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The No. 1 RB in 2023 includes Ohio State in his group of top schools

Running backs coach Tony Alford has helped push the Buckeyes towards the top for one of the very best in the 2023 recruiting cycle.

Richard Young
Andrew Ivins, 247Sports

In what seemed to be a slow recruiting weekend in Buckeye Nation, Ohio State was on the receiving end of some important news regarding two targets in the 2023 recruiting cycle on Sunday. Land Grant Holy-Land takes a look at the latest happenings on the trail for the Buckeyes.

No. 1 RB in 2023 down to 10

Head coach Ryan Day and RB coach Tony Alford look to be going all out at the tailback spot in 2023 with the unquestionable top target being five-star Richard Young of Lehigh Senior (FL). The 6-foot, 190-pounder holds the top spot at the running back position and has a host of the top schools in pursuit of his services. Along with Ohio State, additional programs hoping to ultimately land the No. 17 overall prospect include the expected cast of characters like Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Oregon, and plenty of others.

On Sunday, Young made the call to trim down his list of 41 offers and lock in on the 10 programs he wants to focus on going forward.

As expected, the Buckeyes did make the cut for the Sunshine State standout. Young has made stops to Columbus a couple of times this summer, so the news doesn’t come as much of a surprise. Nonetheless, it is news that Day and company are fond of. Now the tall task for Ohio State becomes outlasting Alabama, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Miami (FL), Oklahoma, Oregon, and USC.

Buckeyes in the mix for Florida DB

The Scarlet and Gray also got some optimistic news centered around another Florida blue-chipper on Sunday — this time at the defensive back position. That’s when four-star safety Elliot Washington of Venice (FL) revealed his top schools in his recruitment.

Washington is currently graded as a Top 200 prospect in the class and is No. 18 ranked safety in his class. Ohio State initially jumped into the picture for Washington about three months ago when they dropped an offer to the talented defensive back, and have since had him on campus in June for camp.

Quick Hits

  • Ohio State added a preferred walk-on commitment from linebacker Elias Myers of Big Walnut (OH) on Friday afternoon. The 6-foot-4, 215-pounder was originally a prospect in the the 2019 recruiting class and previously attended Pittsburgh before deciding on transferring closer to home.
  • Four-star 2023 interior offensive lineman T.J. Shanahan Jr., a Buckeye target, announced on Sunday that he will now attend Westlake (TX). Shanahan, who is the fourth highest ranked interior offensive lineman in the class, formerly attended Timber Creek (FL).
  • Oklahoma was on the receiving end of a commitment from four-star tight end Luke Hasz on Friday. Ohio State offered the Bixby (OK) prospect back in March of this year, and now with another tight end off the board in 2023, it certainly looks like the Buckeyes could be focused on four-star Ty Lockwood, the No. 7-ranked tight end overall, in hopes of having him be the guy to fill that spot.