Ohio State Signs 20 Letters of Intent with the National

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State Buckeyes signed what will be another top-10 ranked recruiting class on Wednesday, as 20 high school players signed National Letters of Intent to continue their education and football careers with the Buckeyes on the first day of the early signing period. The class is highlighted by a five-star prospect as well as18 others who had four-star designations. As a group, Ohio State’s class is ranked No. 5 nationally according to the 247Sports composite. Its average star rating of 93.57 is third-best nationally.

This will be Ohio State’s 12th top-10 class in a 13-year period. It’s the top-ranked class in the Big Ten and has seven national top-100 prospects.

The Buckeyes’ class includes 10 players on defense and 10 on offense. There are three safeties, two cornerbacks, four defense linemen and a linebacker. On the other side of the ball, Ohio State signed four wide receivers, three of whom are top-10 players at the position according to 247Sports, one quarterback, one tight end and four offensive linemen.

Seven of the top eight-ranked players in the state of Ohio signed with the Buckeyes on Wednesday. That includes the state’s No. 1 overall prospect, OL Luke Montgomery from Findlay, and CB Jermaine Matthews, who is a Cincinnati native and ranked No. 2. The Buckeyes also went south and signed four players from the state of Florida, two from Georgia and one each from Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Dakota and Texas.

Jayden Bonsu // SAF // 6-1, 210 // Hillside, N.J./St. Peter’s Prep

Is the No. 4-rated player in the state of New Jersey
Had 62 tackles, 7.5 tackles-for-loss, 2.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and two interceptions during his junior season in 2021
Followed that up with a 70-tackle season as a senior this past fall in 10 games
Added 2.5 sacks, 4.5 tackles-for-loss and an interception
Comes from the same high school program that produced LB Cody Simon
Parents are Brittany and Jason Bonsu
Malik Hartford // SAF // 6-3, 175 // West Chester, Ohio/Lakota West

A four-star recruit and the No. 4-ranked player in the state of Ohio according to the 247Sports composite.
Named the Greater Miami Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2022.
Selected by the Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association as the Division I Southwest District Defensive Player of the Year and co-Division I Defensive Player of the Year.
The leader of a Lakota West defense that gave up just 10.0 points per game during a 13-1 season this fall.
His stat line in 2022 included 43 tackles, two interceptions, four tackles-for-loss five pass breakups
Finished his junior season with 58 tackles, two INTs, a sack and six blocked kicks/punts
Will play in the 2023 All-American Bowl in San Antonio on Jan. 7
Parents are Zainab and Jim Hartford
Cedrick Hawkins Jr. // SAF // 6-0, 175 // Cocoa, Fla./Cocoa

A four-star prospect by the 247Sports composite rankings
Considered to be one of the top 25 best players in the country at his position
A two-way player for Cocoa High School where he lined up at both safety and wide receiver
Had a total of 50 tackles, one interception and three passes defended in 13 games as a senior leading his team to a state championship
During his junior season, finished with 117 tackles, 3.0 tackles-for-loss, 10 PBUs and three fumble recoveries
On offense, caught 38 passes for 671 yards and five TDs; also returned kicks and punts while amassing nearly 1,000 all purpose yards
Finished his high school career with 309 total tackles, 14 interceptions and 43 pass breakups
Parents are Lakeesha McCloud and Cedrick Hawkins Sr.
Brandon Inniss // WR // 6-0, 190 // Hollywood, Fla./American Heritage

Is a five-star recruit by 247Sports and the nation’s No. 22-ranked overall player
No. 3-ranked wide receiver and the sixth-highest ranked player in the state of Florida
Set school records for receptions (73) and receiving yards (1,336) to go along with 15 touchdowns during his senior season
Helped American Heritage to a 13-2 record in 2022 and a spot in the 2M state championship game.
Had 1,947 all purpose yards and 16 total touchdowns while averaging 18.3 yards per catch
Played his sophomore season at TRU Prep Academy in Miami Gardens where he caught 30 passes for 723 yards and 10 touchdowns
Selected to play in the All-American Bowl in San Antonio on Jan. 7.
Mother is Amy Flinton
Lincoln Kienholz // QB // 6-3, 185 // Pierre, S.D./ T.F. Riggs

Is the nation’s No. 13-ranked quarterback and No. 172 overall player according to 247Sports
Only the second-ever player from the state of South Dakota to sign with Ohio State
Completed 66 percent of his passes for 3,422 yards and 46 touchdowns as a senior while being named the state’s 11AA Player of the Year
Added 1,435 yards rushing with 24 TDs in leading T.F. Riggs High School to its third consecutive state championship
Threw for 9,100 yards and 104 touchdowns over his career at T.F. Riggs where he was a three-year starter.
Became South Dakota high school football’s all-time passing leader last fall.
Named the Most Valuable Player of the 11AA state championship game for three consecutive years
Threw for 274 yards and three touchdowns while also rushing for 121 yards and two scores in this year’s state title game
A three-sport athlete who also excels in basketball and baseball.
Batted .472 with six home runs and went 3-0 with a 1.24 ERA as a pitcher.
First team selection on the Class AA all-state basketball team after averaging 19.9 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game as a junior.
Mother is Kacy Kienholz
Jermaine Matthews // CB // 6-0, 180 // Cincinnati/Winton Woods

The second-highest rated player in the state of Ohio according to the 247Sports composite
Comes in at No. 135 nationally, regardless of position, and the No. 15 cornerback
A four-star prospect
Named the Ohio Prep Sports Writers Association Division II Southwest District Defensive Player of the Year and the Division II Defensive Player of the Year
Finished the season with 51 total tackles, four forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries and six interceptions
He returned three of his six interceptions for touchdowns
Also had a touchdown receiving, one on a punt return and another on a kickoff return
Winton Woods finished the 2022 season with a 12-1 record; helped his team with a state championship as a junior in 2021
Made 40 tackles and had five interceptions during that season while also returning two punts for TDs
Mother is Bianca Adkins
Kayden McDonald // DL // 6-3, 310 // Suwanee, Ga./North Gwinnett

A four-star prospect and top 25-ranked player in the state of Georgia
Had 68 tackles in 12 games as a senior with 13.0 sacks and 40.0 tackles-for-loss
Was just as productive as a junior, amassing 95 total tackles in 12 games with 58.0 TFLs and 19.0 sacks
Had seven sacks in a first round 7A playoff game and 14 sacks in a three-game span during the regular season
Career totals include 234 tackles, 46.0 sacks and 131.0 tackles for loss in 40 games
Add 77 carries on offense for 409 yards and 11 touchdowns during his senior season
Mother is Kristi Green
Joshua Mickens // DE // 6-5, 225 // Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence Central

A top-150 prospect who is the No. 2-rated player in the state of Indiana
Has a composite four-star rating from 247Sports
Finished his senior season with 74 tackles, 20.5 tackles-for-loss and 6.5 sacks
Was named the top defensive lineman in the state by the Indiana Football Coaches Association and first team all-state
Had a superb junior season in which he totaled 23.0 tackles-for-loss, 12.0 sacks, five quarterback hurries, five forced fumbles in 11 games.
Also is a talented basketball player who averaged 13,0 points and 7.3 rebounds per game last season
Mother is Lavonnya Mickens
Luke Montgomery // OT // 6-5, 295 // Findlay, Ohio/Findlay

Is the top-ranked player in the state of Ohio by 247Sports
A consensus four-star prospect who is also a top-100 ranked player nationally
The fifth-ranked offensive tackle in the class nationally
Versatile and athletic enough to play any position on the offensive line
A multi-sport athlete who also played basketball at Findlay High School
Started out his high school career playing tight end and on the defensive line
First team All-Northwest District and All-Ohio by the Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association
Member of the 2022 All-Toledo Blade team
Selected to play in the All-America Bowl in San Antonio on Jan. 7, 2023
Parents are Christina and Mike Montgomery
Jason Moore // DL // 6-6, 260 // Hyattsville, Md/DeMatha Catholic

A top 100-player in the 247Sports composite rankings and the nation’s No. 6 defensive lineman
Ranked as the No. 2 player in the state of Maryland
Hails from the same high school that produced DE Chase Young, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft
Was the star on a defensive unit that allowed less than 10 points per game as DeMatha went 10-2 and was the WCAC runners-up
Named the Washington Post Defensive Player of the Year in 2022 as well as first team All-Met.
Recorded 73 tackles and 14 sacks for DeMatha as a junior in 2021
Has an older brother, Justin, who was the 2019 All-Met basketball Player of the Year; Justin now plays at Villanova
Parents are Keli and Greg Moore
Joshua Padilla // OL // 6-4, 285 // Huber Heights, Ohio/Wayne

The second-highest rated offensive lineman in the state of Ohio
The No. 6-rated player in the state regardless of position
Is a consensus four-star player and one of the country’s top-10 interior line prospects
Was the second member of the 2023 recruiting class to give his verbal commitment
First team All-Southwest District for Division I this past fall
Two-time Ohio Prep Sportswriter Association Division I All-Ohio
Helped power the Wayne offense to an average of 36.8 points per game in its six wins last season
2022 state runner-up in heavyweight wrestling
Parents are Lora and Mike Padilla
Arvell Reese // LB // 6-4, 225 // Cleveland/Glenville

A fifth-ranked player in Ohio by the 247Sports composite and No. 19 linebacker nationally
Named the Division IV Defensive Player of the Year by the Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association
Led Cleveland Glenville to its first state title this fall and the first-ever by in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District.
Had an interception in the state championship game vs. Wyoming
Selected to play in the Army All-American Bowl
Named a finalist for the 2022 High School Butkus Award, given to the nation’s top high school linebacker
First team All-Ohio by the Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association
Was the catalyst of a defense that did not give up a point in six league games
Parents are Maeko Walker and Alex Reese
Bryson Rodgers // WR // 6-1, 175 // Zephyrhills, Fla./Wiregrass Ranch

A four-star prospect according to the 247Sports composite rankings
Played three varsity seasons and totaled 110 receptions for 1,625 yards and 29 touchdowns in 26 games
As a sophomore in 2020, caught 47 passes for 710 yards and 10 TD; followed that up with 645 yards on 42 receptions with 14 TDs in 2021
Averaged 62.5 yards receiving per game
Is originally from Warren, Ohio
Parents are Amanda Dorchock and Brandon Rodgers
Noah Rogers // WR // 6-2, 195 // Rolesville, N.C./Rolesville

A top-100 national prospect who is the No. 1-ranked player in the state of North Carolina.
Consensus four-star player who holds a No. 44 national ranking by 247Sports
Finished his career at Rolesville High School with over 3,200 receiving yards
Had an 82-yard kickoff return for touchdown as well as another TD receiving in a playoff win over rival Wake Forest
Caught 70 passes for 1,432 yards and 22 touchdowns as a junior
Averaged 20.5 yards per catch
Had 37 touchdown receptions over his final two high school seasons
Is the fourth North Carolina native to sign with Ohio State in the last five recruiting cycles
Mother is Lisa Rogers
Austin Siereveld // OL // 6-5, 330 // Liberty Township, Ohio/Lakota East

Is Ohio’s No. 7-rated prospect overall and No. 11 interior offensive lineman nationally
A four-star prospect according to the 247Sports composite rankings
Three-time All-Southwest District and All-Greater Miami Conference
First team All-Ohio for Division I by the Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association
Was a member of the Top 23 list of players in the greater Cincinnati area by the Cincinnati Enquirer earlier this fall
Parents are Karla and Clay Siereveld
Calvin Simpson-Hunt // CB // 6-0, 175 // Waxahachie, Texas/Waxahachie

Holds rankings of No. 102 nationally by the 247Sports composite and No. 19 in the state of Texas
A four-star prospect from every major recruiting service
A gifted track athlete, he ran a 10.97 100 meter and a 22.00 200 meter as a sophomore in the spring of 2021
Finished out his high school career with 25 tackles in 10 games as a senior this past fall
Added 2.0 tackles-for-loss, one fumble recovery and three passes defended while helping Waxahachie to a 10-3 record
Had 29 tackles, five tackles-for-loss, one sack and one interception as a junior in the fall of 2021
Selected to play in the All-America Bowl in San Antonio on Jan. 7, 2023
Mother is Janel Simpson
Will Smith Jr. // DL // 6-3, 285 // Dublin, Ohio/Coffman

The No. 8 overall player regardless of position in the state of Ohio
Helped Coffman to a 7-4 record and an Division I first-round playoff appearance as a senior
Voted as the All-Central District Division I Defensive Player of the Year
First team All-Ohio for Division I by the Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association
Recorded 47 tackles, 14 tackles-for-loss and five sacks in 10 games
Is a Ohio Division I state qualifier is the shot put; also throws the discus
His father is the late Will Smith, who played in Ohio State’s 2002 national championship team and also for the New Orleans Saints
Mother is Kerry Monahan
Carnell Tate // WR // 6-2, 180 // Chicago, Ill./IMG Academy

Rated as the No. 25 player regardless of position by 247Sports
Has a composite ranking of No. 62 overall and No. 10 at wide receiver by 247Sports
Is a four-star prospect
Had eight receptions for 103 yards and two TDs in a 27-16 win over nationally-ranked St. Frances Academy (Md.)
Averaged 20.3 yards per catch as a senior in 2022
Began his high school career at Marist High School in Chicago; caught 28 passes for 444 yards and five TDs as a freshman in 2019
Finished his career at IMG Academy in 2021 and 2022
Totaled 750 yards receiving and eight touchdowns over eight games in 2022
Parents are Ashely Griggs and Sean Tate
Jelani Thurman // TE // 6-6, 225 // Fairburn, Ga./Langston Hughes

One of the nation’s top-ranked tight ends; is No. 104 nationally regardless of position in the 247Sports composite
The No. 4-ranked tight end and a four-star prospect overall
Caught 36 passes for 582 yards and 12 touchdowns in 14 games as a senior for Langston Hughes High School
Led Langston Hughes to a 15-0 record as a senior and a 6A state title win over Gainesville.
Amassed over 1,000 yards receiving over his final two high school seasons with 19 touchdowns and an average of nearly 16 yards per catch
Also played defense where he had 74 tackles, 3.0 sacks, 3.0 tackles-for-loss and four pass breakups.
His mother, Kara Braxton, was a two-time WNBA champion with the Detroit Shock
Miles Walker // OL // 6-6, 285 // Greenwich, Conn./Brunswick School

One of the top-ranked players in the state of Connecticut
First team Northeast Prep Football Conference All-League
Helped his team rush for 1,836 yards and 25 touchdowns in 10 games
Was the leader of an offensive line that gave up just eight sacks in over 200 pass attempts
Walkers’ team won the Mike Silipo NEPSAC Class A Bowl and finished the season 9-1
His father, Bobby, was an All-American at Williams College in football and track and a national champion in the weights
Two-sport athlete who also played baseball at the Brunswick School
Parents are Becky and Bobby Walker