Ohio State well represented in final 2024 On300
COLUMBUS — Ohio State routinely recruits, lands commitments and signs some of the best players in the country.
The 2024 cycle has not been an exception for head coach Ryan Day. Ohio State turned 20 verbal pledges into signed and sealed commitments on Dec. 20. The Buckeyes then added four-star Painesville (Ohio) Riverside defensive lineman Dominic Kirks to the class. Oh, and a quarterback named Julian Sayin will count toward the 2024 class at least by On3 he will.
On3 updated its 2024 rankings Monday afternoon where several Ohio State commits land inside the On300. Lettermen Row breaks down the rankings update and where the Buckeyes’ commits land.
Let’s take a look.
Jeremiah Smith
Status: Five-star Plus+
New ranking: No. 1 overall, previously No. 2
He finally did it, folks. Hollywood (Fla) Chaminade-Madonna wide receiver and current Ohio State Buckeye Jeremiah Smith, at the very end of the recruiting rankings, finally reached the mark as the top-rated prospect in the country by On3.
The 6-foot-3, 200-pound wide receiver ended his senior season with 1,389 receiving yards and 19 touchdowns on 90 catches.
Julian Sayin
Status: Five-star Plus+
New ranking: No. 5 overall, previously No. 7
Ohio State managed to bring in another quarterback, but not just any quarterback. Julian Sayin was the prospect the Buckeyes had their eyes fixated on for nearly two years. The long-time Alabama commit turned Crimson Tide signee entered his name in the transfer portal, however, shortly after the legendary Nick Saban retired.
Day, new offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien and the rest of the Ohio State staff were thoroughly weighing the pros and cons of Sayin’s potential addition to an already crowded room. But when a player like that becomes available, you have to take him.
Sayin threw for 2,369 yards for 24 touchdowns and just one interception on a 75 percent completion rate during his senior season. He is already in Columbus and is going through winter workouts.
Aaron Scott Jr.
Status: Four-star
New ranking: No. 43 overall, previously No. 25
Four-star Springfield (Ohio) cornerback Aaron Scott Jr. is officially the highest-rated defensive signee in the Buckeyes’ 2024 class. The 6-foot, 170-pound defensive back committed to Ohio State on July 30, signed with the Buckeyes on Dec. 20 and is currently going through winter workouts.
Scott ended his high school career with a loss in the Division I State Championship Game. He was a First-Team All-Ohio selection.
Mylan Graham
Status: Four-star
New ranking: No. 47 overall, previously No. 14
Tough sledding for the Buckeyes’ wide receiver signee. Graham lost his fifth star and fell 33 spots in the final On300. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound wide receiver suffered an ankle injury in mid-September that hampered his senior season.
Eddrick Houston
Status: Four-star
New ranking: No. 53 overall, previously No. 68
Four-star Buford (Ga) EDGE Eddrick Houston gave Ohio State a scare on signing day, but that’s all it was. The 6-foot-4, 270-pound defensive end, after a productive senior year with Buford, signed with the Buckeyes in December despite a strong, late push by Alabama.
Houston is the highest-rated member in the Buckeyes’ front seven. He is currently on campus undergoing winter workouts.
Bryce West
Status: Four-star
New ranking: No. 87 overall, previously No. 63
Four-star Cleveland (Ohio) Glenville cornerback Bryce West ended his senior season as a state champion. Only, he didn’t play in the game. West was hampered by injury during the back half of his season, but still made enough of an impact to earn First-Team All-Ohio.
He is an early enrollee and is currently going through winter workouts.
Dominic Kirks
Status: Four-star
New ranking: No. 115 overall, previously No. 243
This is what some folks would call the Buckeye Bump. Four-star Painesville (Ohio) Riverside defensive lineman Dominic Kirks was committed to Washington, but never signed with the Huskies in December. Instead, he wanted to make sure he was positive he was making the right decision.
As fate would have it, the Buckeyes came calling, Kirks visited, the Washington coaching change happened and now the in-state talent is staying home.
Kirks will sign his letter of intent on February 7. He finished his senior season with 43 total tackles, 12 tackles for loss, eight sacks, two passes defended and an interception. He will be on campus in the summer.
Gabe VanSickle
Status: Four-star
New ranking: No. 126 overall, previously No. 255
Four-star Coopersville (Mich) interior offensive lineman Gabe VanSickle climbed in the final On300 rankings. The one-time Northwestern commit, decommitted and aligned with Ohio State on Thanksgiving Day. VanSickle signed with the Buckeyes on Dec. 20 and will be on campus in the summer.
Air Noland
Status: Four-star
New ranking: No. 149 overall, previously No. 76
Four-star Fairburn (Ga) Langston Hughes quarterback Air Noland tumbled in the final 2024 rankings update. But where it counts is that Ryan Day identified Noland as a guy at this time a year ago. Noland is on campus going through winter workouts.
James Peoples
Status: Four-star
New ranking: No. 159 overall, previously No. 136
Four-star San Antonio (Texas) Veterans Memorial running back James Peoples was slow out of the gate to start his senior season. When Peoples was fully healthy, however, he showed not only the San Antonio area, but the entire country why he was one of the best running back prospects in the country.
He’s on campus going through winter workouts and is part of a crowded, but talented room.
Garrett Stover
Status: Four-star
New ranking: No. 178 overall, previously No. 151
Four-star Sunbury (Ohio) Big Walnut linebacker Garrett Stover is the final Buckeye inside the last On300. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound linebacker is a versatile player with experience at both linebacker and safety. Stover will start off in the linebacker room, however. He is currently going through winter workouts with Ohio State.
Stover was a First-Team All-Ohio selection for the third consecutive year.
