COLUMBUS, Ohio – Virginia native Tristan Leigh of Robinson Secondary High School (Fairfax, Virginia) is considered the 11th player and 3rd offensive team in the 2021 draft class.
The five-star recruit has deals from 40 schools and has crystal balls ranging from Clemson to LSU to Oklahoma and Penn State. Then there’s Ohio State, which he offered Leigh in September weeks before he attended the game against the Nittany Lions. But it’s recently been reported that their head coach, Scott Vossler, has seen a surge in Buckeyes interest, largely as a result of OSU’s loss to Alabama by IMG Academy five-star JC Latham.
“He has had news of him all along, but I think when (Latham) decided to go to Alabama, maybe it was every two weeks to every week,” Vossler told cleveland.com. “I know he’s spoken to (head coach Ryan) Day a few times recently.”
Ohio State does not yet have an offensive tackle in this class, as Donovan Jackson and Ben Christman are projected as inside linemen. He has made five tackles in the last two classes led by five-star Paris Johnson Jr., so it might not be a necessity to get one in 2021. But when someone can be compared to a Hall of Famer like Jonathan Ogden, the Needs are easily overcome by desires.
That is the case with Leigh. Vossler says his star player is up to 6 feet 6 inches and 290 pounds, but he still has the athleticism of someone much smaller. It translates the skill he uses on a basketball court into dominant outings on the soccer field.
“There is nothing I can’t physically do,” said Vossler. “He moves like a 225-pound boy, and now he’s 290 pounds. … He’s really long and wide, but he’s not a fat boy at all. He is relatively thin. Its ceiling is as high as anyone I have ever seen.
The Buckeyes are in the top 15 of Leigh’s released in May, and at some point, that list will likely be updated. Expect OSU to be on that list as this recruiting has been at full throttle with Day, offensive line coach Greg Studrawa and defensive line coach Larry Johnson all having a role.
Ohio State is currently the No. 1 class in the country with four five-star commitments. He’s in the running for three of the top 11 players in the country. That leaves five months for the Buckeyes to chase Leigh along with Washington state defensive end JT Tuimoloau and wide receiver Emeka Egbuka.
RB five-star driver TreVeyon Henderson, also from Virginia, has already started doing his part to take Leigh to Columbus. Leigh doesn’t want to go too far from home, but seeing the best runner in the nation pick Ohio State without even stepping on campus speaks volumes.
“I don’t know if those two knew each other long before all this, but they have gotten to know each other through their phones,” Vossler said. “I think it validates for him that another boy from Virginia chooses to go there.”
Fanatics has launched Ohio State Buckeyes Adult Facial Coats. This pack of 3 masks for adults sells for $ 29.99.
New Ohio state facial masks for sale: This is where you can buy Ohio State themed face liners for coronavirus protection. A 3-pack is available from Fanatics for $ 29.99.
More Buckeyes coverage
Absence of NCAA Athletes at Senate Hearing Shows Disconnection: Buckeye Take
Catching up on the 2021 pledge, Mike Hall, the elite freshman camp comes to Obetz
Man who threatened to harm OSU players at 2018 Michigan game pleads guilty
Kyle McCord honored as a member of the Elite 11 QB class of 2021
Indiana Preview; The lingering effect of OSU assistant Kevin Wilson on Hoosiers: Daily Pod
Chase Young is the only unanimous pick for the Big Ten Network All-Decade team
OSU President Michael Drake: “Wouldn’t Support” Buckeye’s Commitment as a Disclaimer
Soccer Can Let First-Year Receivers Stand Out: Buckeye Take
What if Jim Harbaugh was undefeated against OSU? Rapid Fire Questions: Podcast
Where could OSU find a second tight end for its 2021 recruiting class?
Wyatt Davis named first active player on Big Ten Network’s All-Decade team
Jack Sawyer is confident Larry Johnson will make him the next DE superstar
What does Emoni Bates’ commitment to MSU mean to Buckeyes? Buckeye Take
Tony Grimes, CB & OSU’s Top 2021 Target, Commits to North Carolina
