Ohio State got the tight-end they greatly needed for 2023 when in the middle of August Ty Lockwood from Independence High School in Thompson’s Station TN gave a verbal commitment to the program. The four star recruit made the announcement shortly before starting his junior season.
Recruit Ty Lockwood
Lockwood, a 6-foot-5, 225-pound tight end/wide receiver, is rated as the No. 3 overall prospect in the state of Tennessee for the class of 2023 and the No. 8 tight end nationally. Playing for Independence High School in Thompson’s Station, Tennessee, Lockwood registered 43 receptions for 606 yards and three touchdowns as a sophomore a year ago.
Ohio State 2023 Recruiting Class
Bennett Christian, a 6-foot-6, 235 pounds, a top-rated tight end for the prior cycle is committed to Ohio State but they were looking for two at the position for the class. He picked up an offer from the Buckeyes during his official visit for one of their satellite camps back in June 2017. It’s becoming increasingly likely he’s the only tight end Ohio State will take 2022.
Benji Gosnell, who is ranked as the No. 13 tight end for 2022, de-committed from the Buckeyes on July 22nd. At that time, he also named finalists. That list included Ohio State, Virginia Tech and Arkansas. Ohio State is still in the list buy they are not counting on Gosnell for their class.
So at this point it’s looking like OSU will have two scholarships to fill at tight end after this cycle. And that means they’ll likely look to take two in the 2023 class.
Why Lockwood picked Ohio State
“Getting the OSU scholarship offer was a huge deal,” he said. He also stated that he has always wanted to play at the professional level, and that Ohio State is a school with many NFL players that does a lot to prepare you for the next level. “I believe they do an excellent job of preparing tight ends,” says Lockwood, “and that is exactly what I am looking for in the program.”
There were a lot of factors that contributed to Lockwood choosing Ohio State over Florida State, South Carolina, and Penn State. With over 20 offers it came down to a feeling of a group of bothers and the academic reputation of Ohio State.
Tight End Ty Lockwood Visits
The No. 3-ranked player in the state of Tennessee with a 0.9455 rating according to 247Sports, Lockwood has been a prime target for multiple college programs.
From his recent visit to the Buckeyes’ home of Columbus, Lockwood told reporters why he chose Ohio State over schools such as Virginia Tech, Florida State and Penn State. It was the academics of the schools and the tight relationships between the players that he saw.
Lockwood returned to campus for the program’s two-day camp in the middle of June. He worked with Wilson and Alford throughout the day on various aspects of pass-catching, blocking and route running.
What Ty Lockwood Offers Ohio State
Lockwood’s size, strength and obvious feel for the game have catapulted him into the top 150, making him an early target of top programs. Physically, Lockwood is ready to compete with Big Ten defensive backs right now at 6-5, 225 pounds. His blocking ability along the line of scrimmage has drawn rave reviews.