Ohio State football: OSU uses Real approach to recruiting

The Ohio State football team recruits differently than other programs and that’s why they land so much top talent.

I’ve spent a lot of time in the last few days reading accounts of the visits to the Ohio State football program by various recruits this past weekend. One thing jumps out at me. It is a theme I see repeated again and again. Real. That is how recruits describe conversations with the Ohio State coaching staff and players. Real.

Real is how the nation’s top 2021 recruit, J.T. Tuimoloau, described Ryan Day, defensive line coach Larry Johnson, and his conversation with Haskell Garrett. He came back to that word over and over during an interview with Brandon Huffman of 247 Sports after his visit to the Buckeyes.

Real is how receiver Kojo Antwi of Suwanee, Georgia described OSU assistant coach Brian Hartline to Letterman Row, “He was so real with me, straight up the whole time.” Before his visit, it was thought Ohio State was all but out of the running for Antwi, a top-ten receiver in the 2022 recruiting class according to 247 Sports. However, thanks in great part to that straightforward approach the Buckeyes are considered to be in the thick of things for his services.

The straightforward approach Ohio State uses seems to be a refreshing change for recruits. Promises of playing time, stardom, or getting taken in the NFL Draft are not made. As Urban Meyer did before him, Ryan Day and his staff tell recruits playing for the Buckeyes is not easy. They do not hide the fact there is a lot of talent, competition, and hard work. The father of Buckeye tight end Gee Scott, Jr. put it this way on Twitter the other day,

"“There’s just a different standard when it comes to THE Ohio State Football. The development both physically and mentally is unmatched.”"

One thing you will not find the Buckeyes doing when recruiting a player is criticize other schools.  When former Buckeye Max Wray, who recently transferred to Colorado, was being recruited, he said there were only two schools that did not engage in negative recruiting. Those were Ohio State and Alabama.

Ohio State uses a straightforward and Real approach to recruiting. Based on their success, it is obvious this resonates with potential players and their families.