Four-star offensive guard Joshua Padilla announced that he will be staying at home to play for the Ohio State Buckeyes in college. Ohio's top ranked Interior offensive line prospect in his class becomes the Buckeye's second 2023 commit.
The junior offensive guard from Huber Heights (Ohio) Wayne never released a group of finalist, but when Ohio State offered in March, it became clear that they were the team to beat. Padilla had already amassed 15 offers prior to announcing his commitment earlier today.
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What the Buckeyes are getting:
Padilla flat out gets after it on his junior film. He is a high motor player, extremely physical, and plays through the whistle every snap. Most of Padilla's plays have come at offensive tackle in high school, but his his future is most likely at guard or center when he gets to college. He has incredible feet, plays with great pad level, and already has a punch that you rarely see from young offensive lineman. Padilla's ability to transition laterally, with little wasted motion, is as good as any lineman in the 2023 class. Hip mobility, twitch, and a violent style of play make Padilla a great puller in gap scheme plays as well. The most exciting thing about him may be the fact that he isn't done growing, and few growing lineman possess his aforementioned traits.
Why it's big for Ohio State:
This is a big early get for the Buckeyes. In order for Ohio State to continue as the cream of the crop from the Midwest, it is essential that they land the in-state prospects who are talented enough to play for them. Although Padilla projects as an interior lineman at the next level, he also has the versatility to play just about anywhere on the offensive line. This versatility allows the Ohio State staff a lot of flexibility when projecting offensive line scholarships for the 2023 class, and the early nature of this commitment only amplifies this. The Big Ten is won in the trenches, and I cannot think of a better way for the Buckeyes to kickoff November recruiting.