Wednesday was a big supply day for Ohio State.
In Wednesday’s conquest, we wrote about seven offers in total, with six defenders receiving offers and one running back. Shortly after the article was published, three other prospects announced Ohio State bids, including two more defensemen and a running back in the 2024 class.
We’ll look at those three offerings first.
Sam Williams Dixon
After making several visits to Ohio State last season, the Ohio three-star contender has finally earned his offer from the Buckeyes after a stellar junior campaign.
After a great chat with @CoachTonyAlford I am proud to announce that I have an offer from OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY!!!!!!!!!!!! @MickWalker247 @OhioStateFB @birm pic.twitter.com/EjxbGR5mav
—Samuel Dixon (@SamuelDixon24) January 12, 2023
Williams-Dixon is the second Ohio running back in the 2024 class to earn an OSU offer, while four-star runner Jordan Marshall from Cincinnati is the other. According to 247Sports composite rankings, Williams-Dixon is considered the 537th best prospect and 40th running back in the 2024 cycle.
He has received 14 Division I offers to date, a roster that includes Ball State, Boston College, Cincinnati, Indiana, Iowa State, Kentucky, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Tennessee, Toledo and West Virginia.
The 5-foot-11, 203-pound Williams-Dixon traveled to Columbus in December to attend bowl practice and also attended the Buckeyes’ season opener against Notre Dame. In Williams-Dixon’s junior season, he rushed for nearly 1,300 rushing yards and scored 41 touchdowns while adding 500 receiving yards. As a sophomore, Williams-Dixon scored 35 touchdowns.
Aydin Breland
Larry Johnson offered another top-100 prospect in the 2024 class by making an offer to four-star California defenseman Aydin Breland. The 6-foot-5, 290-pound Breland is the 79th best player and 11th best defender in the 2024 class.
I am extremely blessed and grateful to say that I have received an offer from the University of Ohio State #GoBucks @R2X_Rushmen1 @OhioStateFB @adamgorney @GregBiggins pic.twitter.com/YsAr9tWRWL
— Aydin Breland (@AydinBreland) January 12, 2023
Breland has received 13 Division I offers including Michigan State, Alabama, Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, Kansas, Miami, Notre Dame, Oregon, Texas A&M, USC and Washington.
In 10 games for Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) this season, Breland had 24 tackles (10.5 for losses) with four sacks, three quarterback hurries and four pass deflections.
Jayden Jackson
Jackson was the second defender at IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) to receive an offer from Ohio State on Wednesday, while five-star nominee David Stone was the other. Unlike Stone, the 6-foot-2, 290-pound Jackson doesn’t have a composite ranking just yet, but his stocks continue to rise after receiving offers from Tennessee and the Buckeyes on the same day.
After a great conversation with the dline coach @R2X_Rushmen1 I am truly blessed to have the opportunity to play at my dream school @OhioStateFB. I want to thank the coaches who gave me this opportunity. I also want to thank God and my mother for everything. #OH pic.twitter.com/o8L3AYFlbJ
— Jayden Jackson (@JaydenJackson65) January 11, 2023
He has nine Division I offerings total, including Penn State, Tennessee, California, Central Michigan, Colorado, Duke, Georgia Tech and Vanderbilt.
Christian Bentancur, Jaylen Heyward announce commitments
Two Ohio State recruits will make their college choices on Friday.
Four-star tight end Christian Bentancur will make his decision at 1:30 p.m., picking from the top 3 of Ohio State, Oregon and Clemson. As a junior for Marian Central Catholic (Woodstock, Illinois), Bentancur had 54 receptions for 1,058 yards and 11 touchdowns. His sophomore season might have been even more impressive, as he caught 53 passes for 1,165 yards, including 16 touchdowns.
He visited OSU on September 3 for the season opener against Notre Dame.
“Ohio State’s offense was explosive and exciting to watch,” Bentancur told Eleven Warriors after the game. “They moved a lot at the tight end and it was crazy to see the atmosphere at the game.”
Heading into his decision day, Clemson is the likely favorite for Bentancur.
Four-star safety Jaylen Heyward will follow with a decision from the last four of Ohio State, Alabama, Georgia and Florida at 2:30 p.m. Thursday.
last four!! Where is ? @Andrew_Ivins @SWiltfong247 @247Sports @BFBaumgartner @Ryan Callahan247 @CoachJünger14 @TRONE2 @RockFootball1 pic.twitter.com/YtOxLUja9F
— Jaylen Ap Heyward (@Jayasii) January 12, 2023
Given that Heyward has yet to visit Ohio State, the Buckeyes are unlikely to win that recruitment in the end. Heyward’s choice is probably Georgia or Florida.