Recruiting Dead Period Officially Lifted As Visits Kick Off

Ohio State is starting what may be the most anticipated recruiting month of all time on June 1 with a two-day camp designed primarily for 2023 prospects, though Merrillville, In., defensive lineman Kenneth Grant; Ellenwood (Ga.) Cedar Grove four-star defensive lineman Christen Miller and Kettering (Ohio) Archbishop Alter five-star linebacker (and Buckeye commit) C.J. Hicks will be there to represent the 2022 class.

The 2023 group isn’t large, but has a number of big names, including top prospects like five-star Pickerington (Ohio) Central safety Sonny Styles, four-star Findlay, Ohio offensive lineman Luke Montgomery, quarterbacks Eli Holstein (Zachary, La.); Jacob Winters (Jackson, Ohio); Malachi Singleton (Kennesaw, Ga.); and Nicholaus Iamaleava (Downey, Calif.), among others.

The first big official and unofficial visit day isn’t until June 4, when the bulk of Ohio State’s 2022 class will arrive and play host to several uncommitted prospects.

Among the commits in attendance are Southlake (Texas) Caroll five-star quarterback Quinn Ewers, Hicks, Austin (Texas) Lake Travis five-star wide receiver Caleb Burton, Marysville, Ohio four-star linebacker Gabe Powers, West Chester (Ohio) Lakota West cornerback Jyaire Brown and offensive lineman Tegra Tshabola, Chandler, Ariz. four-star wide receiver Kyion Grayes, Pilot Mountain (N.C.) East Surry four-star tight end Benji Gosnell, Acworth (Ga.) Allatoona four-star tight end Bennett Christian and Seffner (Fla.) Armwood three-star defensive back Kye Stokes.

Five-star offensive lineman Zach Rice, four-star defensive lineman Omari Abor, four-star defensive back Zion Branch, four-star safety Xavier Nwankpa, four-star offensive lineman Aamil Wagner, four-star defensive back Toriano Pride, four-star defensive lineman Dominick James, several more prospects from 2022 and a few from 2023 will be in attendance for the big weekend.

For Ohio State, setting the standard early on these visits will be crucial, especially as several uncommitted players plan to take visits throughout the month of June.

“We hope to set the bar so that when these kids go to visit other schools, they know what Ohio State was and we want them to think that is going to be really hard to top,” director of player personnel Mark Pantoni said. “Coach Day has been very involved with a lot of input, which is awesome, and we have an outstanding plan for the first weekend. We’re going to execute it as best we can and hope for the best.”