COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Ohio State football program on Wednesday held the first of six day camps taking place in June hosting high school prospects.
The first camp of the summer was headlined by Will Smith Jr. as the lone commit in attendance. Smith — the son of late OSU standout Will Smith Sr. — is rated as the nation’s No. 459 player and No. 57 defensive lineman in the class. He got a chance to work with defensive line coach Larry Johnson and the rest of the staff as he prepares for his senior season at Dublin Coffman High School.
The three-star recruit looked to have bulked up his 6-foot-3, 260-pound frame since the end of his junior season as a player who repped as both edge rusher and interior defensive lineman. He best projects out as a three-technique defensive tackle for the Buckeyes.
Smith kicked off the day, but he was hardly the only interesting storyline. Here are a few observations from OSU’s first camp:
Star of the morning
The morning sessions are dedicated to the big men in the trenches. Offensive linemen work with offensive line coach Justin Frye, while defensive linemen work with Johnson, with the two coming together for competitive reps to close things out. Of the hundreds of high schoolers in attendance, somehow the best among them was a kid who just got done with middle school.
Tyler Atkinson came to Columbus as a player who just graduated from eighth grade but already earned an OSU offer last month. The Georgia native will attend Grayson High School but has already racked up eight offers. The Buckeyes were early to the party for a player listed at 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds, and on Wednesday morning, he showed why, winning multiple one-on-one reps.
He projects as an edge rusher but, depending on his physical development, might still end up as a linebacker. In defensive coordinator Jim Knowles’ defensive scheme, he could end up being the perfect fit as a Leo/Jack candidate.
Star of the afternoon
You know you’re having a good day when you can get a bunch of current Ohio State players to scream about how much you deserve an offer.
Jermaine Matthews is the nation’s No. 551 player and No. 48 athlete. He’s got official visits to Cincinnati (June 3) and Pittsburgh (June 24) already scheduled with a commitment date for July 4. He showed up Wednesday after there’d been questions of whether he’d do any camps this summer or just be fine with the list of offers he already had.
Instead, he came, saw and conquered during the portion of the camp dedicated to the skill positions.
Matthews was the clear MVP of the afternoon session, and with each one-on-one rep, he gained more intrigue. The current Buckeye players loved him so much that they constantly wanted to see him play defensive back against the best wide receiver prospects Brian Hartline had to offer, and even pulled Knowles in to observe. The coaches loved it so much that even cornerbacks coach Tim Walton’s competitive juices started flowing.
Matthews came looking for an offer and left having accomplished that. Now with a decision date looming, OSU sends its latest defensive back target home with plenty to think about.
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The 2023 QB search continues
Ohio State is still in the market for a 2023 quarterback, but finding one will require a certain type of candidate. It needs to find its version of former Alabama quarterback Mac Jones, a player who understands that his route to the field will require patience.
On Wednesday, two players took their swing at being considered even though both are already committed to other programs. Both got a chance to work with quarterback coach Corey Dennis as Ryan Day, and C.J. Stroud watched from the sidelines.
Austin Novosad is the No. 308 player and No. 17 quarterback out of Dripping Springs, Texas. He’s been committed to Baylor since December but camped at Ohio State anyway and walked away with an offer as the eighth quarterback to do so. He fits the mold the Buckeyes have targeted in the Day era at 6-foot-3, 195 pounds, with an arm that had some zip to it.
Jax Leatherwood out of San Diego would be a different look than what OSU’s become accustomed to. He’s 6-foot-6 and 215 pounds with a long and lanky frame that mirrors that of a shooting guard in basketball. For now, he’s committed to Nevada.
Who else earned an offer?
• Jalen Thompson earned an offer as the No. 212 player and No. 30 defensive lineman in the 2023 class. He comes from Detroit’s Cass Technical High School in Michigan, where OSU has had recruiting success in the past with guys like Vernon Gholston, Damon Webb and Mike Weber. He comes with plenty of Michigan State momentum given that his former coach Thomas Wilcher is now on the Spartans’ staff.
• Elias Rudolph of Cincinnati’s Taft High School earned an offer as the No. 204 player and No. 17 edge rusher in the 2024 class.
• Aaron Scott of Springfield earned an offer as the No. 276 player and No. 28 cornerback in the 2024 class, despite not being at full strength. The defensive back was playing with a cast on his hand but still manage to impress, especially when playing press coverage during one-on-one competitive drills.
• Garrett Stover of Ohio’s Big Walnut High School is an athlete in the 2024 class who projects out as a safety standing at 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds. He’s also the cousin of current OSU tight end Cade Stover.
• Mylan Graham of New Haven High School in Indiana earned an offer as a 2024 wide receiver. The 6-foot, 170-pound prospect had a solid day, especially during one-on-ones showing off his route running ability. He was among a handful of wide receivers invited to camp by Brian Hartline on Wednesday. OSU is the first school to offer him.
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