Edwin Spillman, 2024 LB target, connects with Ohio State’s overall presentation on third

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A program’s presentation can make or break its chances of landing one of the nation’s top recruits. That’s a problem Ohio State seldom worries about — it continues to be the gold standard of recruiting image, impressing prospects on crucial visits.

That was again the case last weekend as four-star linebacker Edwin Spillman of Lipscomb Academy made his third visit to Columbus. His three-day stay was the best chance yet to delve into X’s and O’s with new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, but it was also highlighted by a Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) presentation that gave Spillman something to think about.

“I got to talk to the [NIL Edge Team],” Spillman told cleveland.com. “And they had already set up an NIL brand name for me and I thought that was really cool. It was just like an animation and everything like that, just how much detail they put into the recruits.”

That extra detail reinforced Spillman’s OSU vibe. He was offered last summer during a camp by former linebackers coach Al Washington. The coaching change in January created a potential issue, but his interest didn’t waiver.

Spillman met Knowles for the first time last weekend.

“When I first met Coach, he and the Ohio State linebackers were watching film and the first impression I got off of him was that he is just a really smart guy,” Spillman said. “The way he runs his defense and talks to his players, just a really smart guy that knows what he is doing and has a lot of wisdom.”

Knowles wants aggression, and Spillman feels he fits the bill. The two spent valuable time talking about where the elite prospect could fit in the fold.

“He told me I’m going to do everything,” Spillman said.

“When I watched the film with him, he said he sees a lot of great qualities in me that we can both benefit off of,” Spillman said. “I really like the way he coaches his players to play off of aggression, and I think I’m the perfect player for all that type of stuff.”

Knowles has assembled an impressive list of candidates to fill his linebacker corps, including perceived top-target in 2023 Tackett Curtis and 2024′s Sammy Brown.

Spillman, a 6-foot-2, 221-pounder who is a native of Sierra Leonne and migrated to the United States less than 10 years ago, is on the rise with 13 offers. He is the No. 13 LB and No. 174 prospect in the 2024 class, according to 247sports.

He has sharpened his skills over the past year, thanks in part to a conversation with Washington, who is now a defensive line coach at Notre Dame.

“When I worked out with [Washington], we worked a lot on the ball and a lot of football drills and hand placement drills when you are going up against offensive linemen and stuff like that,” Spillman said. “That really helped me, being able to use what Coach taught me over the summer and apply it in the game.”

Washington’s departure helped Spillman to understand that coaching is a business. No one is exempt.

“I couldn’t believe it, but I just learned from that process after that happened,” Spillman said. “I just learned you couldn’t choose a school that you want to go just for a certain coach. Because at some point, coaches want to reach the highest level and the money and all that type of stuff. You can’t just choose a school because of the coach; you’ve got to choose it for what the football program is all about and what the school is all about.”

With new tools intact, Spillman was a menace for the Mustangs, helping them capture a Division II-AA football state championship in his junior year.

The prospect enjoyed the Spring Game, and was wowed by the over 60,000 people in attendance. His previous gameday visit was against Akron in September.

Tennessee may be home, but Ohio State makes Spillman comfortable, which could be an indicator of where they will be in his top schools down the line.

“It feels like a place where I can just come in and be myself,” Spillman said. “A place where I can get better as a football player. Ohio State is definitely in the top of my list. They have always recruited me hard, always showed me love. They are close to the top.”

His father, Jeremy Spillman, also likes what he sees from the Buckeyes.

“He really enjoys and likes Ohio State,” Spillman said. “He just likes the people there and tells me he enjoys talking to all the coaches. ‘They always seem to be kind and genuine people who want to see me succeed and get better as a football player, and off the field too.’”

Spillman also has offers from Tennessee, Notre Dame, Georgia and Michigan.

The Wolverines have made a big impression on the do-it-all defender as he visited Ann Arbor for the first time earlier this month. He continues to have strong interest in the home-state Volunteers, where his brother and teammate, wide receiver Nate Spillman, became a 2023 verbal commit last month.

A commitment is likely far down the road for Spillman, but he has a good idea of what his future school should look like.

“Just a place that is going to feel like home,” Spillman said. “A place where I can play early and I can do the stuff that I love to do, which is just a mix of different things and being able to do everything.”

Early indications show Spillman’s recruitment leans towards checking two of those boxes while early action is a rarity. That will depend on the next couple of years.

Ohio State makes the latest cut for 2023 4-star Georgia QB

Four-star quarterback Dylan Lonergan out of Brookwood High School in Snellville, Georgia, has included the Buckeyes in his latest cut.

The 6-foot-2, 215-pound prospect trimmed his list of top schools from 12 to five Friday, including Ohio State with Alabama, Florida, South Carolina and newly added Stanford.

His previous list consisted of Florida, Georgia, Ole Miss, Oregon, Georgia Tech, Alabama, Penn State, South Carolina, Auburn, LSU and Mississippi State.

Lonergan, who is also a high-level baseball recruit, has amassed 6,239 passing yards and 57 touchdowns with just nine interceptions in his high school career. He has also tallied 149 carries for 993 yards and 16 touchdowns.

He is the No. 9 QB and the No. 100 prospect in the 2023 class, according to the 247sports composite.

The Georgia dual-threat QB was offered last summer and followed up with a gameday visit against Oregon in September. Lonergan continues to build his relationship with QB coach Corey Dennis and head coach Ryan Day.

His desire to also play baseball at the next level could swing his recruitment down the line but Lonergan is a player to watch as Ohio State’s hunt to add to a loaded QB room continues.

Ohio State makes top 12 for 2023 4-star Texas LB

Linebacker Derion Gullette out of Marlin High School in Texas has included OSU in his top 12.

The 6-foot-2, 220-pound prospect trimmed a list of 25 offers — Ohio State joins Texas, Notre Dame, Auburn, Oregon, USC, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Alabama, LSU, North Carolina and Miami.

The four-star football talent is a three-sport athlete, who shines on the basketball court and the track. He has been rising up the recruiting rankings, earning 12 of his 25 offers since March.

Gullette is the No. 28 edge and No. 328 prospect in the 2023 class, according to the 247sports composite.

On offense, he amassed 64 receptions for 1,458 yards and 14 touchdowns while also having 14 carries for 74 yards and four touchdowns in his junior season. On defense, he posted 116 tackles (57 solo), five tackles for loss, three fumble recoveries and two interceptions. He punted, averaging 43.6 yards per boot.

As his relationship with the Buckeyes continues to take shape, Gullette was supposed to visit on March 25, but a track obligation altered his plans. He is trying to set up a visit in late June.

He was offered in the beginning of December by former linebacker coach Al Washington, and the interest has carried over for Knowles. Getting Gullette on campus could determine whether Ohio State makes the next cut.

Florida 4-star RB leaves OSU out of top five

Four-star Florida RB Cedric Baxter Jr. has left the Buckeyes out of his top five.

The 6-foot-1, 215-pound 2023 prospect out of Edgewater High School in Orlando posted his top schools Saturday afternoon — a list that includes Texas, Texas A&M, Arkansas, Miami and Florida.

Baxter Jr. is the No. 4 RB and the No. 46 prospect in the 2023 class, according to the 247sports composite. He had 202 carries for 1,718 yards and 26 touchdowns as a junior while also snagging seven receptions for 102 yards and one touchdown.

Ohio State recently earned the verbal commitment of 2023 RB Mark Fletcher and continues its chase for coveted 2023 five-star RB Richard Young as well as 2023 four-star RB Justice Haynes.

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