Ohio State took a significant loss on the field Saturday against the Michigan Wolverines. Arguably nearly as concerning, however, are some of the losses they have taken off the field as well.
One Ohio-born recruit, offensive lineman Luke Hamilton, committed to rival Michigan on Sunday, one day after watching the Wolverines beat Ohio State in Columbus. Hamilton, a four-star recruit in the class of 2024, said his visit was a major factor, but not in a good way. He felt like he was not treated well, a symptom of what he believes is the Buckeyes taking in-state recruits for granted.
“(Ohio State) did this to all of the in-state (recruits). They put us on the back burner and will wait until the last second because they think they have us committed there if they offer, which I think is totally stupid. That is not how that works at all,” Hamilton told Mark Perez-Krywany of the Morning Journal. “I’ve talked to linemen all around Cleveland and people that I know and they all feel the same way. … I think Ohio State is taking too long and I don’t think they are doing it right.”
In contrast, Hamilton said he felt at home in Michigan from the start.
“At Michigan, I always feel like I am at home. Even before I got the offer, I always felt like I was at home,” Hamilton said. “Going to Ohio State, I was kind of on edge on whether they were going to treat me good or they were going to treat me bad. As soon as I walked in the door, I could tell that there was not good energy.”
Just as worrying for Ohio State is that Hamilton was not the only Ohio-based recruit to commit to Michigan in light of Saturday’s game.
