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Ohio State’s 5-star wide receiver commits headlines important weekend of official visitors: Buckeyes Recruiting
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State’s next round of official visitors is getting a significant bump in numbers thanks to half of its recruiting class.
There are 15 players expected to be in Columbus June 9-11 and eight of them come from an OSU class that currently sits fourth nationally. Leading that group will be five-star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, and his return to campus is coming at a perfect time.
The nation’s top receiver has never failed to make headlines and be the topic of conversation. But lately, most of that talk has been trying to calm the nerves of a fan base that seems to freak out every time he visits another school or says something positive about anyone other than the Buckeyes. Smith won’t be done taking officials after this weekend, with trips to Florida State and Miami still to come, but the first of two June visits to Columbus should help him continue to double down on the reality that as long as Brian Hartline is at Ohio State, so will he.
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Smith’s actions haven’t kept him from being one of the more vocal members of the Buckeyes’ recruiting class and he’s not alone. He’ll be joined by fellow five-star wide receiver Mylan Graham. The two will then spend next week playing alongside of each other on the South Florida Express 7-on-7 team.
Four-star offensive lineman Ian Moore has already been in Columbus for a day choosing to spend his Thursday at a June day camp before his visit starts. He’ll be joined by twins Deonte and Devonte Armstrong in trying to help add more offensive linemen to the group. Four-star linebacker Garrett Stover will be looking for more defensive players to join him and fellow four-star linebacker Payton Pierce, who will visit next weekend.
Four-star running back James Peoples and four-star athlete Sam Williams-Dixon are also expected on campus. This will be Peoples’ second visit since his spring commitment and Williams-Dixon’s first. Though for Williams-Dixon, this will also serve as a chance to put a stamp on that commitment as he too has continued visiting other schools fresh off an unexpected trip to Kentucky.
That group will be tasked with trying to convince the seven other players joining them this weekend that Ohio State is the right place for them. This will be an important weekend in making that happen as many of those targets are at positions that are high on the recruiting board in this cycle.
Here’s the list of official visitors for this weekend:
| Player, Position | School | Rank (Pos.) | Rating | Stars |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah Smith, WR | Chaminade-Madonna Prep (FL) | No. 2 (No. 1) | 0.9986 | 5-Star |
| Mylan Graham, WR | New Haven (IN) | No. 17 (No. 4) | 0.9898 | 5-Star |
| Brandon Baker, OT | Mater Dei (CA) | No. 32 (No. 1) | 0.9814 | 4-Star |
| Marquise Lightfoot, EDGE | Kenwood Academy (IL) | No. 67 (No. 6) | 0.9630 | 4-Star |
| James Peoples, RB | Veterans Memorial (TX) | No. 77 (No. 6) | 0.9577 | 4-Star |
| Ian Moore, IOL | New Palestine (IN) | No. 112 (No. 6) | 0.9466 | 4-Star |
| Garrett Stover, LB | Big Walnut (OH) | No. 138 (No. 12) | 0.9388 | 4-Star |
| Darien Mayo, DL | Good Counsel (MD) | No. 172 (No. 21) | 0.9312 | 4-Star |
| Jeremiah McClellan, WR | Christian Brothers College (MO) | No. 174 (No. 25) | 0.9310 | 4-Star |
| Jay McClain, SAF | Seton Hall Prep (NJ) | No. 243 (No. 22) | 0.9146 | 4-Star |
| Edwin Spillman, LB | Lipscomb Academy (TN) | No. 251 (No. 23) | 0.9137 | 4-Star |
| Deonte Armstrong, OT | St. Edward (OH) | No. 333 (No. 30) | 0.9015 | 4-Star |
| Devonte Armstrong, IOL | St. Edward (OH) | No. 359 (No. 21) | 0.8982 | 4-Star |
| Jayden Jackson, DL | IMG Academy (FL) | No. 675 (No. 64) | 0.8750 | 3-Star |
| Sam Williams-Dixon, ATH | Pickerington North (OH) | No. 710 (No. 73) | 0.8744 | 3-Star |
• Brandon Baker is probably the most important target this weekend. Ohio State needs highly-rated tackles. Moore and Deonte Armstrong are already expected to play that position, but adding at least two more guys like that should be objective over the next six months.
• Larry Johnson’s defensive line board has historically been difficult to read until official visits roll around as his process has often been slow and steady. Marquise Lightfoot has emerged as one of those top choices as a Chicago kid where the Buckeyes have had success in the past. After failing to land a top 100 recruit at edge rusher in 2023, landing Lightfoot would go a long way in bouncing back from that.
• Darrien Mayo not only gives Johnson a chance to once again find recruiting success in Maryland. He also could be one of two players from Good Counsel to head to Columbus in this cycle alongside four-star wide receiver Elijah Moore, who visited last weekend.
• It wouldn’t have been crazy to think Jeremiah McClellan would already be a part of the class at this point as OSU’s third wide receiver commit. But the four-star slowed things down heading into the summer. He could still end up a future Buckeye, and this weekend could play a significant part in why, if things go the right way.
• This should be a big cycle for defensive backs, both at cornerback and safety. The cornerback targets are well known at this point while the board still feels open at safety, which includes Jay McClain as the first of that group to make an official visit. A win would provide back-to-back years that Perry Eliano found success in New Jersey with Jayden Bonsu serving as such in 2023.
• Ohio State could add a third linebacker alongside Stover and Pierce. Edwin Spillman is one of two top options in making that happen with the other visiting next weekend.
• Jayden Jackson is the last defensive lineman visiting this weekend. Though rated much lower than the other targets visiting this summer, the three-star would add depth on the interior where Johnson has religiously loved to go as deep as six when the roster allows him to.
To see Ohio State’s full 2024 recruiting class, click here.
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