Top Ohio State target admits he’s ‘Crazy excited’ over this one thing Ryan Day and Buckeyes are offering him
The Ohio State Buckeyes have been chasing elite pass-rushing prospects for years but have struggled to close the deal. As the NIL market changes, the Buckeyes have found it easier to bring in veterans from the transfer portal than spend on a single big name who needs years to develop or may not hit. However, […]
The Ohio State Buckeyes have been chasing elite pass-rushing prospects for years but have struggled to close the deal. As the NIL market changes, the Buckeyes have found it easier to bring in veterans from the transfer portal than spend on a single big name who needs years to develop or may not hit. However, the right factors seem to be aligning where they get the best of both worlds in four-star Krew Jones.
The 2027 edge defender from Utah just announced that his first visit will be to Ohio State when Penn State comes to town on Nov. 1. He came to Columbus this past summer, and had so many good things to say about Ryan Day and his program that it’s easy to see why the Buckeyes have become favorites.
When asked about what he’s looking forward to on his visit, Jones started listing off almost every major selling point about going to a blue blood.
“I’m very excited,” Jones said. “That should be a pretty great game. Getting back out to that game and looking for another chance to see Columbus, see their facilities, see the boys in action, see the coaches in action…When you visit for just a little tour around the facilities, they can put on a show but for a game it’s real, it’s how they actually are so I’m excited to see it.”
Jones said he was already impressed with an empty Horseshoe, but Ohio Stadium will be as loud as ever when Penn State comes. And the new Ohio State gameday experience will be in full force by then.
“I’m crazy excited,” Jones said. “I went there, no one in it, and it’s huge. I imagine it gets rocking when there are games.
“They’ve been reaching out over text and a few calls here and there. Their message to me is to keep doing what I’m doing and they’re excited because they think I can fit a role in their school very well. They’re excited for me to graduate and hopefully make it out there and play for them.”
The one concern for Ohio State, though, is that Jones cares about whether his coaches will remain on the staff throughout his career. While that’s hard for any program to control, Buckeyes defensive line coach Larry Johnson has been a primary topic for years. The early-70s coach has been at the center of retirement talks, and it’s unlikely he’ll still be in Columbus by the time Jones is registered and on campus in 2027.
“I would love if all the coaches were still there when it was my time to decide,” Jones said. “That’s one of my factors when deciding so that’s usually a question I ask coaches when I visit is where they see themselves in a few years…You never know what the future holds but it’s definitely something I’d love to have all the coaches still around.”
We’ll see if Ohio State can make an appropriate bridge hand-off between Johnson and the next DL coach within the next year or two. The Buckeyes need better recruiting along the position, and while Johnson is a terrific developer, it’s a young man’s game. Jones will also be looking at Nebraska, Florida State, USC, and Oklahoma this fall.
