Gabe Powers signs with Ohio State football on National Signing Day
Gabe Powers is headed to Ohio State.
Powers, the No. 61-ranked recruit in the country from Marysville High School, signed with Ohio State Friday. Powers is one of two highly-rated linebackers to sign with Ohio State out of the 2022 recruiting class.
Powers is the No. 5-rated player from the state of Ohio and the No. 6-rated linebacker of the class. He joins Kettering Alter linebacker C.J. Hicks and Pickerington Central safety Sonny Styles as the top in-state recruits of the Ohio State class.
The 6-foot-4, 230-pound Powers committed to Ohio State on Aug. 1, 2020, and is a four-star prospect, according to the 247 Sports Composite rankings.
Powers is one of the five top-10 players in the state of Ohio heading to Columbus, joining Hicks, Styles, Lakota West offensive lineman Tegra Tshabola and his teammate, cornerback Jyaire Brown.
The five highest-rated linebackers to ever sign with the Buckeyes
- Baron Browning, Kennedale (Texas) High School (2017)
- C.J. Hicks, Kettering Archbishop Alter (2022)
- Mike D’Andrea, Avon Lake High School (2002)
- Marco Cooper, Detroit Cass Technical (2000)
- Curtis Grant, Richmond (Va.) Hermitage High School (2011)
The 2022 Ohio State football recruiting class
- C.J. Hicks, LB
- Sonny Styles, S
- Gabe Powers, LB
- Devin Brown, QB
- Caleb Burton, WR
- Kaleb Brown, WR
- Kenyatta Jackson, DE
- Kyion Grayes, WR
- Tegra Tshabola, OT
- Kojo Antwi, WR
- Jyaire Brown, CB
- Dallan Hayden, RB
- George Fitzpatrick, OT
- Ryan Turner, CB
- Kye Stokes, S
- Bennett Christian, TE
- Avery Henry, OT
- Caden Curry, DL
Where Ohio State’s 2022 recruiting class ranks
Ohio State entered December’s early National Signing Day with the No.4-ranked recruiting class.
They trail Alabama, Georgia and Texas A&M. Those three programs plan to sign at least three 5-star recruits each.
When is the next National Signing Day?
In 2017, the NCAA brought back the early signing day for football. It went into effect in 2018. But before that, the first Wednesday of February was National Signing Day for football recruits.
The next signing will be Feb. 2.
However, recruits don’t have to sign that day. Last year, Ohio State signed J.T. Tuimoloau in the summer.
Buckeyes continue to dominate Ohio in-state recruiting
With Hicks joining the Buckeyes, Ohio State has now signed the highest-rated recruit from Ohio in four straight classes. The last top-rated recruit, according to 247 Sports Composite rankings, to sign with another program was Jackson Carman of Fairfield High School in 2018, who chose Clemson. Carman was selected in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals.
The Buckeyes were likely to continue that streak in 2023 but after Styles reclassified, Mentor defensive lineman Brenan Vernon became the state’s top 2023 recruit. He is committed to Notre Dame.
Who are the highest rated recruits ever from Ohio?
Here are the five highest-rated recruits since the early 2000s to come from Ohio:
- Ted Ginn, Jr., Cleveland Glenville (2004), signed with Ohio State
- Jack Sawyer , Pickerington North (2021), signed with Ohio State
- Prescott Burgess, Warren G Harding (2003), signed with Michigan
- Beanie Wells, Akron Garfield (2006), signed with Ohio State
- Jordan Hicks, Lakota West *2010), sign with Texas
How does Ohio State’s 2023 recruiting class look right now?
As of now, Ohio State has two commitments in its 2023 class. Tight end Tyler Lockwood of Independence, Tenn. (4-star) and Dayton Wayne standout lineman Joshua Padilla (4-stars) have committed to Ohio State.
The 10-highest rated recruits to sign with Ohio State
The recruiting ranking era began in the early 2000s. Here are the 10 highest-rated players to sign with Ohio State.
- Quinn Ewers, QB, Southlake Carroll High School (2021)
- Terrelle Pryor, QB, Jeannette High School, (2008)
- Ted Ginn Jr., WR, Cleveland Glenville (2004)
- J.T. Tuimoloau, DL, Sammamish (Wash.) Eastside Catholic (2021)
- Jack Sawyer, DL, Pickerington North High School (2021)
- Julian Fleming, WR, Catawissa (Pa.) Southern Columbia High School (2020)
- Noah Spence, DE, Harrisburg (Pa.) Bishop McDevitt (2012)
- Nick Bosa, DE, Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas (2016)
- Beanie Wells, RB, Akron Garfield High School (2006)
- Sam Maldonado, RB, Harrison (NY.) High School (2000)
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