The Buckeyes have started the year off to a hot 5-0 start in the 2022-2023 campaign. In the world of college football recruiting, it never hurts to see a program on top especially when it comes to landing some of the blue chip targets in the cycle. In today’s Bullet Points session we’re going to look at some of the 2024 blue chippers who the Buckeyes have started to build some momentum with as well as one new name you should become familiar with.

First off, if you don’t know the name already, you should get familiar with Stacy Gage. Gage is listed as the No.2 RB in the country and a top-50 player nationally. The strong, athletic, ball carrier has just over 40 power five offers in his junior year. With Gage having just about every offer he could ask for the question still remains who will land his services at the next level. At this time I can confirm this is coming to be a two team race as Gage has informed people close to him that Oklahoma and Ohio State have begun to separate themselves from the pack. The Buckeyes specifically as of late have really started to move the needle in this recruitment as the high powered back has seen what running backs coach Tony Alford has been doing with Miyan Williams and TreVeyon Henderson (when healthy). With there being a lot of concerns around the Oklahoma offense, and questions marks around new Sooners head coach Brent Venables, the door has definitely been wide open for the Buckeyes to surge into the lead for Gage. There is still a ton of time in this recruitment but I would move the meter at this time in Ohio State’s favor.

THESE ARE HARD!!😎 pic.twitter.com/3k46LxWVMU

— Stacy Gage (@3stacygage) August 14, 2022

Another recruitment that seems to be heading into a two horse race for a quality blue chipper is with monster offensive tackle and 2024 stand out Kam Pringle. The South Carolina product is ranked as the 2nd overall OT in the country and highest rated recruit in the state. The Buckeyes have begun to really big up the pace also in this recruitment after seeing what new Ohio State offensive line coach Justin Frye has been doing with Paris Johnson Jr. and Dawand Jones. The two OT’s are two of the top five highest graded tackles in the country this year as per PFF’s grading system. The Buckeyes will be in a tough battle with the home state South Carolina Gamecocks right now but I still give the Buckeyes the edge here. With the Gamecocks program still seeming to be heading in the wrong direction following a brutal beat down at the hands of Georgia, a quality talent like Pringle has taken notice and is likely why the Buckeyes are considered the leader.

A new name circling around the 2023 class is local Ohio product Trey Cornist. The 5’11, 210-pound running back has absolutely exploded onto the Ohio high school scene this year. Cornist caught the eyes of the Ohio State staff after busting out a six-touchdown, 343 yard rushing performance last month. Cornist has rushed for 962 yards and 15 touchdowns (14.8 yards per carry) this season for Winton Woods. The Cincinnati star is teammates with current Buckeye cornerback commit Jermaine Matthews Jr. Cornist had the chance to visit the Columbus with Matthews when the Buckeyes took on the Badgers in “The Horseshoe”. The visit seemed to go as well as it possibly could have. Cornish is currently committed to Georgia Tech but if the Ohio State offer comes I’d expect the Buckeyes to add a second back to the class to join Mark Fletcher.

Now what are the chances of that happening? I’d say pretty good at this time as the three-star in state product has had the groundwork laid out for him by former three-star and fellow Winton Woods product Miyan Williams. The two have had a very similar path and we’re both noticed by the Buckeyes during explosive breakout games in their senior year. Not to mention, it may help that Williams has taken to Twitter to even vouch for Cornist to get an opportunity to become a Buckeye. As well, Cornist has even received a phone call from Williams when he tied his state of Ohio, TD rushing record of six scores in a game. In terms of the numbers game, the Buckeyes sit at 20 players in the 2023 class and are expecting to take 25-26. Cornist may be late in the recruitment process, but he would certainly be an excellent addition to the 2023 class and a great compliment to Fletcher.