While most are focusing on the finishing touches of Ohio State football’s monster 2021 recruiting class, Ryan Day and the Buckeyes are in the process of also piecing together the 2022 class.
So far, the Buckeyes have five commits that rank as the No. 2 class in the country, but the momentum seems to be ramping up as things with the 2021 class are seemingly up in the air with what the NCAA will do with scholarships, eligibility, and a host of other things.
From time to time, Ohio State reaches to That State Up North to pull in a highly rated prospect, and it looks like it’s hot on the heels of five-star defensive back Will Johnson.
Our sister site Wolverines Wire caught up with Johnson and asked him about the recruiting process and where things stand. The class of 2022’s No. 3 ranked cornerback and eighth rated overall prospect according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings said there are a handful of schools recruiting him the hardest, including Ohio State.
“I’d say — who’s recruiting me the hardest right now?” Johnson said. “Probably Michigan, Arizona State, Ohio State, Penn State, USC — schools like that,” Johnson told Wolverines Wire.
So then you might wonder how things are going with the Buckeyes. Johnson had an answer for that too, and it appears as though things are still in the relationship-building process.
“Mostly I just talk to Coach Coombs right now, about every week,” Johnson said. “With them, it’s the same — keeping in touch, building a relationship. I talk to them about what’s going on.”
Michigan putting on a full-court press to land in-state 5-star Will Johnson https://t.co/LPWZilgixH
— WolverinesWire (@wolverineswire) August 30, 2020
It’s good news that Ohio State seems to be in the mix here, but it’s going to be a tough sell to bring Johnson over to the dark side. His father, Deon Johnson, played for Michigan and helped the Wolverines to the Big Ten Championship and Rose Bowl win in during the1992 season. With the family legacy there, you can bet there will be a strong pull to pick the Maize and Blue.
One thing the Buckeyes have going for them though is the number of defensive backs they have churned out over the most recent years.
It’s still too early for a timetable for Johnson, but as things progress we’ll keep an eye on it.
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