Coveted five-star offensive lineman says Ohio State and Texas are the \

USA Today

5 days ago

Any coach in America will tell you that football games are won and lost in the trenches. That simple truth makes recruiting offensive and defensive linemen a priority, and Ohio State is in a battle for one of the top offensive tackles in the country.
Felix Ojo is the No. 1 tackle in the country according to 247Sports. The Texas native has been making his rounds this summer to places like Michigan, Florida, Ole Miss, as well as the in-state Longhorns, but there are two programs Ojo says are neck and neck. Texas has long been favored in this race, but the Buckeyes have closed the gap and are pushing hard for a commitment from the coveted lineman.
After Ojo finished his summer camp visits, Rivals recruiting analyst Sam Spiegelman gave a crystal ball prediction for Ojo to stay in the Lone Star State, saying, "There is a sense that Texas closed strong on this official visit and left a big enough impression on the elite OT ahead of his July commitment," Spiegelman said. "There is a strong sense that Ojo won't leave the state to play college football."
Not so fast, my friend. Ojo is in Indianapolis this week for the Rivals Five-Star Challenge, where Spiegelman had a chance to follow up with the prized recruit, and it sounds like the decision isn't going to be that cut and dry.
When asked about where his recruiting status stands, Ojo said, "I'd really say Texas and Ohio State (lead). Really just the atmosphere. The culture. Not only that. The opportunity to play early. I'd really say those two schools have really been pushing me throughout the recruiting process. Those are ultimately the two schools that are the biggest factor in my recruitment right now."
He'd go on to talk about how close the race is between both programs and what will be the final factor, stating, "I'd say right now with the race, I'd say it's pretty even. I'd say there's no clear-cut leader right now. I'd say the decision will be made in the next couple of weeks. It really just depends." He finished by adding, "Really just seeing where the best fit for me and my family is. Really seeing what the future has in store for me."
That's great news for Ryan Day and Ohio State. While Texas may still hold a slight lead being the home state team, the Buckeyes are really making an impression. It would be a massive win to get the young man to leave home, but it seems the Bucks are in as good a position as they could possibly be at this point, and it sounds like we'll have a decision sooner rather than later.