Buckeyes offer 2023 offensive lineman

The start of the work week is always busy, but this Monday was even busier with the NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments taking place. Therefore, if you missed Ohio State’s football team making the recruiting headlines, we will forgive you (this time) and as always, Land-Grant Holy-Land has you covered.

Ohio State offers in-state OG

Ryan Day has the Ohio State football program in a great spot heading into spring football. In addition to a new crop of incredibly talented freshmen, the team currently holds the top spot in the 2022 recruiting team rankings with 11 verbal commitments. Because the Buckeyes have gotten off to such a quick start, the staff has been able to start shifting gears towards the 2023 class.

Over the last few weeks, Ohio State has been dishing out multiple scholarship offers to some of the top talents in the country. This shift in momentum continued Monday, when Ohio State offered in-state offensive guard Joshua Padilla.

The soon-to-be junior was both “blessed and excited” with the news of the offer saying, “During a great call with @OSUCoachKDub (Kevin Wilson) @CoachStudOL (Greg Strudawa) I am so blessed and excited to say I have received an offer to play at THE Ohio State University!”

An offer from Ohio State is always great news for recruits, as the program has cemented itself as one of the nation’s elite in college football. However, the offer is sure to mean a bit more to a kid who grew up in Ohio and has long been a fan of the Buckeyes.

Ohio State is not the first to offer Padilla though. The Buckeyes will be competing with the likes of Arizona State, Cincinnati, Miami (OH), Oregon, Pittsburgh and Eastern Kentucky. However, expect that list to continue growing throughout the next two years. While Padilla has yet to name a leader, and likely will not anytime soon, it is safe to assume the Buckeyes are at or near the top of his list, given the close proximity and prestige of the University.

Like most recruits in the 2023 recruiting class, Padilla has yet to receive a star ranking from 247Sports. However, expect him to be viewed as one of the best in the nation when the recruiting database updates their rankings for the class.

Ohio State has not yet secured a commitment in the 2023 class, but as previously mentioned, the school has been sending out multiple offers in the last few weeks. While a commitment in this class may still be a ways away, the Buckeyes have to like where they are sitting this early in the process.

Additionally, “Captain Buckeye” and 2022 five-star LB commit C.J. Hicks was quick to congratulate the fellow Ohio native on his scholarship offer.