Rushing: Pursuit of Matteo Oyagalele a big priority for Ohio State ahead of National Signing Day Agani Cornelius and Jeremiah Byers to visit Ohio State University this weekend

One of the biggest questions surrounding the Buckeyes ahead of National Signing Day was what he would do in terms of recruiting quarterbacks, but that question was answered Wednesday as OSU successfully upended Washington’s former four-star commitment Lincoln Kinnholz. But there are still some other targets left for the 2023 class of the Buckeyes, who currently sit at 20 commitments and seventh overall in the national rankings for 247Sports.

Ryan Day and Ohio State’s coaching staff have been putting miles on the recruiting trail over the past few weeks and trying to balance their recruiting efforts with preparing to take on Georgia in the Peach Bowl.

“You don’t sleep,” Day said earlier this week about how he balances recruiting high school players with potential transfers and preparing for a college playoff game. “You know, when you hear December, you think of birthdays and holiday times and everything else. And when I think of December, I think of pot practice. Think of employment, think of home visits, think of transfer gate, think of all These different things…that’s what you want, to be in the CFP this time of year and you want to be involved with great recruits.”

Two OSU recruits are still pushing hard for five-star defensive ends, Damon Wilson and Matayo Oyagalele. Both prospects are expected to announce their decisions on Wednesday.

Wilson is heading toward Georgia, but OSU still has a very real chance with Uiagalelei. OSU visited Uiagalelei this week, and the Buckeyes are doing everything they can to secure the five-star California target. But it will be a close battle between Ohio State, Oregon and USC for his commitment.

It will also be worth watching four-star Georgia OSU commit Kayin Lee to making sure he gets signed to the Buckeyes. Lee visited Auburn earlier this month and was seen sporting Tigers gear before playing in the state tournament, but it looks like the momentum has waned on the Auburn front a bit. Lee will make a final decision whether to stay with OSU or transfer to Auburn on Wednesday.

Byers, Cornelius is visiting Ohio State University this weekend

Two of Ohio State’s top offensive tackle targets for transfer gates will visit Columbus this weekend, per 247 Sports.

Ajani Cornelius of Rhode Island and Jeremiah Byers of UTEP are both expected on campus this weekend. Byers will be at OSU on Friday and then visit Oregon on Saturday, while Cornelius will visit Tennessee Friday, then be in Columbus on Saturday and Sunday. We’ve already written about the success Cornelius and Byers will have for their respective teams in 2022, and either of them would be a welcome addition to an Ohio State team in need of offensive help next season with the potential departure of Paris Johnson Jr. Dawn Jones.

They may also be joined on campus, according to the report, by former Arizona State long snapper John Ferelman, who is considered one of the best long snappers in the gate.

Sperling visits Ohio State University Saturday

On the high school recruiting front, Ohio State is also expected to host 2023 three-star Ohio State quarterback Lamar Spurling for a visit this weekend. The Buckeyes are currently not running back in the class of 2023 and will have to turn Sperling over from Buffalo if OSU decides to offer him before Wednesday’s start of the early signing period.

The 5-foot-10 and 180-pound numbers that came up this year would be impressive career stats for any high school running back. In 14 games, he ran for 3,348 yards on 339 carries and scored a whopping 51 touchdowns as he led Archbishop Hoban to an appearance in the state championship game and earned Ohio Mr. Football honors.