Ohio State

Emerging wide receiver Winston Watkins Jr. takes over offer from Ohio State, four OSUs agree to train together during Buckeyes’ third camp

By Rick A. Williams

For the second day in a row, a young wide receiver stole the show at Ohio State’s recruiting camps.

Chris Henry Jr. impressed Ryan Day and Brian Hartline enough on Monday to secure an offer from Ohio State. Tuesday was 2025 wide Winston Watkins Jr.Around . to take center stage and leave Columbus with an offer in hand.

“It was awesome, it felt like all the hard work I put in paid off,” Watkins Jr said. Eleven Warriors. “It was definitely a top school for me in my recruiting and I just really appreciate the offer.”

Watkins Jr., who was the only offer of the day, impressed Hartline with his soft hands and flowing run. He also made what could arguably be considered the best catch of any recruiting camp so far during individual drills.

The 5-foot-10, 172-pound prospect resumed his OSU bid shortly after camp ended following a meeting with Hartline and Day. Watkins Jr. was the second player in the entire Class of 2025 to sign on after giving his ticket to Texas A&M in December, so OSU will have to turn him over if he hopes to land the potential future five-star talent.

While most recruit camp attendees are uncommitted players hoping to get noticed, Ohio State also welcomed five of its 2023 commitments to campus on Tuesday: Luke Montgomery, Austin Siereveld, Will Smith Jr., Joshua Padilla and Ty Lockwood. Justin Frye and Kevin Wilson held a combo workout with Montgomery, Siereveld, Padilla and Lockwood before the rest of the campers had their afternoon session, while Lockwood also did a full workout with the group. tight ends and the three offensive linemen also had a group. session with Frye.

“It was good,” Lockwood said of training with his colleagues. “I’ve talked to these guys a lot and had a few group chats with them. So it’s good to hang out with them and compete. See what they look like and they see what I look like, so we can match our speeds and get closer to each other.

Lockwood also gave Buckeye fans a boost on social media when he said he was actively campaigning for the 2023 five-star release. Brandon Innis join him in Columbus.

Smith Jr. did not practice at Tuesday’s camp after experiencing cramps at the end of Monday’s session, but still made the trip to Ohio State for his third camp in seven days to support other defensive linemen and continue to learn from Larry Johnson.

Watkins Jr. wasn’t the only big 2025 recruit on campus Tuesday. Safety in Florida DJ Picket, who received an OSU offer in late April, was also in Columbus to work on his craft. Pickett’s offer sheet is certainly impressive, with more than 35 Division I offers already to his name entering his second year. He showed why colleges strongly believe in his one-on-one abilities, undermining a route and picking a pass.

OSU also pitched another top safety on Tuesday in a four-star prospect from Texas. Maurice Williams, a top 50 player of the 2024 cycle. Williams has shown impressive quickness in defensive back drills, but has yet to receive an offer from the Buckeyes. Interesting fact: Despite his Texas roots, Williams said he loves the snow and prefers going to school somewhere up north.

One of Ohio’s fastest quarterbacks in the 2025 class turned heads at OSU camp on Tuesday. Tavian St. Clair, a 6-foot-3, 190-pound quarterback from Bellefontaine in 2025, showed off a strong arm in the afternoon throwing session. St. Clair has offers from Tennessee, Iowa State, Pittsburgh and Central Michigan and could be a name to keep an eye on for the future.

Several offensive linemen who could also become Ohio State targets participated in Tuesday’s camp, including the Columbus product Jordan Room, who camped out with the Buckeyes for a second straight day. The 2023, 6-foot-8, 340-pound offensive tackle will camp again with Ohio State next week in hopes of securing an offer from the Buckeyes.

Indiana 2024 Three-Star Hopeful Ransom McDermott it certainly looks like he has the frame to play collegiate offensive tackle at 6-foot-7 and 270 pounds. But McDermott acknowledged that he currently plays at the near end of his high school, so mixing in to tackle will be a bit of a transition. He will continue to work on his trade in hopes of securing an OSU offer even though none came on Tuesday.

State Interior Offensive Lineman Jacques Cook worked with OSU on Tuesday not necessarily expecting an offer but hoping to improve his technique in the drills. During the two-and-a-half-hour morning session, Cook believes he has achieved his goal. The 6-foot-4, 290-pound 2025 prospect said he had a successful first day of camp and will look to build on that performance when he returns to Columbus for a second camp on June 21.

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Rick A. Williams
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