‘There’s a blueprint’: Ohio State’s South Florida pipeline paying dividends
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ARLINGTON, Texas — Ohio State defensive lineman Keyatta Jackson Jr. was teammates with Buckeyes star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith before.
When Jackson was a senior at Chaminade-Madonna, Smith was a sophomore on the team. But the young wide receiver was already impressive.
“Seeing him in practice and then seeing him do what he (does) in games and stuff like that,” Jackson said, “I didn’t think it was going to be this big, but, man, I’ve seen the vision.”
Jackson signed with the Buckeyes out of high school. A year later, American Heritage star wide receiver Brandon Inniss joined him. And in 2024, Smith followed Jackson to Columbus, Ohio.
Although Ohio State is a national recruiting powerhouse, pulling top players from all over the nation, South Florida standouts are a key part of the Buckeyes’ successful blueprint.
“They have tremendous talent,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said. “Always have. And we want to do our part in that area. Brian (Hartline has) done a great job down there. (Tight ends coach) Keenan Bailey is also from South Florida, Broward County. So we have pretty good representation here with Kenyatta and Brandon, certainly Jeremiah. And so we want to have some of the best players in the country at Ohio State. And we know South Florida has some of those players. And I think for us, we’re able to recruit nationally.
“And I think you’ve seen the guys who have come to Ohio State succeed and do well. And so for players growing up in that area, especially having guys like Jeremiah do so well and seeing guys like Kenyatta do so well and seeing guys like Brandon have success, it allows them to recognize, ‘OK, if I go to Ohio State from this area, I know that not only are there guys in the locker room that are from the area that I can relate to, but I’ve seen it work before,’ so there’s a blueprint there.”
The Buckeyes have eight players from Florida on the roster. Four are from Miami-Dade or Broward counties. Two, Jackson and Smith, are full-time starters. Two others, Inniss and running back CJ Donaldson, are key contributors who frequently rotate in.
The South Florida cadre has helped each other get used to the new environment, Innis said.
“We grew up together, pretty much,” Jackson said. “And it’s just a blessing to see us, you know, come from where we came from, and now we’re here. It’s truly a blessing.”
But not everyone who Ohio State wanted ultimately chose the Buckeyes. Two Miami running backs, Mark Fletcher Jr. and Jordan Lyle, both committed to Ohio State before ultimately choosing the Hurricanes. Fletcher was a major reason why the Hurricanes are facing the Buckeyes this week after Fletcher rushed for a career-high 172 yards in a win over Texas A&M in the first round.
“Honestly — because I don’t want to speak for anybody else — but for me, I’ve just always been succeeding in South Florida,” Fletcher said, “and the fact that … I earned the opportunity to do that again, I didn’t want to change that.”
The familiarity between the South Florida players on both teams adds yet another level of competitiveness to the high-stakes playoff game. Fletcher said he and Inniss, his former high school teammate, speak frequently.
“I’ve been sending him Bible verses,” Fletcher said. “(He) sends me some stuff. That’s my brother, man. We’re just excited that we’re here.”
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