What Does the Commitment of Kayden McDonald Mean for Ohio State?

Posted By on November 1, 2022

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It has been a long time since Ohio State received a commitment in the class of 2023. In fact, it’s been 78 days since the latest boom happened when Jayden Bonsu pledged on August 14th.

Kayden McDonald is a big time recruit out of North Gwinnett High School in the peach tree state. Buckeye fans may look at the stars and think we expect to get these guys but, this is a really big get to close the physical gap with the powerhouse SEC programs like Alabama and Georgia.

McDonald stands at 6’3 315 LBS and is a big, versatile, physical defensive tackle. There are clips of McDonald playing some FB/RB in his senior season at North Gwinnett High School.

The Tight race between Kayden McDonald’s Top 5

It was a very tight race from start to finish and according to multiple sources within the last 24 -48 hours, every single school had a lot of optimism because McDonald thought his decision through to the final days. His top-five was Oklahoma, Clemson, Ohio State, Michigan, and Florida.

Oklahoma:

McDonaldthought very highly of Oklahoma, in fact he attended an official visit on October 15th when the Sooners hosted the Kansas Jayhawks. McDonald had lots of positives to say about Oklahoma but here is the main factor that kept them in the tight knit race.

“It is about (head) coach (Brent) Venables and Bates with Oklahoma,” They recruited me when they were at Clemson…  I really like how coach Venables is a defensive-minded coach,” McDonald told ON3 Recruiting Expert Chad Simmons.

Clemson:

The four-star DT had a very great relationship with everyone on the staff and had crucial relationships with recruits in the Clemson 2023 class that kept them in the very close race.

McDonald took his most recent visit at Clemson on October 22nd when Clemson hosted Syracuse.

“Clemson is close, less than two hours away..  Coach [Mickey] Conn, who’s friends with my high school coach, is the co-defensive coordinator. I talk to him and coach [Wes] Goodwin. I also chop it up with coach [Nick] Eason all the time. We have a good relationship,” McDonald said to Hayes Fawcett and Clemson Sports ON3

Florida:

The Georgia Native had Florida as his only SEC school in his top-five. From the South it’s pretty easy for guys like McDonald to have ties with Florida, it is a great football program that is on the rise under Billy Napier in his first season as the Gator head coach.

McDonald took his Florida official Vvsit in the summer but recently attended a gameday unofficial visit on October 8th when Florida hosted Missouri. Here is McDonald’s thoughts on Florida

“I love Florida. The academics, staff, it’s the SEC, and there are big games every Saturday in the swamp. Coach Napier is building his team one player at a time. Me, my mom, and coach Napier are in a group chat and we talk to him all the time. He’s a players coach, and I like that. Definitely makes Florida a top school,” McDonald told Hayes Fawcett and Gators Wire USA TODAY

Michigan:

McDonald was interested in the two schools that compete in one of the greatest rivalries in all of sports: THE GAME between Ohio State and Michigan.

The big time DT liked Michigan as he took one of his official visits there on September 9th weekend when Michigan hosted Hawaii.

McDonald on his visit to Michigan “It was a great visit,”“ The atmosphere was insane. Michigan runs a 4-3 base like my high school defense and I can play four-tech to three-tech to nose,” he said. “The culture, I’m close to the staff and academic support is good.”

The Main Factors Why The Buckeyes Came Out On Top

Kayden’s 2021 Ohio State Visit:

To start off McDonald has been recruited by Ohio State Defensive Line coach Larry Johnson for a long time. Back in 2021, McDonald took an unofficial visit to Columbus and attended the nighttime showdown between the-then 5th ranked Ohio State Buckeyes facing off against the 20th ranked Penn State Nittany Lions. The star loved the atmosphere that night as well as Johnson but was not wowed by Ohio State’s defense as whole in 2021.

McDonald wasn’t the only one who wasn’t impressed by the 2021 Ohio State Defense, as head coach Ryan Day cleaned slate at the defensive side of the ball. Day released co-defensive coordinators Matt Barnes and Kerry Coombs as well as linebackers coach Al Washington.

In the offseason leading up to 2022, Day made some of the biggest hires of his young head coaching career and brought in defensive coordinator Jim Knowles from Oklahoma State to lead the way on the defensive side of the ball. Day also hired Perry Eliano to coach safeties and Tim Walton to coach cornerbacks.

Kayden McDonald’s Big 2022 Official Visit:

McDonald made his trip back to Columbus on September 24th for his official visit when Ohio State hosted Wisconsin. Kayden was  at a packed horseshoe that recorded 105,473 in attendance.

“I saw everything. I met with one of the professors with broadcasting, people from the academic side and strength and conditioning. I watched the practice on Sunday after they dominated Saturday’s game,” McDonald told Eleven Warriors

It’s a different vibe with coach Knowles being the defensive coordinator,” McDonald said. “The defense looks faster. They’re playing more together and relentless. It’s a relentless defense and a national championship type defense.”

McDonald’s insight on Ohio State’s Academics:

With McDonald very interested in the defense he is as much interested in life after football he wants to major in Sports Broadcasting and Ohio State has a very strong sports broadcasting school. That’s a big deal into winning big time recruitments, as it’s not just about the football program but it’s about setting up recruits for life after high school.

“Kirk Herbstreit went there, and his son is on the team now,” McDonald said. “That just could open so many doors for me if I pick Ohio State with my major.”

The effects on the 2023 Recruiting Class

The addition of Kayden McDonald brings the class to 21 Hard Commits, with three commits coming on the Defensive Line. On the Defensive Line the Buckeyes have Top-100 recruit Jason Moore, the big interior newcomer in Kayden McDonald, and to cap it off with the hometown legacy Will Smith who attends Dublin Coffman High School (Dublin, Ohio).

With those three additions, Ohio State could still possibly add up to three more Defensive End/Line Prospects.

Since Ohio State has 3 openings they are in great position for five-star EDGE Damon Wilson, five-star EDGE Keon Keeley, and five-star EDGE Matayo Uiagelelei.

Whats Next For The Class Of 2023??

There is about 51 days until the National Early Signing Day and Ohio State still has multiple spots open in the 2023 class.

The Buckeye 2023 class sits at 4th in the Nation according to 247 sports composite rankings with a class score of 286.96. The Scarlet and Gray are sitting behind Notre Dame with a score of 289.25 but with 23 commits, Georgia with 294.95 with 22 Commits, and Alabama with 310.01 and 23 Commits.

Possible Scenarios:

Ohio State has multiple targets to keep an eye out which includes the three five-star EDGE prospects, as well as four-star linebacker Arion Carter who is slated to visit November 12th.

There are a few longshots who if Ohio State offers could end up in Columbus, such as four-star linebacker Nigel Glover who is currently committed to Northwestern.

Another one to watch is instate three-star RB Trey Cornist who recently decommitted from Georgia Tech. Cornist is from the power house Cincinnati Winton Woods which produced players like Ohio State star RB Miyan Williams and four-star class of 2023 commit  Jermaine Matthews.

The Wrap Up:

Ohio State is getting a big time Interior Defensive Tackle that compares physically with the DT’s on the level of the likes of Alabama and Georgia’s defensive tackles. Coach Ryan Day has been preaching toughness and that Ohio State isn’t going to be pushed around in the trenches. McDonald gets to work every day level headed and works hard to be the best player but most importantly the best person he can be.


Click here for more Ohio State recruiting news!

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