Ohio State Buckeyes fiercely triumphed over Michigan to secure a sought-after 4-star recruit
Ohio State football has bolstered its defense with a significant addition to the Class of 2024, securing a commitment from four-star cornerback Aaron Scott. This achievement comes after the disappointment of losing priority linebacker target Kyngston Viliamu-Asa to Notre Dame last week. Scott, hailing from Springfield High School, chose Ohio State over Michigan and Oregon, largely due to the persuasive efforts of cornerbacks coach Tim Walton.
Standing at 6-foot-0 and weighing 170 pounds, Scott boasts an impressive national ranking of No. 52, placing him at No. 5 among cornerbacks and No. 2 in Ohio for the Class of 2024. Alongside in-state cornerback Bryce West from Glenville High School, Ohio State football now has commitments from the two top prospects in the state. While Scott exhibits exceptional ball skills, West also excels in coverage and possesses remarkable speed.
The Buckeyes recruiting class now ranks No. 2 in the nation, and their secondary is shaping up to be formidable. With the addition of 2024 four-star cornerback Miles Lockhart from Chandler, AZ, and 2024 four-star safety Garrett Stover from Sunbury, OH, Ohio State’s defense has a promising future. This comes as a relief despite the departures of key defensive backs Tanner McCalister and Ronnie Hickman, who were standout players in 2022.
Looking ahead, senior cornerback Denzel Burke, who boasts an impressive 17 career pass deflections, aims to return to his freshman form now that he’s fully recovered from injuries in 2023. Additionally, sophomore cornerback Jyaire Brown seeks to build upon his promising freshman campaign. Moreover, Ole Miss transfer cornerback Davison Igbinosun, the top-ranked player in New Jersey for the Class of 2022, could have a major impact on Ohio State’s secondary. These elements combined provide the Buckeyes with an excellent opportunity to regain dominance in their defense and halt opponents in their tracks during the upcoming season and beyond.
Aaron Scott’s Impact: Elevating Ohio State to New Heights
Scott, a native of Chicago and ranked as the No. 14 prospect in the country, had recently visited Ohio State on June 23. After considering Michigan, Illinois, Notre Dame, and Miami, he informed Miller of his decision to commit to Ohio State.
The 2024 recruiting cycle will determine if Larry Johnson, Ohio State’s defensive line coach, can still succeed on the recruiting trail. The first sign of success has already emerged.
Johnson invested significant effort in pursuing a few five-star recruits from the 2023 class, hoping to secure at least one or maybe even two. However, he could not land any of them, putting immense pressure on him to respond strongly in 2023 and secure top talents.
The commitment of five-star Justin Scott serves as the first evidence that Johnson can maintain the high standard Ohio State sets. Initially, Scott was seen as a potential addition to Notre Dame’s roster, but backing off from that commitment allowed Johnson to secure his commitment to Ohio State. Despite other schools gaining momentum in the recruiting race, Johnson’s persuasion skills convinced Scott that Columbus was the best destination for him.
The success of Ohio State’s defensive recruiting has been lacking in recent years, impacting their on-field performance. The hope is that this will change in 2024, led by Johnson, the only defensive coach to survive two rounds of staff changes under Ryan Day.
With Scott’s commitment, Johnson now has three five-star recruits during the Day era, and there may be more to come, just like in 2021. Scott’s commitment is seen as a catalyst, and Johnson aims to attract more top talents to join him.
The next step is to see who else Johnson can recruit to join the team; that answer may come sooner rather than later.
