Buckeyes offer nation’s No. 2 offensive tackle in 2023 class

We’ve reached the odd middle ground of the offseason, where the last game is still fresh in your mind but you’re ready for spring football to start. Right now, the 2021 Buckeyes squad is already working and taking shape under the care of strength coach Mick Marotti. Seeing the players in the weight room grinding thanks to Ohio State’s creative media team, the excitement is palpable as Ryan Day and his crew will be poised once again for another Big Ten title berth and more in his third season at the helm of the program.

In the meantime, this staff also continues the grind on the recruiting trail. Lately the offers have been flying off the shelf as Ohio State coaches have the ability to really prioritize recruiting even a little more than usual. This staff has proven that in all hours of the day they’re committed to bringing in the the best talent the country has to offer, and in most cases they are doing just that.

Buckeyes offer latest 2023 offensive tackle target

It’s quite clear that the Buckeye football staff is really focused on the 2023 class right now in terms of evaluating players. The 2022 class of course is the main priority when it comes to hunting down new commitments to add to the group, but in terms of new offers being sent out, it’s really the 2023 class that is receiving all of the attention. Everyday lately it seems there has been at least one new offer going out and yesterday was no different. As this staff continues to throw their hat into the ring vying for the top talent the class has to offer, expect Ohio State’s momentum to continue on.

Heading down to Virginia, the Buckeyes latest offensive tackle offer was dished out to Alex Birchmeier after announcing publicly via his Twitter account that Ohio State was the latest to join his recruitment. Ranked currently as the nation’s second-best offensive tackle prospect, Alex is also considered as the top player in his home state of Virginia as well as the 29th-best player nationally regardless of position. A true blue-chipper, Birchmeier is already on the verge of that coveted fifth star, and with two more prep seasons of football to play, it’s certainly not out of the question to think it could be done before his high school career concludes.

At 6-foot-5, 265 pounds, Birchmeier already has he perfect frame to be an elite tackle at the college level, and with double digit offers from some of the top programs in the country early on, surely more will soon follow suit. Ohio State has been incredible when it comes to recruiting nationally, and in Virginia specifically they’re really started to see increased success. Penn State will likely be the toughest competitor for now, as they own the lone Crystal Ball prediction on 247Sports, but offering Birchmeier with this timeframe in mind and their success in his home state recently has to show that they feel pretty confident about being a major player moving forward.

Latest 247Sports update impacts Buckeye commits & targets

In the latest rankings update by 247Sports for the 2022 class, both targets and commits of Ohio State saw changes to their recruiting stocks. While certainly not everything, these rankings are still an aspect worth paying attention to and something the players care about as well. One of the Buckeye commits worth mentioning is tight end prospect Bennett Christian. Committed to Ohio State since September of 2020, Christian was once ranked as a three-star prospect, but yesterday he saw a tremendous increase in his status. Moving up an incredible 203 spots, Christian is now the 201st-best prospect overall and the No. 7 tight end in the country, giving him that coveted fourth star.

Staying on the offensive side of the ball, there may not be a player that is talked about more in relation to Ohio State than wide receiver target Kyion Grayes. The Arizona native has seemingly been the hottest topic regarding the Buckeyes and their recruiting efforts, and with him set to visit Columbus this coming weekend, Grayes continues to be the player that is likely to be the next one to join the 2022 class.

Thought to be the closest comparison to current Buckeye star Chris Olave, the one-time three-star prospect saw his stock increase yesterday, moving up 198 spots which makes him now the 108th-best player nationally and the No. 14 receiver in the country per 247Sports. The comparison to Olave is of course because of their style of play, but the three-star status Grayes had really contributed to the connection. With Kyion now achieving four-star status and seeing programs all over the country vying for his services, the Buckeyes are hoping to steal away another hidden gem. This weekend’s visit could go a long ways to making that the case.

Quick Hits

• One of Ohio State’s top committed players in their 2022 class, C.J. Hicks (Dayton, Ohio/Kettering Alter) received an invite yesterday as one of the selected players for the 2022 Polynesian Bowl. In the same day, Hicks committed to play in that game, which will be a thrilling end to his prep career. “Captain Buckeye” himself continues to be a key leader in this class both on and off the field.