Things could not possibly have gone much better when it came to 2021 Ohio State running back recruiting. Buckeye running backs coach Tony Alford, Ryan Day, Mark Pantoni and the staff landed 5-star TreVeyon Henderson and high 4-star Evan Pryor.
With those two just heading towards their freshman season for the Buckeyes, landing a top running back right behind them was not going to be easy. But that is exactly what the Ohio State staff has done as Dallan Hayden from Memphis (Tenn.) Christian Brothers has announced a commitment to the Buckeyes. Hayden, who made an official visit to Ohio State this past weekend, posted the news on his Twitter account.
Hayden picked the Buckeyes over Notre Dame and Illinois. He made an official visit with the Fighting Illini over the weekend of June 4 and one to Notre Dame the weekend of June 11. Hayden also picked Ohio State over a host of other scholarship offers including Tennessee, Florida, Florida State, Auburn, Kentucky, Oregon, Ole Miss and others.
Hayden told Bucknuts the Ohio State offense is what he is looking for.
“They run an offense kind of similar to my high school so I definitely think I would fit it,” Hayden said.
Hayden rushed for 2,010 yards and 24 touchdowns, averaging 8.7 yards an attempt during his junior season. He also had 127 receiving yards and averaged 12 yards a catch.
Hayden talked about Alford who recruited him and will be his position coach at Ohio State.
“He seems like a good man on and off the field,” Hayden said. “He produces NFL talent like J.K. Dobbins and Zeke Elliott. I feel like he’s one of the best position coaches in the country.”
Day also was a big part of the reason Hayden picked Ohio State.
“A great man running a top program,” Hayden said. “No ego. Great man on and off the field. Nothing but good things to say about him.”
The 5-foot-11 and 192-pound Hayden is a 4-star prospect in the 247Sports Composite. He is the country’s No. 237 overall prospect, the No. 24 running back and the No. 7 prospect in Tennessee.
The Buckeyes now have 14 class of 2022 recruiting commitments. Hayden joins the country’s No. 1 overall prospect in 5-star quarterback Quinn Ewers from Texas, 5-star cornerback Jaheim Singletary from Florida, another 5-star in wide receiver Caleb Burton from Texas, 4-star wide receiver Kyion Grayes who is the No. 2 prospect in the state of Arizona, 4-star wide receiver Kaleb Brown from Illinois, the No. 1 prospect in Ohio and the country’s No. 2 outside linebacker C.J. Hicks, the No. 2 prospect in Ohio in linebacker Gabe Powers, the No. 8 prospect in the Buckeyes State in offensive lineman Tegra Tshabola, the No. 3 prospect in Ohio in cornerback Jyaire Brown, two top tight end targets in Bennett Christian from Georgia and Benji Gosnell from North Carolina, and two more talented defensive backs from Florida, cornerback Ryan Turner and safety Kye Stokes. It is a class of 14 commitments to this point with twelve being 5 or high 4-star prospects. It is a class that is ranked as the country’s No. 1 recruiting class in the 247Sports Composite team recruiting rankings.
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The Buckeyes also have a spectacular 2021 recruiting class going with 21 signees. The Ohio State 2021 recruiting class is ranked No. 2 in the country in the 247Sports Composite team recruiting rankings.
