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COLUMBUS, Ohio – Brenan Vernon of Mentor High School was in the Ohio State football camp for a camp date on June 24, with an unofficial visit.
It was his first time working with Larry Johnson in person as a rising junior, ranked 19th in the country and 6th defensive lineman. As an Ohio native, that would seem like an obvious recruiting. He seemed certain to join Zach Harrison (2019) and Jack Sawyer (2021) as the state’s five-star staying-at-home pass.
Instead, he enlisted at Notre Dame five days later, thanks to the recruiting efforts of Marcus Freeman.
Notre Dame hired Freeman as a defensive coordinator after the 2020 season, and he quickly elevated South Bend status on the scouting track. Its 2022 class has 19 commits and ranks third in the country. Freeman is listed as the primary recruiter by five commits, the secondary on four more.
Vernon was the second engagement in 2023 in as many days, and Freeman played a role in both. He’s not done trying to plunder Ohio, and each of his options puts him in a fight with the Buckeyes.
Ohio has eight players in the 2022 recruiting class ranked in the top 200. The Buckeyes were the pick of four, all of whom signed up before the start of the 2020 season. Offensive tackle Blake Miller is the only one not to have remained in the Big Ten plan, choosing Clemson. Penn State snatched two from quarterback Drew Allar and wide receiver Kaden Saunders.
Offensive tackle Aamil Wagner is the only one undecided, and despite a crystal ball to his name apparently since getting an offer from OSU, it’s a fight. Wagner is a rookie on the edge of the top 100, but he’s also an extremely bright and well-rounded kid. There’s also the fact that he and Freeman are from the same high school in Dayton, Ohio.
Ohio State has two offensive linemen engaged in George Fitzpatrick and Tegra Tshabola. Another will eventually join them, and Wagner is on that short list of realistic options. But he’s also on the Irish shortlist as one of five tackle targets still undecided.
The Ohio Buckeyes are fighting Notre Dame with Wagner in 2022. Class 2023 is where things get interesting.
Vernon was one of the few talents in Ohio with a legitimate case of being the 2023 first commit. He’s a five-star rookie living two hours from campus and playing a position the OSU often creates from the pros. Last August, he picked up five OSU Crystal Balls. It seemed like it was a visit and a workout with Johnson away from being sold on the Buckeyes.
“There is so much I can learn from him,” Vernon said in April. “The guy is a guru. … (I have) a lot more development (which needs to) happen. I have to learn to use my hands more and to work this edge better. He’s just trying to make sure I stay explosive and use those hands. … We’re just starting out on the basics with little things right now.
Ohio has four top 200 players in 2023, but there are four who have Ohio State and Notre Dame in common. Both programs will be closely watched as the quartet spend the next few months pondering their options.
Sonny Styles is OSU 2023’s most important goal, the nation’s No. 13 player and No. 1 in safety with a frame – 6ft 4in, 215lb – that dazzles with what he could to become. In June, he came to two camps and spent some one-on-one time with Kerry Coombs as defensive back, Al Washington as linebacker and Johnson as defensive end.
“I think it’s really cool to work all three levels of defense,” Styles said. “I think that’s nice, honestly.”
He is also the brother of Lorenzo Styles, a talent bordering the top 100 of the 2020 class and current wide receiver of Notre Dame. But choosing her brother isn’t part of Styles’ process. They don’t play on the same side of the ball, let alone the same position. Plus, their father is former Buckeye Lorenzo Styles Sr., so there is some family connection regardless.
He will be on the Notre Dame campus a lot over the next two years while supporting his brother. But he’ll also be spending just as much time on the Ohio state campus, just 20 minutes down the street.
Styles is one of those players that a coach welcomes into his office, points to a starting point on the depth board, and says, “Your name goes here.” At OSU, that place is the position of the ball – the rover at Notre Dame – which is why he’s been told to watch Craig Young this season as a player with a similar body type.
The other two fights take us back to the offensive line with tackle Luke Montgomery and center Josh Padilla.
The Irish were among a handful of schools Montgomery, his father Mike and brother Ryan – a rising QB prospect in 2025 – visited as they crossed the country. The trio told cleveland.com that visits await them over the next two weeks to Penn State (June 25), OSU (July 29) and Michigan (July 31). There were plans to return to South Bend on July 27, but they already have commitments with their Findlay High School football team.
This July 29 visit will be Montgomery’s third trip to Columbus this summer. This is not a moment of decision for Montgomery. This will only happen after his junior season at the earliest. This summer is dedicated to collecting information.
“I started to refine,” Montgomery said. “Between my mother and my father, I began to refine myself. In my mind, at least.
For now there is 12 schools at the top of its list, including Notre Dame and Ohio State.
Padilla will join Montgomery in Columbus the last week of July for her second visit after camping in June. In person, he reminds you of Josh Myers – another Ohio center – who was a two-year starter and team captain. The country’s No.200 and indoor lineman No.9 is also a teammate with Wagner.
Freeman was brought to South Bend to help Brian Kelly lead the Notre Dame defense. But his recruiting ability has proven to be his most valuable asset. Ryan Day didn’t have to worry about rivals bothering his condition in his first three rounds.
Thanks to Freeman, that is changing quickly.
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Fields Bears Jersey: Ohio State football fans can purchase Justin Fields’ new Chicago Bears jersey here. It’s available in white, blue and orange – and in men’s, women’s and youth sizes. There is also a cheaper t-shirt option.
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