Ohio State Buckeyes Flip Former Northwestern Commit Gabe VanSickle | Recruiting Tracker
The Ohio State Buckeyes added to an already stellar recruiting class on Thanksgiving Day, landing a commitment from former Northwestern offensive line pledge Gabe VanSickle.
VanSickle, a Coopersville, MI native, picked Ohio State over Northwestern, Bowling Green, Central Michigan, and Indiana.
VanSickle was committed to Northwestern until this month and decommitted from the Wildcats after a visit to Columbus. He then pledged to the Buckeyes two days later.
The Buckeyes class currently ranks No. 2 in the country behind only the two-time defending national champion Georgia Bulldogs.
November 20
Jeremiah Smith, a five-star receiver, is expected to enroll at Ohio State after the Early Signing Period, making him perhaps the best recruit in the 2024 class.
And while Buckeyes fans are undeniably excited to welcome the five-star pass catcher, their most famous supporter, NBA superstar LeBron James, might be the most hyped.
“I can’t wait to see him in Scarlet and Gray,” James tweeted in response to a Smith highlight video.
Smith is set to be an early enrollee this spring and will join the team in January.
November 16
Four-star Clinton, North Carolina, commit Amaris Williams, a Florida Gators commit, is a top defensive line prospect that the Ohio State Buckeyes are in the process of trading for.
Williams has been committed to Florida since June but was recently crystalballed to the Buckeyes by a pair of 247Sports recruiting insiders, while multiple other industry experts have also projected the flip to Ohio State.
November 7
The Ohio State Buckeyes are trending for one of the top prospects in the 2025 class, in five-star North Shore (Houston, TX) cornerback, Devin Sanchez.
According to three different crystal ball predictions from 247 Sports, including that of Director of Football Recruiting Steve Wiltfong and national analyst Mike Roach, the Buckeyes will land Sanchez upon his Jan 6. commitment.
Sanchez will announce his decision at the All-American Bowl in San Antonio and will choose between Texas A&M, Alabama and Ohio State.
October 25
The Ohio State Buckeyes added another commitment to their 2025 recruiting class on Wednesday, with three-star linebacker Eli Lee committing to the program.
Lee picked the Buckeyes over Akron, Central Michigan, Iowa State and Massachusetts.
Lee, who attends Archbishop Hoban in Akron, OH, is a standout at the same high school as current Buckeyes running back Chip Traynum.
“I’m enjoying the ride,” Lee said. “I just love playing football (and) I get rewarded. I’m thankful for my teammates, they’ve given me the opportunity, the school has given me the opportunity. I’m just thankful for them.”
October 14
The Ohio State Buckeyes won in two ways on Saturday. Amid a 41-7 blowout win over the Purdue Boilermakers, the Buckeyes also landed a commitment from 2025 St. Francis Academy (Baltimore, MD) cornerback Blake Woodby.
Woodby chose the Buckeyes over teams like Oregon, Tennessee, Alabama and Clemson. His decision came down to Oregon and Ohio State.
“It was a tough decision because of my relationships with both of those coaching staffs,” Woodby told On3. “I have great connections with my position coaches at Ohio State and Oregon, so I thought a lot about both schools. In the end, I chose Ohio State because of the feeling I had on campus. When I visited for the first time in the spring, it just felt like me.”
September 30
The Ohio State Buckeyes’ 2024 recruiting class now only has three offensive linemen in it.
Three-star interior offensive lineman Marc Nave Jr. announced on X Saturday he was decommitting from Ohio State.
“I just wanted to inform everyone that I have decommitted from OSU. I want to thank everyone involved,” Nave said in a post on X. “I feel as if I rushed this process and I’ve prayed on it and it is Gods plan not mine. I want to thank you all and I wish nothing but the best for your program going forward. Thanks be to God.”
The Buckeyes still have commitments from three-star offensive tackles Deontae and Devontae Armstrong and four-star interior offensive lineman Ian Moore.
September 24
The Ohio State Buckeyes lost out on a huge commitment from the top offensive tackle in the class of 2024.
Five-star Brandon Baker announced his commitment to Texas Sunday, choosing the Longhorns over Ohio State and Nebraska.
“The trajectory they’re headed on for sure,” Baker told On3’s Hayes Fawcett. “The development by one of the best OL Coaches in the nation, and an offensive mind at head coach. Can’t really beat that, they’re headed in the SEC, and you cannot beat blocking for my guy Arch Manning! Life after football is incredible, and the opportunity is endless.”
September 22
Five-star Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver commit Jeremiah Smith is set to take an official visit to Florida this weekend.
Smith took an official visit to Gainsville in June.
September 19
The Ohio State Buckeyes have already lost once to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish this week.
Four-star offensive tackle Geurby Lambert announced his commitment to Notre Dame Tuesday, according to On3’s Hayes Fawcett. The No. 28 player in the class of 2024, according to On3, chose the Fighting Irish over Ohio State, Harvard and Boston College.
Ohio State is still in line to land On3 five-star offensive tackle Jordan Seaton, while also holding a commitment from Deontae Armstrong.
September 15
Class of 2024 three-star edge rusher Eric Mensah was committed to play at in-state Virginia Tech, but then had a change of heart.
Mensah posted on X Friday that he was decommitting from the Hokies and flipping his pledge to Ohio State’s class of 2024, making him the 23rd commit in the cycle and the third on the defensive line.
“I would first like to start off with a huge thank you to everyone who has supported me throughout my journey in football [and] in finding the perfect school for me to continue my athletic career,” Mensah said in a post on X. “Secondly, after careful consideration I have decided to respectfully decommit from Virginia Tech. After much reflection and discussion with my family, mentors, and coaches I believe it is in my best interest.
“This decision was not taken lightly, and it was arrived at after a long period of consideration. I would last like to announce my commitment to play football at The Ohio State University!”
September 14
The Ohio State Buckeyes were in the running for a top-10 player in the class of 2025, but could not close the deal.
Five-star defensive lineman Armondo Blount announced his commitment to Miami Thursday, according to On3’s Hayes Fawcett. The top player in Florida chose the Hurricanes over the Buckeyes, Florida State, Oklahoma and USC.
The only commitment the Buckeyes have in the class of 2025 is from No. 3 quarterback Tavien St. Clair. They have a crystal ball to land a commitment from four-star tight end Emaree Winston.
September 8
The Ohio State Buckeyes’ top offensive tackle option in the class of 2024 announced his commitment decision.
Brandon Baker, the No. 1 offensive tackle in the 2024 cycle, will announce his commitment live on Sept. 24 at 9 p.m. ET on 247Sports’ YouTube page. Why, of all dates, did Baker choose Sept. 24?
“Sept. 24 is my birthday, so I felt like it was a good time to announce,” Baker told 247Sports. “It has been a really fun process, but I have a good idea what I want to do and I’m ready to get this done.”
Ohio State hosted Baker on an official visit June 9. He will choose between the Buckeyes, Texas Longhorns, Oregon Ducks and Nebraska Cornhuskers.
September 6
Ohio State Buckeyes 2024 wide receiver commit Jeremiah Smith announced on X Tuesday that he will be in attendance for the Youngstown State game.
This weekend will be Smith’s fifth unofficial visit to Columbus after taking his official visit June 9. Smith was on an unofficial visit with Florida State and attended the Seminoles’ season-opening game against LSU in which they won 45-24.
Ohio State kicks off against Youngstown State at noon on Big Ten Network.
September 1
The Ohio State Buckeyes were one of four programs to host five-star defensive lineman Dominick McKinley on an official visit, but their pitch wasn’t good enough.
The Buckeyes were unable to pluck McKinley out of Louisiana, as he announced his commitment to the Texas A&M Aggies Friday. Ohio State still holds commitments from five-star defensive linemen Justin Scott and Eddrick Houston.