In a suit and tie as he strolled through the second floor of the Huntington Lounge inside Ohio Stadium, Davon Hamilton shared the latest experience at Ohio State’s seventh annual job fair with his younger brother and parents.
The senior defensive tackle’s family was on hand Friday evening as Ty Hamilton, the 2020 three-star defensive end from Pickerington (Ohio) Central, started his official visit with the Buckeyes over the weekend.
By Sunday afternoon, Ty Hamilton arrived at his decision earlier than anticipated.
The 6-3, 250-pounder committed to OSU’s 12-member class over Michigan and Penn State — choosing to stay home in Columbus after an official visit June 7-9 with the Nittany Lions and canceling one entirely June 21-23 with the Wolverines.
Before he saw his younger brother make the announcement, Davon Hamilton remarked at Ty Hamilton’s development, recently culminated by earning an offer May 28 and camping June 6 with defensive line coach Larry Johnson.
“It’s pretty awesome,” Davon Hamilton said. “Not too many people get their brother coming in (and officially visiting). I’m excited for him. But at the same time, I hope he enjoys it. And I’m not here to make a decision for him.”
While Ty Hamilton narrowed his decision down to Ohio State, PSU and U-M after he compiled more than 20 offers, Davon Hamilton (6-4, 310) remembered his own recruitment when he committed Jan. 26, 2015, to the Buckeyes over Kentucky.
Despite similar spots as three-star recruits in the 247Sports composite rankings, the Hamilton brothers are two different players on the defensive line.
While Davon Hamilton developed over thee years into a rock along the interior trenches for OSU, Ty Hamilton looks to carry 270 pounds at the next level and has positional flexibility as a strongside end or three-technique tackle.
“Definitely well beyond what I was in high school, by far,” Davon Hamilton said. “I only had like five or six offers. He has like 30. I can’t compare to that. But player wise, I think we’re both around the same point (in high school). We both give a lot of effort. We’re both very hard workers.”
Davon Hamilton watched with his younger brother at the aforementioned skills/big man camp on the outdoor practice fields of the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, where he saw Ty Hamilton impress Johnson. Before the workout, the older brother helped him prepare accordingly.
“I kind of, prior to the camp, already gave him a run through of what he was going to be doing,” Davon Hamilton said. “So that kind of helped him out a little bit and as far as Coach Johnson, because he already knows Coach Johnson’s a little out there with his drills and what not.
“(Ty Hamilton did) pretty good. For basically a newbie, he did pretty well.”
The hard work paid off for Ty Hamilton, who went from offer candidate to top target for Johnson in the trenches with head coach Ryan Day involved as well throughout the recent recruitment.
“Really proud of him,” Davon Hamilton said. “He’s been working hard for (the offer). I remember my process, coming through here, picking a college I wanted to go to and I’m just glad he gets the opportunity (to do the same).”
