2024 Glenville Tight End four-star Damarion Witten commits to Ohio State

Finally, the Buckeyes achieved their multi-year goal of taking two tight ends in a recruiting class by converting their best goal in the state to the position in the 2024 class, landing a commitment from four-star Ohio prospect Damarion Witten. during his official visit to Columbus.

Witten, a 6-foot-4, 215-pound tight end, was offered by the Buckeyes on September 6, just three days after visiting OSU with a host of high school teammates for the season opener. Buckeyes season against Notre Dame.

“It was great to be recruited and offered at a school you’ve dreamed of since I was little, it’s an honor,” Witten said. Eleven Warriors after receiving his offer. “I’ve always supported OSU. My favorite moment is when[Glenville alumnus]Cardale Jones won the national championship from the Buckeyes.

While former OSU offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson was the one who originally proposed Witten, Bailey wasted no time in forging a relationship with the Ohio star and let him know immediately that he was a priority target.

“Me and Coach Bailey have become very close over the time since he got the job,” Witten said. “He said I was the first tight end he called and he wanted to keep working with me. From that day on, he really showed me that he cared.

When Ryan Day talks about recruiting publicly, he often talks about selling rookies playing for the fraternity and how OSU sees itself as family. It really resonated with Witten.

“The most appealing thing (about potentially playing OSU) is coaches day,” Witten said. “He really likes the team and the players.”

He becomes Glenville’s third in two scouting cycles to commit to Ohio State, joining 2023 linebacker Arvell Reese and 2024 four-star cornerback Bryce West.

It’s fitting that West and Witten signed on the same day, as the Glenville-Ohio State pipeline has officially reopened with Reese already in the fold, as OSU has three Tarblooders in back-to-back classes after 21 Tarblooders played for the Buckeyes in 2002 to 2017.

“It would mean a lot to us to reopen the Glenville-Ohio State pipeline,” Witten said. “It would be something everyone in Glenville would appreciate.”

Glenville will now have two future Buckeyes this coming season, and West and Witten will continue their college careers at the next level together. The two prospects have also made their official visits together.

According to 247Sports composite rankings, Witten is considered the 347th ranked prospect and 19th tight end of the 2024 cycle. Witten is the 16th commitment for OSU in the 2024 class, the second close commitment with Max LeBlanc and the seventh commitment in the State joining West, Garrett Stover, Devontae and Deontae Armstrong, Marc Nave and Sam Williams-Dixon.

OSU now has two tight ends in a recruiting class for the first time since 2016, when the Buckeyes signed three tight ends.

Witten has committed to Ohio State over Texas, Tennessee, Purdue, Lousiville, Iowa State, Kentucky, Michigan State, Michigan and of Pittsburgh.

Witten brings pass-catching skills to Columbus with a frame to develop as a run blocker

Witten was instrumental in helping Glenville win its first state championship in program history and finish a perfect 15-0 season in 2022.

While Witten is a tight end capable of being a dynamic passer, his greatest asset, he is also very willing to learn how to improve his craft as a blocker.

“My biggest strength is how I can navigate the roads and open the holes for the ball carriers,” Witten said.

Although Witten is ready to be a blocker whenever asked, he will need to work on his line blocking technique and will also need to build on his frame to the next level. He’ll likely need to beef up before playing a major role in Ohio State’s offense, but the advantage is there for Witten to be a complete tight end.

“They told me I’m an unsuitable tight end,” Witten said. “I can stay, flex, go out and play receiver and match a DB and be used as an offset. I want to be used as a tight end and receiver at the same time.

During his junior season, Witten split his time between being widely split, in the lunge and lining up with one hand in the ground at the line of scrimmage for Glenville. The Tarblooders aren’t afraid to split him up and use him as a wide receiver when they need a big play.

He displayed great playing ability, both winning contested jump balls and making long plays in the screen game. Last season, Witten had a 99-yard screen pass for paydirt, showing above-average speed for a tight end. On rare occasions, Witten even took over for Glenville in the backfield as the Tarblooders took advantage of size and athleticism as a running back.