Four-star LB schedules Ohio State official visit, Buckeyes offer 2026 RB (2024)

Ohio State had several big names on campus this past weekend, but the biggest headline-producer of the bunch has been 2025 four-star linebacker, Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng. The Maryland native and current IMG Academy standout is on the short list for James Laurinaitis to fill out his position group in this cycle, and the two sides got a bit closer after a very successful visit.

It was just the second trip to Columbus for Owusu-Boateng, and his first since his high school sophom*ore season when he tagged along with current Ohio State defensive lineman Jason Moore — the pair having played together at DeMatha Catholic, the same school that produced Chase Young, among others. Seemingly loving his time spent with the Buckeyes’ coaching staff, Owusu-Boateng has since scheduled an official visit with Ohio State on June 14.

“Just going up there and talking to coach Laurinaitis, coach Knowles and coach Day, it was great to see that developmental piece of exactly how guys get developed,” Owusu-Boateng told Eleven Warriors. “...seeing more than what I did the first time really made me want to see even more knowing that coach Laurinaitis is prioritizing me. He’s put in a lot of time and he hasn’t stopped yet.”

Laurinaitis would love to add the No. 4 LB and No. 45 player in the 2025 class, per 247Sports, to his group that already includes Tarvos Alford and Eli Lee. With over 40 offers to his name, Owusu-Boateng has four total official visits scheduled at this time, with USC (May 31), Notre Dame (June 7) and Michigan (June 21) also on the docket. Ohio State will continue to push hard for the 6-foot-1, 205-pound linebacker, and this past weekend feels like a step in the right direction.

Switching gears both to the 2026 class and to the other side of the football, Ohio State sent out a new offer over the weekend to four-star running back Damarius Yates.

Hailing out of De Kalb, Mississippi, Yates is a player who is really starting to see his stock rise in just the past month-plus. Since the beginning of April, he has picked up offers from Florida State, Auburn, UCF, Texas A&M and now Ohio State. The attention comes on the heels of a breakout campaign for Yates in 2023, wherein the talented tailback ran for over 1,100 yards (10.96 YPC) and 19 TDs while adding 365 yards and seven scores through the air — all despite missing four games.

Yates is currently listed as the No. 6 RB and No. 77 player nationally per 247Sports own rankings, as well as the No. 3 prospect in his state. It is yet another offer sent out by the ever-busy newly appointed running backs coach Carlos Locklyn, who is looking to land his first commitment as a member of the Buckeyes’ staff. Even while focused on chasing big names in 2025 like Jordon Davison and Bo Jackson, it’s always good to see position coaches starting to build early relationships in future cycles as well.

Quick Hits

• Ohio State is one of the five schools recruiting 2026 quarterback Dia Bell the hardest, per On3. The five-star prospect is considering announcing his commitment sometime this Summer, and the Buckeyes are pushing hard for the Florida native alongside LSU, Miami, Penn State and Texas. Bell is currently listed as the No. 3 QB and No. 14 player overall in the cycle, per the 247Sports Composite.

• Ohio State made an addition to its roster over the weekend with the commitment of punter Tony Venneri. A preferred walk-on, Venneri spent the last two years as the starter at Buffalo, averaging 43.96 yards per punt — good for 30th in FBS. He earned Freshman All-American honors from the FWAA in 2022.

• On the basketball side of things, Ohio State hosted in-state prospect Dorian Jones over the weekend. Jake Diebler got a chance to welcome in not only one of the best players in Ohio, but in the country as well, with Jones currently listed as the No. 53 prospect nationally and the No. 2 player within state lines in 2025. The 6-foot-4 shooting guard has helped lead Richmond Heights to three-straight Division IV state titles.