Finally, the Buckeyes achieved their year-long goal of making two tight ends in a recruiting class, converting their highest goal in the state to the position in the 2024 class and earning a signing of four-star contender Damarion Witten of Ohio during his official visit to Columbus.
Witten, a six-foot-tall, 220-pound tight end, was offered by the Buckeyes on Sept. 6, just three days after he and a number of his high school teammates attended OSU for the Buckeyes’ season-opener against Notre Dame had.
“It was great to be recruited and offered by a school I’ve dreamed of since I was a child. It’s an honor,” Witten told Eleven Warriors after receiving his offer. “I’ve always been a strong supporter of OSU. My favorite moment is when (Glenville alumnus) Cardale Jones won a national championship with the Buckeyes.”
While former OSU offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson originally offered Witten the opportunity, Bailey wasted no time in developing a rapport with the Ohio standout and immediately let him know he was a priority target.
“Coach Bailey and I have become very close over time since he got the job,” Witten said. “He said I was the first tight end he called and he wanted to continue working with me. From that day on he really shows me that he cares.”
When Ryan Day speaks publicly about recruiting, he often talks about selling recruits by playing for the fraternity and how OSU sees itself as a family. That was really well received by Witten.
“The most appealing part (of the possible participation in OSU) is the Coach Day,” said Witten. “He really loves the team and the players.”
He is the third signing from Glenville in two recruiting cycles committed to Ohio State, alongside 2023 linebacker Arvell Reese and 2024 four-star cornerback Bryce West.
The Witten File
- Class: 2024
- Size: 6-4/215
- Position: TE
- School: Glenville (Cleveland, OH)
- Composite rating: ★★★★
- Composite rank: #347 (#19 TE)
It’s fitting that West and Witten signed on the same day as the Glenville-Ohio State pipeline officially reopened and Reese was already there as OSU has three Tarblooders in back-to-back classes after 21 Tarblooders played for the Buckeyes of 2002 to 2017.
“It would mean a lot to us to reopen the Glenville to Ohio State pipeline,” Witten said. “That would be something everyone in Glenville would appreciate.”
Glenville will now boast two future Buckeyes next season, and West and Witten will take their collegiate careers to the next level together. Both interested parties also completed their official visits together.
According to the 247Sports composite rankings, Witten is considered the 347th ranked candidate and the 19th ranked tight end in the 2024 cycle. Witten is OSU’s 16th appearance in the 2024 class, the second tight end appearance along with Max LeBlanc, and the seventh instate appearance alongside West, Garrett Stover, Devontae and Deontae Armstrong, Marc Nave and Sam Williams-Dixon .
OSU now has two tight ends in a recruiting class for the first time since 2016, when the Buckeyes signed three tight ends.
Witten committed to Ohio State versus Texas, Tennessee, Purdue, Lousiville, Iowa State, Kentucky, Michigan State, Michigan and Pittsburgh.
position | Surname | Evaluation | rank | Size | School |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
WR | JEREMIAH SMITH | ★★★★★ | #2 NATL | #1 WR | 6-3 | 198 | Chaminade Madonna Preparation (Opa Locka, Florida) |
WR | MYLAN GRAHAM | ★★★★★ | #17 NATL | #4 WR | 6-1 | 170 | New Haven (New Haven, Indiana) |
cb | BRYCE WEST | ★★★★ | #49 NATL | #4 CB | 5-11 | 177 | Glenville (Cleveland, Ohio) |
QB | AIR NOLAND | ★★★★ | #59 NATL | #6 QB | 6-3 | 195 | Langston Hughes (Fairburn, Georgia) |
RB | JAMES FOLK | ★★★★ | #77 NATL | #6 RB | 5-10 | 192 | Veterans Memorial (San Antonio, Texas) |
OT | IAN MOORE | ★★★★ | #112 NATL | #6IOL | 6-5 | 295 | New Palestine (New Palestine, Indiana) |
LB | GARRETT STOVER | ★★★★ | #138 NATL | #12 pounds | 6-0 | 195 | Large Walnut (Sunbury, OH) |
LB | PAYTON PIERCE | ★★★★ | #159 NATL | #15 pounds | 6-1 | 225 | Lovejoy (Lucas, Texas) |
S | JAYLEN McCLAIN | ★★★★ | #243 NATL | #22 p | 6-0 | 185 | Seton Hall Prep (West Orange, NJ) |
TE | MAX LEBLANC | ★★★★ | #275 NATL | #14 TE | 6-4 | 222 | Baylor School (Chattanooga, Tennessee) |
RB | JORDAN LYLE | ★★★★ | #326 NATL | #28 RB | 6-0 | 180 | St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Laderdale, Florida) |
OT | DEONTAE ARMSTRONG | ★★★★ | #333 NATL | #30 OT | 6-6 | 280 | St. Edward (Lakewood, OH) |
TE | DAMARION WITTEN | ★★★★ | #347 NATL | #19 TE | 6-6 | 280 | Glenville (Cleveland, OH) |
OIL | DEVONTAE ARMSTRONG | ★★★★ | #359 NATL | #21IOL | 6-4 | 265 | St. Edward (Lakewood, OH) |
OIL | MARC NAVE | ★★★ | #617 NATL | #39IOL | 6-5 | 315 | Central Catholic (Toledo, OH) |
RB | SAM WILLIAMS-DIXON | ★★★ | #714 NATL | #73 ATH | 5-11 | 203 | Pickerington North (Columbus, OH) |
Prospect Rating Data: 247Sports | |||||
Witten brings pass catching skills to Columbus to develop as a run blocker
Witten was instrumental in Glenville winning its first state championship in program history, capping a perfect 15-0 season in 2022.
While Witten is a tight end capable of being a dynamic pass catcher, which is his greatest strength, he is also very willing to learn to hone his craft as a blocker.
“My greatest strength is the way I can run the courses and open up the holes for the running backs,” Witten said.
Though Witten is ready to be a blocker at any moment, he needs to work on his inline blocking technique and also take his physique to the next level. He’ll likely need to strengthen before he can play a major role on Ohio State’s offense, but Witten has every chance of being an absolute tight end.
“They told me I was a mismatch tight end,” Witten said. “I can stay, bend, go outside and play receiver and match with a DB and be used as a mismatch. I want to be used as a tight end and receiver at the same time.”
In his junior season, Witten nibbled between a wide runaway in the slot and putting up one hand in the ground at the line of scrimmage for Glenville. The Tarblooders aren’t afraid to spread him out to wide receivers and use him like a wide receiver when they need a big play.
He has demonstrated great playing ability, both in winning contested jump shots and long plays in on-screen play. Last season, Witten took a 99-yard screen pass to Paydirt, showing above-average speed for a tight end. On rare occasions, Witten even made handoffs for Glenville in backcourt as the Tarblooders took advantage of their size and athleticism as ball carriers.