Ohio State makes an impression on game-day visitors, looks to re-enter open 2028 recruitment

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

Ohio State’s next major road test arrives this weekend, and a trip to Iowa is rarely an easy assignment. The Buckeyes might enter as 14.5-point favorites, but Kinnick Stadium has earned its reputation as one of the more difficult places to play in the Big Ten, and Ohio State will need to be sharp if it wants to avoid giving the Hawkeyes any reason to believe an upset is possible.

Saturday also provides another opportunity for the Buckeyes to make an impression away from the field. With ESPN’s “College GameDay” on hand and Ohio State once again playing in a nationally featured matchup, recruits from around the country will be watching. Winning remains the priority, obviously, but every game with this type of spotlight gives Ryan Day and his staff another chance to show prospects what playing for the Buckeyes looks like on the sport’s biggest stages.

Weekend recruiting highlights following Illinois game

Before turning its attention completely toward Iowa, Ohio State is still seeing the benefits of last weekend’s home game against Illinois.

The Buckeyes welcomed a lengthy list of prospects to Columbus, continuing to use game-day visits as one of their most important recruiting tools during the fall. Players from multiple classes and nearly every position group were on campus, and once again, the reviews coming out of the weekend were overwhelmingly positive.

One of the more notable visitors was 2028 offensive tackle, Amaree Joshua.

The Georgia native had previously made his way to Columbus, but this was his first opportunity to experience Ohio Stadium on a game day. By all indications, the visit gave Joshua even more to like about the Buckeyes, and Ohio State continues to position itself as a legitimate contender in what figures to become a heavily contested recruitment.

At 6-foot-6 and 290 pounds, Joshua already owns more than 20 offers, including Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, and several others. The No. 146 player nationally and No. 19 offensive tackle in the 2028 class according to the 247Sports Composite, Joshua is exactly the type of prospect Ohio State wants to remain involved with early in the process.

Offensive tackle is never going to be a position the Buckeyes can afford to take lightly, and Tyler Bowen will have plenty of competition here. With several SEC programs much closer to home, Ohio State will have to continue giving Joshua reasons to make the trip north.

So far, though, the Buckeyes appear to be doing exactly that.

Ohio State gets another shot with four-star Ohio lineman

Ohio State is going to lose an in-state recruiting battle from time to time, but the Buckeyes generally don’t like watching priority Ohio prospects leave the state without putting up a fight. That makes the latest development with Anthony Blalock Jr. worth monitoring.

The Youngstown native committed to Alabama in July after collecting more than 20 offers, including one from Ohio State. On Tuesday, however, Blalock backed off that pledge and reopened his recruitment, potentially giving the Buckeyes another opportunity to make their pitch.

The 6-foot-5, 305-pound lineman is rated as the No. 255 player nationally and No. 16 player at his position in the 2028 class according to the 247Sports Composite.

Given his talent, his Ohio roots, and the importance of continuing to build depth along the offensive line, it would be surprising if Bowen and the Buckeyes didn’t get involved again. Ohio State didn’t land Blalock the first time around, but his decommitment gives the staff a second opportunity to change the outcome.

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos