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Jan. 22—The new reality of college football produced a productive weekend for Ohio State.
The Buckeyes picked up commitments from three players who should bolster the future of Ryan Day’s program, one much sooner than the others.
That would be Caleb Downs, an All-SEC safety who led Alabama in tackles as a true freshman last season.
News broke Friday night he plans to join the Buckeyes, adding another impact player to a 2024 defense already expecting to return eight starters.
Coordinator Jim Knowles will have a veteran defensive line and cornerbacks to work with, but safety was a question mark with the graduation of Josh Proctor. That left behind a group of talented but mostly very young potential replacements — including Malik Hartford of Lakota West — figuring to compete to start along with senior Lathan Ransom.
After winning national freshman of the year awards, Downs not only should bolster the defense this fall but be one of few returning starters in 2025.
That is likely the earliest quarterback Julian Sayin and defensive lineman Dominic Kirks are called upon, if then.
Although both are members of the class of 2024, Sayin is technically another Alabama transfer because he enrolled in school and took part in bowl preparations for the Crimson Tide according to 247Sports.
But Nick Saban’s decision to retire after a remarkable run as Alabama head coach cause Sayin to reconsider his future, and he ultimately landed on Ohio State.
Sayin rose to No. 5 among all prospects in 247Sports Composite rankings during his senior season at Carlsbad High School in California. The 6-foot-1, 195-pounder also surpassed Dylan Raiola, a former Ohio State verbal commitment, to become the top-rated quarterback in his class.
Adding Sayin means Day will have a crowded quarterback room this spring, though that is a good problem to have. Ohio…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/ohio-state-football-3-more-021100539.html
Author : Dayton Daily News, Ohio
Publish date : 2024-01-23 02:11:00
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