Buckeyes Now

Who's Next?: 5 Recruits to Watch For Ohio State Football

The red-hot Ohio State Buckeyes recruiting run may not soon slow down

Buckeyes Now Staff

@payton_pierce26
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Ohio State Buckeyes football recruiting has hit its class of 2024 stride in the last month or so, pushing the rising-senior verbal commitment list to nine prospects with the weekend addition of blue-chip quarterback Prentiss 'Air' Noland. 

And there are no signs of the program slowing down any time soon. 

Not only has the program hosted top talent throughout the spring, but more is expected this week and especially over the weekend when OSU conducts its spring game. It will be a marquee event for the class of 2024 and beyond, simultaneously. 

For this exercise, however, Buckeyes Now will focus on five senior-to-be recruits who have already taken in Columbus this spring that may be worth keeping an eye on amid the OSU momentum.

LB Payton Pierce

If there was a meter to measure how quickly recruitment has shifted gears, the Lucas (Texas) Lovejoy standout would be at the forefront. Always a national recruit with some 40 offers next to his name, Pierce had been linked to a few prominent programs including Notre Dame most notably.

One of the key elements of the Irish pitch was former Buckeye great James Laurinaitis, who has since been hired to make the move back to Columbus. With that, came Pierce's multi-day trip to town in late March -- along with a whole lot of Buckeye buzz. A return trip is already in the works, per Pierce himself. 

IDL Sean Sevillano Jr.

One of the emerging talents among interior defenders nationally, Sevillano's recruitment started going national when OSU offered him in early March. In the month since Notre Dame and others have jumped on board as the Canada native has also hit the visit trail. Each program hosted him for an unofficial visit and others are increasing contact with his camp as spring football gets going at Clearwater (Fla.) Academy International. 

Sevillano and his family took in Columbus together just last week, for a multi-day stay. Larry Johnson had already begun building a strong relationship with the stout defensive tackle's camp and it had the chance to take the next step in person. Buckeyes Now has been told Sevillano wants to make a verbal commitment prior to the start of his senior season at CAI.

RB Sam Williams-Dixon

The in-state star, now at Pickerington North right in Columbus, may end up playing his college ball in the same city. The balanced back, who has been hinting at a spring commitment, was back on campus for an unofficial visit last week and has plans to return for the spring game on Saturday, he tells BN.

Williams-Dixon has high praise for Penn State and Kentucky among programs on his list and recently said Miami was trying to get him on campus for a closer look at the Hurricanes, so the Tony Alford target is no layup for OSU despite considerable interest in the program and Alford in particular. OSU has one back in the fold to date in James Peoples, and there may not be a third spot in the class, so there could be urgency for the entire running back board going forward. Peoples is on the case for Williams-Dixon, himself. 

CB Bryce West

Ohio State has brought in countless stars from Cleveland (Ohio) Glenville High School and the latest one to track is defensive back Bryce West, who was able to make it back to campus in early April. The in-state program has long been an industry favorite for West, though more than 30 programs lie on his offer list. 

“Every time I go, they always show a lot of love,” West told On3 last week. “They’ve very caring. They have passionate coaches. Every time I’ve been there, the players always have positive energy and are always uplifting each other. It’s been a brotherhood there for the longest time. That’s why they call themselves The Brotherhood.”

CB Aaron Scott

Scott visited at the same time West was on campus and talks of the duo playing together in Columbus have increased ever since. The Springfield (Ohio) High School standout put out a national top 12 on Easter Sunday, with Michigan, USC, Notre Dame and many others listed -- so this recruitment may not be as close to ending as others on this list. 

Still, Scott is a lifelong OSU fan in a family full of Buckeye faithful and the program has prioritized him plenty along the way. The added class of 2024 emphasis within state lines also plays into the buzz of Scott staying in the state for his college football.

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Buckeyes Now Staff
BUCKEYES NOW STAFF

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