Top Ohio State offensive tackle target Brandon Baker commits to Texas

COLUMBUS — Ohio State is still celebrating its last-second win over Notre Dame as Sunday slowly creeps toward Monday. But that’s the only victory the Buckeyes found this weekend.

Five-star Santa Ana (Calif) Mater Dei offensive tackle Brandon Baker committed to Texas over Ohio State, Oregon, Nebraska and Florida State. Baker is the No. 1 offensive tackle in the On3 Industry Rankings and the No. 23 overall prospect. Those numbers adjust to No. 7 and No. 49, respectively, according to On3.

Ohio State was looked at as the leader in this recruitment for a few weeks during the summer, but the Longhorns were able to take the momentum away from the Buckeyes.

The 6-foot-4.5, 300-pound offensive tackle said all the right things about Ohio State along the way too. How he had built relationships with offensive line coach Justin Frye and head coach Ryan Day. How the program reminded him of his own at Mater Dei in Southern California. Development and relationships, two things Ohio State is extremely proud to boast, were high on his checklist.

“Ohio State has a rich culture and great tradition,” Baker told On3’s Chad Simmons on Sept. 21. “What they have reminds me of Mater Dei and coach Frye is one of the best offensive line coaches in the game. Coach Ryan Day is a great person and coach. They would help me grow emotionally and spiritually as a player.”

That’s actually the double-down on a statement that Baker made about Ohio State following his official visit back in June.

“The player development piece at Ohio State stood out. It is a development factory. And it’s not just offensive linemen either, but overall. They put guys in the league and that stood out to me. That is what I am looking for.

“Coach Frye has a great plan for me if I went there. We sat down to watch film for almost two hours and he showed me some things he can enhance and some things I do well. He is a good coach with a good plan. I liked talking with him and I appreciated his effort and his time.”

In the end, Ohio State couldn’t close out the fight despite being in an absolute position of need. The Buckeyes’ No. 2 2024 class has four offensive linemen already. Ian Moore, Deontae and Devontae Armstrong, and Marc Nave represent a very proud — and Midwestern — offensive line haul for Frye.

There’s room for a fifth member as well, but it won’t be Brandon Baker. The ability to land one of the elite offensive tackles remains a challenge for Ohio State, but there is one more option in 2024 with Jordan Seaton.

Brandon Baker will certainly be recruited by Ohio State all the way until early signing day in December. But the California tackle is heading to the Lone Star State without plans on moving to the Buckeye State.