Buckeyes lock in official visit for high four-star offensive lineman as biggest recruiting weekend of the year draws near

This weekend seems to be getting more exciting by the minute. In what will surely be an electric atmosphere under the lights, Ohio State has tons riding on this game both in the present and for the future. For one, this game against Penn State can keep the Buckeyes in the driver’s seat for a B1G East division crown and should give us an even better understanding of how much this team is continuing to develop. On the flip side, Saturday will also be a massive opportunity for the future of the program in terms of recruiting.

This primetime matchup gives Ohio State their best visitation weekend of the season. Originally, the game against Oregon was set up to be a big visitor weekend, and it was just that, but now this second national stage contest looks to be even bigger as the Buckeyes will finally get to play host to many of their top national targets. Thanks to the nighttime start and with the season looking much more positive than it did against the Ducks, this coaching staff is hoping the momentum and wins on the field continue.

Greene locks in official visit

Just over a week ago, the Buckeyes locked in another commitment along the offensive line. In-state product Avery Henry gave his verbal to the Buckeyes this past Wednesday, and that shed some light into the offensive line recruiting in the 2022 class. With the Buckeyes not having a ton of spots in the class available, the thought may have been that Henry may be the last one taken in the cycle, but coach Ryan Day and Greg Studrawa surely have spots up for grabs if a player is of a certain caliber. All along, the idea was three to four guys on the offensive line, so at least one more spot remains open.

Several names have come and gone over the course of this 2022 class, but the approach has always been to find elite level play from both the guard position and outside at the tackle spot as well. Who the Buckeyes will land to wrap up the class is still totally up in the air. There’s multiple names that belong in the running, but even with the early signing period just over a month away, odds are we haven’t seen the last of the developments from the offensive line recruiting saga. Regardless, thanks to who they are still in on, it should be a big addition.

This weekend became a little more important in that aspect, as California native Earnest Greene will be on campus for the Saturday night contest. A welcomed guest, Greene has tried to get to Columbus before already this season, but being in out in California makes it tough when Ohio State has to play a bunch of noon kickoffs. Fortunately, Penn State being at night solves that issue, and allows the coaching staff to show one of their higher regarded targets just how incredible the Horseshoe is and why Greene could be the next great offensive lineman to carry on what is currently one of if not the best unit in college football.

The St. John Bosco product is currently ranked as the second-best interior lineman in the class, as well as the 47th-best player nationally per the 247Sports Composite. Currently, there is one Crystal Ball prediction in favor of Georgia, and while Greene does have family in Georgia, the staff is hoping this weekend will turn the momentum back to the Buckeyes and keep the relationship between Ohio State and St. John Bosco into an offensive line pipeline.

Top 2023 running back ready to see Ohio State

It was just last week that we discussed how current running back TreVeyon Henderson’s early success would be the biggest positive for future recruiting at the position for the Buckeyes. In the 2023 class, the top target for Ohio State and basically everyone else is Florida native, Richard Young. A five-star prospect and the top running back in the country like the aforementioned Henderson, position coach Tony Alford was just in Florida during Ohio State’s bye week to see Young, and the relationship looks like it will continue to develop this weekend.

Heading to Columbus for this Saturday’s game, Young will be on hand to see just how he himself could be used by Ohio State if he were to choose the Buckeyes. With what Henderson is doing each week for the offense, it’s the perfect opportunity to show Young why coming to Ohio State is the best option for the development of his playing career. In addition, having a major role even as a freshman and the success you can have as a part of this scheme should be a key pitch for the Alford and the rest of the staff.

Having Young on campus this weekend with all of the excitement surrounding this game, this visit couldn’t come at a better time.

Quick Hits

• Ohio State will host two QB prospects this weekend in both the 2023 and 2024 class. Starting with the more current 2023 cycle, the Buckeyes will have Michigan native, Dante Moore (Detroit, Michigan/Detroit King) in attendance to see what it’s like on game day and show him how successful you can be even in your first year at the helm thanks to C.J. Stroud’s play. The nation’s third-best QB in the 2023 class, Moore holds a Buckeye offer and is also considered to be the 16th-best player nationally as well as the top player in the state up north.

In the 2024 class, the Buckeyes will also have Texas product, Dylan Raiola on hand to see the Buckeyes in action. Ranked as the third-best QB in the class per 247Sports, Raiola is also thought to be the 45th-best player regardless of position in the class and the seventh-best player in Texas in 2024. He doesn’t currently hold an Ohio State offer, but it’s plenty early and visits like this prove the staff is at the very least interested in his services.