Buckeyes make the cut for top 2023 athlete, impress another 2023 RB

For once it feels like yesterday was a bit of a slower day on the recruiting trail concerning Ohio State football. Sure, it was only the first day of July and the latest happenings were mainly geared towards NIL updates, but after a non-stop June, the rhythm of seeing headline after headline had become the norm. Certainly Ryan Day and the rest of the coaching staff will enjoy a day that is a little less busy, but obviously the work behind the scenes never stops for this program.

As July continues on, the Buckeyes will expect more of their 2022 class to be rounded out, and will hope that their efforts in the past month continue to have a lasting impact on their future 2023 and even 2024 classes. With several top targets still shuffling through the whirlwind of what the last few weeks provided, it could just be a matter of time before the dominos begin to fall for not only the Buckeyes, but for several other college programs across the country. Ohio State is strongly being considered by many of the nation’s best players, and it just goes to show how incredible of a job this staff continues to do in all things recruiting.

2023 athlete trims top schools list

It was on Wednesday that an IMG Academy player placed the Buckeyes in his top schools when receiver Carnell Tate narrowed it down to 10. On Thursday, the same happened for another class of 2023 prospect who took to Twitter for the latest update of his top schools list getting a little more trimmed. The nation’s No. 5 athlete in the class, IMG Academy product Joenel Aguero, announced his top 12, and all good news here as Ohio State once again made the cut for another elite national prospect. Fresh off a visit in June, the Buckeyes seemingly made enough of an impression so far.

The one-time Massachusetts native also checks in as the 38th-best player nationally regardless of position, and the eighth-best player in his home state. A four-star prospect with nearly 30 offers to his name already, Aguero shows why he is clearly a must have player and one of the best in the country. At 6-foot, 195 pounds, Aguero has the size and frame to play in several spots, and he’s done just that on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. As for a projection, his current safety position very easily could be where he ends up on the field at the next level.

Rounding out his final 12 schools, Georgia, Penn State, Texas, Florida, Florida State, Miami, LSU, Boston College, Alabama, Clemson, Oklahoma, and finally Ohio State all found themselves still in the running. In regards to Ohio State, the Buckeyes have always recruited IMG Academy hard as most top programs do with how much talent is on the prep roster, but now the advantages may be even bigger for the Buckeyes as alum and former star “Pepper” Johnson is now with the program. Still, with how Ohio State recruits nationally in general, you have to feel like they’ll be a serious player moving forward in this recruitment until the very end.

Quick Hits

• The Buckeyes are in on several running backs in the 2023 class already, and while it may be tough to argue who is their top target right now, one running back is already planning a return trip to Columbus after just visiting campus in June. Per Bill Kurelic of Bucknuts, Justice Haynes “loved” his first trip to Ohio State, and for that reason plans to head back to see the Buckeyes again.

Ranked currently as the nation’s No. 3 running back in the 2023 cycle, Haynes is also the 64th-best player nationally. While he has one early Crystal Ball prediction in favor of his home-state Georgia Bulldogs, the confidence level is only at a four out of 10, and with how well Tony Alford has done as of late on the trail, certainly the Buckeyes are going to be in until the very end.

• There is never enough Quinn Ewers content. Check out the five-star Ohio State quarterback commit lighting it up in the Elite 11. There is a good chance he ends up winning the event’s MVP award, joining both Justin Fields and CJ Stroud as recent Buckeye quarterbacks to earn the honor.