing in the arms. Should only get bigger over the next few years. A twitchy edge rusher that creates plenty of issues for opposing quarterbacks. Uses quick first step to freeze offensive tackles. Well-timed spin move frequently leads to sacks. Fluid in his movement patterns and able to move laterally in space. Spent time the spring following freshman season playing linebacker on the camp circuit. Transferred into IMG Academy as a sophomore and instantly became one of the team’s top players totaling a pair of sacks against a talented Duncanville squad. Will need to keep progressing, but early body of work suggests that he’s one of the top pass rushers in the class of 2023. Could eventually push for five-star status.”

Quick Hits

• From one powerhouse prep program to another. Cutting down his potential landing spots from over 30 scholarships to a list of 11 programs, Bishop Gorman (NV) class of 2022 safety Zion Branch is taking a stronger look at continuing his playing days and education at either Ohio State, Oregon, Texas, Alabama, Clemson, LSU, Oklahoma, Stanford, USC, Washington, or Arizona State. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound Branch is a top 60 prospect for 2022.

• Class of 2022 quarterback and Ohio State verbal pledge Quinn Ewers and his Southlake Carroll (TX) teammates gave it their all on Saturday, but came up on the short end of the stick, falling to Westlake (TX) in the 6A Division I Texas State Championship, 52-34. Going up against one of top overall defenses in the state, Ewers connected on 23 of his 39 passing attempts accounting for 351 passing yards, three touchdowns in the loss.

• Ohio State is still in the running for 2021 linebacker Raesjon Davis. The former LSU commit is down to five schools, with the Buckeyes making the cut alongside LSU, Oregon, USC and Vanderbilt. One of Ohio State’s only remaining targets in the current cycle, Davis is the No. 4 OLB and the No. 45 player overall in the 2021 class.