Recruiting Outlook: Ohio State Out Of The Running For Charles Lester III, Colton Heinrich To Visit In June

Recruiting Outlook is a regular series on Buckeye Sports Bulletin designed to be your one-stop shop for all news related to the Ohio State football recruiting trail.

Sarasota (Fla.) Riverview five-star cornerback Charles Lester III (6-1, 171) announced a new set of top schools this week, indicating that Ohio State will no longer be part of his recruitment as he focuses on Alabama, Florida State and Georgia.

As part of the announcement, Lester said that a previously scheduled visit to Ohio State will now not happen, with trips scheduled to Alabama from June 2-4, Florida State from June 16-18 and Georgia from June 25-25. While Colorado was not formally listed among his top three schools, Lester said he will visit the Buffaloes from June 9-11.

Sorry for confusion! Here is my official visit schedule! (i will no longer take an official to Ohio state University) i am down to 3 schools (UA, FSU, UGA) all questions should be answered here!
Alabama🐘:June 2-4
Colorado🦬: June 9-11
FSU🍢: June16-18
Georgia🐶: June 23-25

— 5🌟charles “CL3” lester III (@cl3slimee) May 17, 2023

Lester is the No. 15 overall prospect and No. 2 cornerback in the class, as well as the fourth-ranked prospect out of Florida. He has hauled in 14 interceptions during his high school career.

With Lester out of the picture for Ohio State at cornerback, the Buckeyes will now focus on in-state cornerbacks Aaron Scott (6-0, 170) of Springfield and Bryce West (5-11, 177) of Cleveland Glenville, as well as Waco (Texas) Connally five-star Kobe Black (6-0, 190), Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei four-star Zabien Brown (6-1, 180), Chandler (Ariz.) Basha four-star Miles Lockhart (5-10, 185) and the recently offered Terhyon Nichols (6-0, 180) out of Cincinnati Withrow.

Four-Star Tight End Colton Heinrich To Visit In June

According to a report from 247Sports, Ohio State will host Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) Cardinal Gibbons three-star tight end Colton Heinrich (6-4, 232) for a visit from June 2-4.

Heinrich is the No. 629 overall prospect and No. 30 tight end in the class, and he holds additional offers from Alabama, Georgia and North Carolina, all schools that he also has official visits set for this summer. He caught 36 passes last season for 464 yards and three touchdowns, helping his team to an 11-2 record.

Ohio State already has a commitment from Chattanooga (Tenn.) Baylor School four-star tight end Max LeBlanc (6-4, 222) and is actively recruiting Cleveland Glenville four-star Damarion Witten (6-4, 215), so the Buckeyes have plenty of options as it looks toward a class with potentially two tight ends.

Buckeyes Add Transfer DL Castro As Preferred Walk-On

Former Robert Morris defensive lineman Cade Casto (6-2, 260) announced on Friday that he has joined Ohio State as a preferred walk-on.

After careful consideration, I am excited to announce I have accepted a PWO at The Ohio State University to further my academic and athletic career! Can’t wait to get to work. GO BUCKS🌰🌰‼️‼️#GoBucks @OhioStateFB @R2X_Rushmen1 @N_Murph pic.twitter.com/00BXZsPuDk

— Cade Casto (@Cadecasto20) May 19, 2023

Casto, a native of Lakewood (Ohio) St. Edward, committed to the Colonials as part of the 2021 recruiting class. He held additional offers Baldwin Wallace, Clarion, Dayton, Lake Erie College and Valparaiso. He appeared in just one game with Robert Morris, registering one tackle.