Ohio State football signed the No. 4 recruiting class in 2022, according to the 247Sports composite score. With two five-stars, 18 four-stars and one three-star, the prospects coming to Columbus this fall will provide head coach Ryan Day with his roster for the future.
But some first-year Buckeyes, outside of the 21 commits featured in that class, will not be featured on the 85-man scholarship roster in 2022 (or perhaps during their entire Ohio State career). Those players aren’t heavily recruited or awarded any athletic financial aid. Those players are walk-ons.
In August, a flurry of new faces will start fall camp with Ohio State for the first time. Twelve of them will be walk-ons, according to the roster as of July 20. Buckeye Sports Bulletin has assembled their names:
MASON MAGGS, QUARTERBACK
Maggs (6-3, 180) announced his commitment to Ohio State on Jan. 29. His father, Bob, was an offensive lineman for Ohio State and later played in the NFL. Maggs attended Dublin (Ohio) Coffman High School, where he completed 173 of 268 passes (62 percent) for 1,786 yards as a senior. He also added 861 yards rushing and racked up 30 total touchdowns for the Shamrocks.
KAI SAUNDERS, WIDE RECEIVER
Saunders (6-2, 210) recorded 36 receptions for 477 yards and seven touchdowns as a senior at Northville (Mich.) High School. He was a two-time All-Kensington Lakes Activities Association selection as his program’s most versatile offensive weapon at wide receiver and tight end. Saunders comes from a family of Buckeyes, including his brother, Cayden, who plays running back and his father, Cedric, who was a tight end for Ohio State from 1990-93.
TC CAFFEY, RUNNING BACK
Caffey (5-10, 218) rushed for 2,638 yards and 37 rushing touchdowns as a senior at Hubbard (Ohio) High School. He also averaged 219 yards per contest and over 8 yards per carry that year. After the season, Caffey was named the Trumbull County Player of the Year and earned All-Ohio First Team honors in Division III. He finished his high school career with 4,659 yards rushing and 57 touchdowns in 39 games.
BRENTON JONES, SAFETY
Jones (6-1, 195) — also called “Inky” — was a two-way talent for Steubenville (Ohio) High School, contributing at wide receiver and defensive back. He earned first-team all-conference, all-district and all-area honors after catching 29 passes for 616 yards and eight touchdowns as a senior. Additionally, Jones broke the Steubenville record in the 400m with a 49.46-second run.
CHASE BRECHT, RUNNING BACK
Brecht (6-0, 205) earned first-team All-Ohio Capital Conference and second-team all-district honors as a senior at Powell (Ohio) Olentangy Liberty High School. A utility player at running back and wide receiver, Brecht’s best game came against Hilliard (Ohio) Davidson when he amassed 241 all-purpose yards and three second-half touchdowns while leading his team to a win.
COLIN KAUFMANN, CORNERBACK
Kaufmann (5-9, 185) played cornerback, wide receiver and returned kicks for Avon (Ohio) High School. He was a first-team all-county selection as a senior despite missing five games due to an undisclosed injury.
He also starred on the track, finishing fourth at the 2021 Ohio High School State Championships in the 100m at 10.69 seconds. Kaufmann later broke that personal record with a 10.57-second dash in 2022 and became the first runner in school history to qualify for states in the 100m, 200m, 4x100m relay and 4x200m relay.
JAYDEN FIELDING, KICKER
Fielding (5-11, 175) was ranked as the No. 7 kicker in the class of 2022 according to Chris Sailer Kicking. He made all nine of his field goals in 2021 at IMG Academy with a long of 50 yards. Additionally, 91 percent of his kickoffs went for touchbacks. In 2022, Fielding was a Vegas XXXVII punt and field goal finalist, an Adidas All-American Bowl kicking finalist and a Polynesian Bowl participant.
DIANTÉ GRIFFIN, CORNERBACK
Griffin (5-8, 185) earned second-team All-Three Rivers Athletic Conference and second-team All-Northwest Ohio after breaking up five passes and forcing a fumble as a senior at Lima (Ohio) Senior High School. His grandfather is two-time Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin and his father, Andre, played running back at Ohio State from 1998-2001.
RIORDIN STAUFFER, TIGHT END
Stauffer (6-1, 242) was a two-way standout for Millford Center (Ohio) Fairbanks High School as a running back and linebacker. He was named an first-team all-district linebacker and a Division VI All-Ohio special mention after totaling 59 tackles, three sacks and a forced fumble as a senior. Stauffer also ran for 688 yards and 12 touchdowns while averaging nine yards per carry that season.
JAY STOKER, LINEBACKER
Stoker (5-11, 215) earned all-conference honors after recording 75 tackles, two forced fumbles and 1 1/2 sacks as a senior at Cincinnati Princeton High School. He led the Vikings to a regional semifinal appearance in the state playoffs that season and received several team awards for his efforts on the field and in the weight room.
BLAIZE EXLINE, WIDE RECEIVER
Exline (5-10, 175) was a three-sport athlete at Salem (Ohio) High School and broke 10 school records on the gridiron during his career, inlcuding single-season receiving yards and touchdowns. Exline also has a Salem-best marks for career receptions, receiving yards and TDs. As senior, he scored 28 times for the Quakers while adding 125 catches and 1,424 yards through the air. He was awarded second-team All-Ohio in Division IV for his efforts.
DAVID ADOLPH, WIDE RECEIVER
Adolph (6-4, 210) earned first-team All-OCC honors, first-team all-district and all-metro honors after a breakout senior season at quarterback and wide receiver for Dublin (Ohio) Jerome High School. His best performance came against Lewis Center (Ohio) Olentangy when he caught six passes for 80 yards, inlcuding a game-winning touchdown on a hail mary pass.
