Four-star DT “very interested” in Ohio State

For almost every prospect around the country, getting an offer from a program like Ohio State is a massive deal. Earning that amount of significant interest from one of college football’s blue bloods can completely change a prospects recruitment, as it usually results in greater interest from other programs shortly thereafter. For 2022 defensive tackle Curtis Neal, the Buckeye offer is certainly a significant one.

Neal is a player that needed no help being put into the spotlight, as he already holds over 30 scholarship offers from some of the nation’s most prestigious football schools among the likes of Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Penn State and Wisconsin in addition to many others. Ohio State was actually a bit late to the party with the North Carolina native, only recently offering the interior defensive lineman on April 13. With Larry Johnson being the one to extend the offer his way, Neal is understandably excited, and quickly set up an official visit to Columbus.

Very interested,” Neal told Bucknuts after receiving the offer. “I wanted this school so bad... I have [an official visit set to] Ohio State June 11-13. Coach Johnson said I should come up for a visit so we went ahead and set it up. I’m pretty fired up about getting up there. It will be my first time.”

Playing his high school ball at William Amos Hough, Neal was a former teammate of current Buckeye freshman running back Evan Pryor. He is looking forward to reconnecting off Pryor and taking in all that Ohio State has to offer.

“I’m looking forward to hanging out with the players and seeing what it’s like up there,” Neal said. “And trying on the uniform. Evan is having fun up there.”

Neal is the nation’s No. 23 defensive tackle and the No. 322 prospect in the 2022 class overall. He is the No. 10 player in North Carolina, and could become the second recruit out of the region to join Ohio State’s class with 2022 tight end Benji Gosnell (No. 9 player in NC) already in the fold.

Only time will tell if the 6-foot-1, 290-pound lineman decides to call Columbus home for his collegiate career, but the interest is certainly there. Having a former teammate of his in Pryor already on the roster can’t hurt, and with a defensive line guru in coach Johnson at the helm of his recruitment, Ohio State has to like their chances at this stage in the game.

Quick Hits

• Continuing the defensive line talk, Ohio State is pursuing a pair of 2023 teammates in Florida in defensive end Derrick LeBlanc and defensive tackle John Walker. Both players already have over 30 offers to their names, and the Buckeyes are among the group that have joined the party for the Osceola products. LeBlanc comes in as the No. 6 SDE and the No. 54 overall player in 2023, while Walker is No. 6 DT and the No. 74 player in the cycle.

Check out Bill Kurelic’s interview with the talented duo ($):

• Ohio State transfer Musa Jallow has officially found his new home with the Charlotte 49ers. Charlotte finished 9-16 this past season, with a 5-11 mark in Conference USA. Despite never earning an abundance of minutes with the Buckeyes, Jallow is a strong defensive player who may be able to finally shine if given the opportunity. We wish him the best in his new endeavor, and are hoping that the Moose will officially be loose.