What, and who, could Ohio State add to the 2024 class before National Signing Day? Buckeye Breakfast

COLUMBUS, Ohio — National Signing Day is just one week away, as Ohio State looks to put the finishing touches on the 2024 recruiting class that, currently, ranks No. 2 in the 247Sports composite rankings.

And currently, there are at least two candidates for Ohio State headed into the final week of recruitment.

Safety Koi Perich and defensive lineman Carlon Jones are both candidates to join the Buckeyes by the 20th. Perich, ranked No. 140 in the class, would be the third safety commit in the 2024 class. The Minnesota commit reported an offer from Ohio State on Nov. 6 and took his official visit last weekend.

Jones reported an Ohio State offer on Oct. 30, and decommitted from Nebraska on Nov. 28. He has since reported offers from Kansas State, Syracuse, USC and Alabama. He took an official visit to Ohio State last weekend, and is set to make a visit to USC this weekend.

If both commit to the Buckeyes, that would raise Ohio State’s class to 24 total commits and to a total team score of 302.35, per 247Sports’ class calculator. That would not, even with a decommitment from Georgia quarterback commit Dylan Raiola, boost the Buckeyes to the No. 1 class.

But, it would certainly round off the Ohio State class with two of its most glaring weaknesses.

Quarterback options in transfer portal begin to dwindle

Former Duke quarterback Riley Leonard committed to Notre Dame on Tuesday morning, taking one potential option for the Buckeyes off the market. Later in the day, quarterback Tyler Van Dyke committed to Wisconsin.

With Dillon Gabriel committed to Oregon, and Dante Moore appearing to be headed to either Michigan State or Miami, options are slowly dwindling.

While not confirmed that Ohio State has had any interest in those quarterbacks, there has been a slow dwindling of quarterbacks if the Buckeyes wanted to add in the portal. As of now, the quarterback depth chart next season appears to have a top three of Devin Brown, Lincoln Kienholz and Air Noland.

Dante Moore, Michigan quarterback?

While Moore appears headed elsewhere, ESPN released an article detailing the best fits for current quarterbacks in the transfer portal. It listed former Washington State quarterback Cam Ward as the best fit for Ohio State, and Moore as the best fit for Michigan.

It’s unclear what J.J. McCarthy’s plans are for after this season concludes, or even what the Michigan program could look like if and when NCAA sanctions come down and Jim Harbaugh’s future is decided, but the Buckeyes wouldn’t mind a former five-star quarterback staying clear of Ann Arbor.

Key dates

• Early signing period starts: 7 days, Dec. 20-22
• Cotton Bowl vs. Missouri in Dallas: 16 days, Dec. 29
• Winter transfer portal closes: 22 days, Jan. 4
• College Football Playoff National Championship: 29 days, Jan. 8, 2024
• NFL Draft underclassmen entry deadline: 33 days, Jan. 15, 2024
• Regular signing period starts: 57 days, Feb. 7-April 1, 2024
• NFL Scouting Combine: 84 days, Feb. 27-March 4, 2024
• 2024 opener vs. Southern Miss: 262 days, Aug. 31, 2024
• The Game 2024: 353 days