Ohio State’s biggest remaining target in 2024 came off the board on Sept. 24, as Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei five-star offensive tackle Brandon Baker (6-5, 285) announced his commitment to Texas.
Baker is the No. 25 overall prospect and top-ranked offensive tackle in the class, and he chose Texas over his other top schools of Georgia, Nebraska, Ohio State and Oregon. He took visits to each of his final schools this summer, with his trip to Columbus coming on June 9, one that he told 247Sports was “probably (his) favorite one,” but it was not enough to persuade him to commit to Ohio State, with the Buckeyes appearing to finish second in his recruitment.
Baker’s pledge to Texas is a significant loss for Ohio State and offensive line coach Justin Frye, who were hoping to sign the program’s first five-star offensive tackle since Paris Johnson Jr. in 2020. While Ohio State does have a pair of offensive line commitments — Lakewood (Ohio) St. Edward four-star Deontae Armstrong (6-6, 280) and New Palestine, Ind., four-star Ian Moore (6-5, 295) — that could play tackle in college, neither is at the level of Baker, who has the talent to start as a true freshman at many programs.
With Baker off the board, Ohio State’s pursuit at offensive tackle has likely ended, though it doesn’t mean that Frye is not trying to find prospects on the offensive line.
The Buckeyes continue to pursue Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy four-star offensive lineman Jordan Seaton (6-5, 287), who is not expected to make a decision until closer to the early signing period in December. He is considering Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina and Tennessee in addition to Ohio State, which he is planning to officially visit on Nov. 11 when the Buckeyes host Michigan State.
If Ohio State is able to land Seaton, he would join an offensive line group that includes Deontae Armstrong, his brother, four-star interior lineman Devontae Armstrong (6-6, 280) Moore and Toledo Central Catholic three-star interior lineman Marc Nave (6-5, 315).
Outside of the offensive line, Ohio State’s top uncommitted targets remaining in the class include Tampa (Fla.) Wharton four-star defensive end Booker Pickett Jr. (6-3, 205) and Towson (Md.) Concordia Prep four-star defensive end Ernest Willor Jr. (6-4, 250), though the Buckeyes do continue to pursue flips at linebacker and safety.
