Ohio State makes the cut for two top cornerbacks

While out enjoying the weekend with loved ones and friends, you might’ve missed out on some of the latest recruiting news surrounding your Ohio State Buckeyes. Don’t worry. Land-Grant Holy Land is here to help you get caught back up on things.

Four-star CB names leaders

Another weekend, another recruit lists the Ohio State football squad among his college leaders. In what’s becoming a regular occurrence, the Buckeyes found out they’re still in the mix for one of the top prospects the class of 2022 has to offer over the weekend.

Announcing his top seven via his Twitter page on Friday evening, soon-to-be-senior cornerback Toriano Pride (Saint Louis, MO/Lutheran North) is thinking hard about taking his talents to either Ohio State, Clemson, Alabama, Missouri, Georgia, Oregon, or Auburn when it’s all said and done.

A four-star prospect, Pride, who will suit up in the All-American Bowl next winter, is looked as the No. 14 cornerback, and 124th overall prospect in the class of 2022. A potential future NFL draft pick, 247Sports recruiting analyst Andrew Ivins had the following to say on what the 5-foot-11, 172-pound Saint Louis native could potentially bring to a program on the next level.

“Solid makeup for the position hovering right around 5-foot-11. A fluid athlete that looks like one of the top match-and-mirror cornerbacks in the class of 2022 given play speed and ability to change directions. Efficient in his backpedal. Springs in and out of his breaks almost like a rabbit. Closes in a hurry allowing him to mask most mistakes. Understands how to attach his hip to a wide receiver. Sniffs out screens rather quickly. Very comfortable in off-man coverage, but does have some experience working closer to the line of scrimmage. Two-way player at the high school level that made a difference as both a wide receiver and running back on Friday nights. Offensive snaps have helped hone ball skills. Will need to adjust to the speed of the college game and get better as an open-field tackler, but coverage skills and overall fluidity suggest that he should carve out a role as a starting cornerback for a top-end Power 5 program after a year or two on campus. Son of a former college running back has a good chance to develop into an NFL Draft pick.”

Off to a rather hot start to it’s class of 2022, Ryan Day and the Buckeyes already hold verbal pledges from a two other highly sought after cornerbacks. Looking to add depth to the secondary, Pride would join fellow standout defensive backs Jaheim Singletary (Jacksonville, FL/Robert E. Lee), and Jyaire Brown (West Chester, OH/Lakota West) in Ohio State’s star studded class.

Quick Hits

• Pride wasn’t the only top tier cornerback to list Ohio State among his current leaders over the weekend. Dropping his top 12, four-star class of 2023 defensive back Tony Mitchell (Alabaster, AL/Thompson) is taking a hard look at not just Ohio State, but also Auburn, Michigan, USC, Texas, Alabama, Oregon, Georgia, Clemson, Florida, LSU, and Florida State. Watching his recruitment blow up as of late due to his stellar sophomore campaign, Mitchell finished last season with 82 total tackles and four interceptions.

• After announcing a top 10 on New Year’s day of OSU, Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Georgia, Nebraska, Michigan State, Michigan, Penn State, Baylor, and USC, 2022 running back Dillon Tatum (West Bloomfield, MI/West Bloomfield) is now down to a final four. While the Buckeyes didn’t make the cut, Michigan, Michigan State, Baylor, and Notre Dame are still in the mix for the four-star rated standout.