Ohio State has offered another running back in the 2024 cycle.
Four-star Maryland nominee DeJuan Williams received the offer from running backs coach Tony Alford on Tuesday, becoming the 11th running back the Buckeyes have offered in the class.
After a great chat with @CoachTonyAlford I am extremely blessed to receive an offer from THEE University of Ohio State!! #GoBucks @CoachMessay @CoachJdubSFA @CoachCammm pic.twitter.com/CcA2CoYuBz
— DeJuan Williams (@D1Juan2) January 25, 2023
Williams is the 299th best prospect and 25th running back in the 2024 cycle according to 247Sports composite rankings. He has added 16 Division I offerings to date including Arizona, Boston College, Duke, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Maryland, Michigan, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Toledo, Virginia Tech and Liberty.
The 5-foot-11, 195-pound Williams helped lead St. Francis Academy (Baltimore, Maryland) to a 9-1 campaign last season. Ohio State has shown keen interest in prospects for St. Francis Academy of late, when Perry Eliano stopped by the school on Dec. 12 and offered four defenders for the East Coast powerhouse.
Justin Scott postpones engagement
One of Ohio State’s top goals in defensive tackle in the 2024 class is shifting its commitment. Five-star Chicago prospect Justin Scott announced Tuesday that he will be moving his original commitment date from Tuesday to an indefinite date.
I am postponing my commitment until further notice. @IgnatiusFB @CoachMiller15
– Justin Scott (@juustinscott) January 24, 2023
On January 8, Scott released a top eight consisting of Ohio State, USC, Notre Dame, Colorado, Oregon, Miami, Alabama and Michigan. He received an offer from Georgia a week later, and the Bulldogs could be in the middle of Scott’s recruitment despite the late offer.
From Ohio State’s perspective, a postponement can only be a positive sign considering Scott was leaning towards Notre Dame ahead of his expected signing Tuesday. Scott received an offer from the Buckeyes earlier in the fall and visited Columbus on October 1 game day for the Rutgers game. He is considered the 18th best prospect and fourth place defender in the 2024 class.
Gage on an official visit to the state of Ohio
One of Ohio State’s top running back destinations in the Class of 2024 has identified Ohio State as the school it plans to pay an official visit to in the coming months. Four-star Florida prospect Stacy Gage told On3 this week he already knows of four schools that will receive official visits from him: Ohio State, Oklahoma, USC and Alabama. Other schools Gage placed in his top 8 earlier this month include Colorado, Florida, Miami and Penn State.
“Just me and Tony Alford, the relationship we had, he’s just amazing,” Gage told On3 of why Ohio State will be getting an official visit. “He’s been recruiting me since I was a freshman, so why not?”
Gage was a frequent visitor to Ohio State, visiting Columbus three times: last spring, last summer for a recruiting camp, and last fall for a November game day visit for the Michigan game.
Gage’s relationship with Alford is a key reason Ohio State is a contender for the top-150, as evidenced by his trip to Columbus over the summer to train with him despite already having an offer from the Buckeyes.
“I really love his coaching style. It’s not even just about me getting his relationship. It’s just the things everyone else says about him,” Gage said in June. “They say he’s a great guy, a great person, a great father and everything. Just being coached by him and everyone talking about him makes me feel good.
“With all the good running backs that have come out of this program and coached by Coach Alford, I always thought, ‘I could be one of these guys.’ Or probably even better,” Gage said.
Ohio State releases summer camp recruitment dates
Speaking of recruiting camps, the state of Ohio has officially finalized its 2023 summer camp schedule.
The state of Ohio is holding one-day recruiting camps for high school age prospects on June 8th, June 12th, June 14th, June 15th and June 20th. There will be a seven-a-side competition on June 21st. The Buckeyes will also host a middle school camp on June 5th and 6th and a middle school camp on June 13th.
Start marking calendars and saving dates because Buckeye football camps will be upon us before we know it! #Horse chestnuts #2THE4The pic.twitter.com/43NYJi2B6W
— urph (@N_Murph) January 19, 2023
