Ironton High School: A program to watch as Ohio State recruits in-state prospects

Ironton High School: A program to watch as Ohio State recruits in-state prospects

When it comes to recruiting, regardless of year, Ohio State is going to contend for many of the nation’s best players no matter where they are from. A perk of the brand, the Buckeyes bring in top players for many reasons, but their contention for a national title every year and the ability to develop NFL talent keeps them atop of the college football landscape when it comes to bringing in top-five recruiting classes.

Despite their national reach, one tried-and-true hallmark of OSU recruiting has always been keeping the best in-state players at home. Making a point to recruit their own backyard, the coaching staff knows the importance of building a secure border around the Ohio state lines. Most of the time, the program sees the top-ranked in-state players picking the Buckeyes in the end.

The staff can’t sign everyone in Ohio, but these coaches have a strategic plan for who they go after. Many times, as a result of their national success, the Buckeyes only have room for a select few guys in a given class. Sure, some years are going to have deeper classes in Ohio with talent, causing the staff to take more commitments from their own in-state players, but even if there’s more of a nation-wide feel to a certain recruiting class, Ohio will always be a priority.

Every high school in Ohio is being looked at, and there’s not a stone that’s left unturned by this coaching staff and by Mark Pantoni. Though some more than others produce Division I and P4 talent, you can bet this group of coaches know where to look for their next top in-state kid.

Prep powers such as Cincinnati Moeller, Akron Hoban, Cleveland Glenville, Lakewood St. Edward, Huber Heights Wayne and several others may highlight the list of Ohio high schools that produce the most talent each year, but there’s a ton of programs in-state that have great track records of players making it to the next level. In this case, there’s one high school that seems to be increasing their production...

Ironton High School

It wasn’t all that long ago that the Buckeyes were able to land the commitment of Ironton, Ohio product Reid Carrico. The class of 2021 linebacker was a top-five player in Ohio, and though it never worked out for him in Columbus with playing time, it’s still a player that the staff was able to bring in from a program that has in-state DI-caliber talent.

Looking at the program now, Ironton boasts multiple players with DI offers, and leads to the notion that Ohio State is likely paying close attention already — rightfully so, as this high school looks to be on the rise when it comes to producing top talent each year.

Shaun Terry, a 5-foot-10, 170 pound athlete is currently committed to Notre Dame, and has been since February. A three-star, Terry is the No. 637 player nationally and the 105th best receiver in the class per the 247Sports Composite. On top of his national ranking, being the No. 21 player in Ohio is one worth watching.

An offer list that is near 30 schools, and from the likes of Auburn, Kentucky, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oregon, Penn State, Tennessee, USC, and others is impressive, but the glaring aspect of his recruitment: no Ohio State offer.

Terry is a player that visited the Buckeyes and heard from the staff, but Hartline tends to get who he wants each cycle at the position, and for whatever the reason the offer has yet to be extended. The staff expects to land multiple of their top targets as they tend to do, but it is very possible an offer is extended if Ohio State starts to re-evaluate and its their mind. The question then, however, would be whether or not it’s too late.

Elsewhere, Joshua Johnson is another class of 2025 Ironton product that is seeing DI interest from several P4 schools. A 6-foot-3, 185 pound safety, Johnson is also a three-star prospect and the No. 909 player nationally as well as the 76th best safety in the class, per the 247Sports Composite.

A situation similar to Terry, the Buckeyes expect to round out their class with their top target safeties, which of course depending on outlet features the No. 1 and No. 2 players in the country at that spot — one of which is also an Ohio native. All that said, that likely points to the reason the staff hasn’t offered, but Iowa, Michigan State, Penn State, Tennessee, and several more are happy to oblige.

Ironton is a prep program worth watching. It may not be a powerhouse when it comes to producing elite talent every year like other national powers such as the Mater Dei’s of the world, but there’s enough players getting to the next level that shows this program needs to be evaluated both now and in the future.

Sure, Ohio State may land guys at the same positions that are higher-ranked players, but with talent in-state being produced at this program consistently more now than maybe ever, this is a school that should see the Buckeyes sniffing around often.