Ohio State focusing on quality over quantity during official visit recruiting weekend
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The first of several recruiting opportunities for Ohio State this summer, the next couple of days will be spent pitching why Columbus is place to be for multiple top targets. Only four official visitors making the trek, this weekend will not have the volume others will, but the quality is more than there.
Set to welcome David Gabriel Georges, Benny Easter Jr., Marcus Fakatou, and recent commit Prince Goldsby, the coaching staff has a real chance to spend impactful time with each player. While other weekends will have larger guest lists, this smaller setting should make for more personal connections.
Simply put, Ryan Day and his crew have plans in place for what will hopefully be a memorable time.
Top RB target begins highly anticipated official visit
The official visit for five-star running back David Gabriel Georges begins today, and it’s one the Ohio State coaching staff will be all in on from the second he arrives.
The first official visit on his list for the summer, the Buckeyes get the opening crack at continuing to impress him, and so far, so good. With Tennessee being the other top suitor in the equation, Ohio State is looking to do whatever they can to be the clear favorite following his time in Columbus.
The running back position being what it is, recruitments are not often followed as closely as this one, but the No. 10 player nationally and the second best running back in the 2027 class per the 247Sports Composite, it makes sense why this target is so high on the priority list not only for Carlos Locklyn, but this program in general.
Ohio State has seen what he’s capable of on the field, but it’s comments from coaches and others around Gabriel Georges that continue shedding light on why he’s so heavily coveted. Ohio State has always featured a strong running back position group, but Gabriel Georges feels like the type of athlete that can come in and immediately make a difference on the field.
The top running back on Ohio State’s radar for the 2027 class from the jump, this month the Buckeyes sent the entire offensive staff to visit him. Locklyn and company get this visit rolling today, and while there’s plenty of major recruits coming to campus this weekend, he’s the one worth paying closest attention to.
Potential “flip” target set to be on campus
In recruiting everything is fair game and many times, Ohio State wins out because of their vast resources. In an NIL world now, more programs are able to step up to the plate and “pony up” with their expenses for certain players.
While that may work for them, the Buckeyes have made their strategy pretty clear. Ohio State is not shy of paying up for the top players, but they’ll also be very calculated in how much and how often they are spending on prep recruits when experienced players can also now be added through the portal.
Having said all of that, when a player is committed elsewhere to a program with plenty of financial resources, Ohio State isn’t going to back down, and that’s the case this weekend with Texas Tech commitBenny Easter Jr.
The No. 36 player nationally and seventh best receiver in the 2027 class per the 247Sports Composite, Easter Jr. being on campus this weekend shows there’s at least a chance of flipping him away from that verbal pledge, and Cortez Hankton looks primed and ready to give him reasons to reopen his recruitment.
The lone receiver on an official visit this weekend, Hankton and the offensive staff in general will have plenty of quality time to spend with Easter Jr., and that typically goes well for this group of coaches.
Seeing Texas Tech’s financial assets in recruiting the last year or so, it’s to be expected they will continue to have more than an impressive offer. If Benny wants to develop at the program producing the best receivers in the country, however, then really there’s no comparison.
Buckle up. Ohio State is locked in and ready to put up a fight.
Quick Hits
The latest offer for Ohio State basketball, the Buckeyes offered 6-foot-7 small forward Deng Ngor on Thursday. Unranked currently via his 247Sports profile, Ngor is a 2027 prospect with offers from Georgia Tech, Ball State, San Diego, but now Ohio State as well.
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