Taking Stock of Ohio State's 2023 Recruiting Class and Projecting What Still Needs to Be Done (2024)

The Buckeyes have racked up 18 commitments to this point and currently have the No. 1-rated class in 247Sports' national recruiting rankings. OSU is landing commitments at a similar pace to 2022's recruiting cycle, whenit had 17 commits after George Fitzpatrick gave his verbal to OSU on July 9, 2021.

There are no shortage of premier players,including six top-100 prospects, among Ohio State’s 18 commits.

While it's hard to complain about a class that already has two five-stars, 14 four-stars and two-three stars, OSU could still add more playersin up to seven position groups before National Signing Day comes and goes.

With just over five months to go until the early signing period, we put together a position-by-position breakdown of whoOhio State has already landedin the current cycle and where further additions could be needed. Prospects listed in theremaining targets category have allbeen offered by Ohio State and have either takenan official visit this summer or could still makeone in the future.

Offense

Quarterback

2023 commits: None
Spots left to fill: One
Remaining targets: Austin Novosad, Brock Glenn

Analysis: Ohio State will continue to have to play the waiting game with Novosad, who told Eleven Warriors Tuesday he still needs more time to make a decision between Baylor, OSU, Texas A&M and to a lesser extent, Notre Dame.

It’s probably a longshot Novosad picks the Buckeyes in the end, but that hasn’t stopped Ryan Day and Corey Dennis from trying. Dennis is in touch with Novosad four times a week, while Day personally reaches out once a week.

Glenn may be listed as a target above, but it looks to be only a matter of time before the Tennessee product commits to Florida State.

Ohio State could pursue a recent Florida State decommit in Chris Parson.Speaking with a Mississippi State source this week, there’s optimism growing in Starkville that Parson will commit to the Bulldogs down the road, but if other offers come his waysuch as Auburn or Ohio State, that may throw a wrinkle into things.

Running back

2023 commits: Mark Fletcher
Spots left to fill: One
Remaining targets: Justice Haynes

Analysis: Haynes is likely OSU’s last chance at landing a premier running back in 2023. While many in the recruiting industry expect Haynes to eventually commit to Georgia, he and Tony Alford have formed a deep bond over a lengthy recruiting process, and OSU should be in this fight till the end. If Haynes goes to Georgia or anywhere besides OSU, Alford will have to decide whether he wants to go after another running back in the current class or stick with Fletcher as the lone running back commit. It may not be entirely necessary to add another running back, as TreVeyon Henderson, Miyan Williams, Evan Pryor and Dallan Hayden could all still be on OSU’s roster next season.

Wide receiver

2023 commits: Brandon Inniss, Carnell Tate, Noah Rogers, Bryson Rodgers
Spots left to fill: None
Remaining targets: None

Analysis: This position is all wrapped up for the current class. It’s going to be harder to find any better 2023 wide receiving corps from any other schoolthan the group above. Outside of USC commitZachariah Branch, Brian Hartline got all of the top targets on his wide receiverbig board for this cycle.

Tight end

2023 commits: Ty Lockwood
Spots left to fill: One
Remaining targets:Jelani Thurman

Analysis: Ohio State might wrap up its 2023 tight end class depending on what Thurman does Sunday when he announces his commitment. A few days before his announcement, it appears to be a two-horse race between Ohio State and Michigan State. There’s been optimism from Ohio State’s side that Thurman will end up picking the Buckeyes when all is said and done, so Kevin Wilson may have finally found his second tight end to pair with Lockwood in 2023.

Offensive linemen

2023 commits: Luke Montgomery, Austin Siereveld, Joshua Padilla, Miles Walker
Spots left to fill: One
Remaining targets: Olaus Alinen, Oluwatosin Babalade, Monroe Freeling

Analysis: The Alinen recruitment may be trending in the wrong direction for Ohio State. A flurry of 247Sports Crystal Balls have been cast in Miami’s favor this week, and a decision from Ohio State’s top remaining target on the board could come soon. Should Alinen go elsewhere as expected, it will be interesting to see how hardJustin Frye pushes foranother top-rankedtackle in the class such asMonroe Freeling, or if Babalade becomes a take for the Buckeyes without Alinen.

Defense

Defensive linemen

2023 commits: Will Smith Jr., Jason Moore
Spots left to fill: Three
Remaining targets: John Walker, Matayo Uiagalelei, Desmond Umeozulu, Jalen Thompson, Damon Wilson

Analysis: Ohio State made a big splash Sunday by landing a top-55 prospect in Moore, and it could add two more prominent pieces before the month concludes in Walker and Umeozulu. OSU is favored for Umeozulu and is in a good position with Walker, thoughUCF is making a strong push for Walker ahead of his July 28 decision date. Should either choose another school, the door would be open for a commitment from Thompson,who recently put OSU in his top five and told Eleven Warriors he plans on visiting OSU at the end of July.

The Buckeyes are also in a strong position to land Uiagalelei, but the five-star California prospect is in no rush to make a decision and will take his recruitment into the fall. OSU will continue to hold a spot open for Uiagalelei for as long as needed. Meanwhile, Wilson included the Buckeyes in his top five Wednesday evening, so although the Florida product hasn't taken an official to OSU, he's still not counting the Buckeyes out of the running.

Linebacker

2023 commits: None
Spots left to fill: Two
Remaining targets: Tackett Curtis, Troy Bowles, Arvell Reese

Analysis: The first domino will fall Saturday when Bowles makes his commitment, which is expected to be to Georgia. Even if Bowles picks the Buckeyes, OSU would still be willing to take both Curtis and Reese in the 2023 cycle.

Curtis is targeting a late July decision and while OSU is considered the favorite, Wisconsin is lurking in that recruitment. Reese won’t decide until November or December, but the Buckeyes are in a great position to land the Glenville product.

Cornerback

2023 commits: Jermaine Mathews, Dijon Johnson, Calvin Simpson-Hunt, Kayin Lee
Spots left to fill: None
Remaining targets: None

Analysis: Tim Walton had a pretty impressive first recruiting cycle for the Buckeyes. Although he may not have landed a five-star talent such asCormani McClain or AJ Harris, it’s hard to not see tremendous upside in each of the four corners he’s brought on.

To recap, in his first go-around as a recruiter, Walton landed a top-100 player from Florida in Johnson, flipped a highly coveted prospect committed to another school in Simpson-Hunt, snagged the previous regime’s second-most coveted target on the big board in Leeand landed the local product Mathews just one month after extending him an offer. There’s notmuch left to be done with this position group except wait for the National Letters of Intent to come in.

Safety

2023 commits: Cedrick Hawkins, Malik Hartford
Spots left to fill: One or two
Remaining targets: Caleb Downs, Jayden Bonsu

Analysis: If the Buckeyes land Downs, he’d instantly be the defensive crown jewel of the 2023 cycle. OSU will have to fend off Alabama and Georgia until a commitment is made most likely sometime this summer, but there continues to be optimism that the Buckeyes can win out in this recruitment. Some of that optimism waned Wednesday evening after 247Sports' Steve Wiltfong put in a Crystal Ball for Downs to end up at Alabama, but Downs refuted that his mind had been made up.

Just as surprised as you https://t.co/Rj8g29cqJx

— Caleb Downs (@caleb_downs2) July 13, 2022

Until u see me with a hat on lol https://t.co/Mp1Bf37R5j

— Caleb Downs (@caleb_downs2) July 13, 2022

Bonsu appeared to be an OSU lean for a good portion of his recruitment, but Miami appears tohave surged ahead leading up to his July 20 commitment date. Should OSU land Downs and miss on Bonsu, it may be content to stick with three safeties for 2023. If it misses on both, it may pivot back to Daemon fa*gan, who recently committed to NC State but had strong interest in Ohio Statethroughout the spring.