Ohio State '21 OH DB (SO) - Lorenzo Styles (Notre Dame Transfer)

Another P5 offer for 2021 speedster Lorenzo Styles Jr. @RowlandRIVALS https://t.co/5p60OUPtH3

— Marc Givler (@MarcGivler) January 17, 2019

 

Great day at The Ohio State University. #GOBUCKS pic.twitter.com/vBK1oHMnvL

— Zo (@LorenzoStyles_) February 2, 2019

 

Since taking the helm in Columbus, Ryan Day and the #Buckeyes have been working hard to build a connection with local 2021 star Lorenzo Styles Jr. @LorenzoStyles3 and today's visit was a good step in that direction: https://t.co/5UUK3H8B2S

— Marc Givler (@MarcGivler) February 3, 2019

 

Lorenzo Styles isn’t ready to commit

Staying in the Class of 2021 and inside of Ohio, the Buckeyes are continuing their push for Pickerington Central’s Lorenzo Styles, Jr. The Buckeyes have offered and Brian Hartline has spent a lot of time in the last few months working to get to know Styles. Last weekend, he and his family visited Ohio State for junior day and once again felt at home on the same campus where his father played college football.

“It went good,” Styles said. “Visits like this are not as much hype as a game day, but it is more in-depth on the values the program, players and coaches have.”

Styles mentioned prior to his trip that he was hoping the visit would provide his parents with a better understanding of the current program.

“Most definitely,” he said. “My dad and Coach Hartline really hit it off in the film room. Plus, my mom and Coach Day’s values really seemed to align while we were having a discussion.”

Styles is close friends with Jack Sawyer and that commitment was something he definitely took note of. However, he’s not wanting to let the excitement he feels for his friend’s decision sway him into making one before he’s ready.

“Jack thinks it would be cool if I came and joined Buckeye Nation,” Styles said. “So do I, but I still need to find my best fit. Which could be Ohio State.

“I’m happy he found his spot, but for me, I feel like it’s too soon. I’m still growing up, and even when I make my decision I will be growing up. I just want to wait a little while longer before I make my commitment. This choice will be a big part of the rest of my life.”

Ohio State, Notre Dame and Michigan are the big three for Styles. He has 12 offers, including each of those schools.

 

Lorenzo Styles Jr. returned to #NotreDame on Saturday and it's clear that the entire staff made him a top priority and made another big impression. In fact, another visit is already in the works. https://t.co/tUDoegKJ4E (VIP) #IrishIllustrated @LorenzoStyles3 @247Sports pic.twitter.com/QhTxmDwgzc

— Tom Loy (@TomLoy247) February 24, 2019

 

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Bigtime 2021 WR at Penn State today. https://t.co/n9zNQm8ivZ

Our visitor list: https://t.co/BYJlUD7lFq @247Sports https://t.co/BM9Vxc6t7S

— Sean Fitz (@SeanFitzOn3) March 30, 2019

 

Top 2021 standout Lorenzo Styles Jr. recaps recent #PennState and #OhioState visits: https://t.co/Z6n4re9s9n pic.twitter.com/PYswjKOZbi

— Josh Helmholdt (@JoshHelmholdt) April 1, 2019

 

Our @Bill_Kurelic looks where Ohio State stands with Ohio's top 5 prospects for 2021 including Lorenzo Styles Jr.https://t.co/mDquQdW6Eg pic.twitter.com/aFHucZXbqM

— Steve Helwagen (@SteveHelwagen) April 10, 2019

 

The big offers continue for 2021 Pickerington Central WR/ATH Lorenzo Styles Jr. @NateClouse https://t.co/OT8jhffu0s

— Marc Givler (@MarcGivler) May 1, 2019

 

Lorenzo Styles has Ohio State roots, sky-high potential — and options https://t.co/LOYT9wBSJJ

— Lettermen Row (@LettermenRow) June 4, 2019

 

Buckeyes 2021 offer adds major SEC offer https://t.co/z8rADo22Gk

— Jeremy Birmingham (@Birm) June 15, 2019

 

The #Buckeyes have been cleaning up in-state for 2021 and would love to land Pickerington WR Lorenzo Styles Jr. but who is their biggest competition for the four-star? @JoshHelmholdt has the latest update. https://t.co/Y6qqEhOorB pic.twitter.com/AwiNeIh4dx

— Kevin Noon (@Kevin_Noon) July 16, 2019

 

Pickerington Lorenzo Styles Jr. ranked #8 WR

 

Pickerington (Ohio) Central 2021 #Rivals100 WR Lorenzo Styles Jr. has been running by DBs all day long in this scrimmage #OhioState #NotreDamehttps://t.co/MdGcPeOFFN pic.twitter.com/unGo4aFIEh

— Josh Helmholdt (@JoshHelmholdt) August 10, 2019

 

Top 2021 target Lorenzo Styles Jr. on #Buckeyes WR coach Brian Hartline: "He's the best receivers coach in the country" - https://t.co/y9V1mQe8be

— Marc Givler (@MarcGivler) August 11, 2019

 

Pickerington Central 4-star 2021 WR Lorenzo Styles Jr. impressed at Saturday's scrimmage and talked recruiting afterward. Has #Auburn #NotreDame and #OhioState as his top-3 currently. https://t.co/STwAjg5TQr @LorenzoStyles3

— Bill Greene (@BillBankGreene) August 13, 2019

 

The challenge of recruiting a player, not a position
Over the course of the last few days, a pair of recruiting analysts that I respect have each written about Pickerington Central standout Lorenzo Styles and their gut feel on his recruitment.

For the uninitiated, Styles is a 4-star wideout in the Class of 2021, a top Ohio State target, a program legacy and one of the country’s fastest junior prospects. He lives down the road from Ohio State, has a very early scholarship offer from the Buckeyes and has visited campus to hang out with the coaching staff seemingly a dozen times in the last year. He’s also best friends with fellow Pickerington standout and 5-star Ohio State commitment Jack Sawyer.

So he’s a surefire lock to commit to and eventually sign with the Buckeyes, right? This isn’t as cut-and-dry as it could be for a few reasons.

First, Styles does have a legitimate interest in other schools, including Notre Dame, Michigan, Auburn and others. The Irish were his first major offer, and he has a very good relationship with their coaching staff and a number of players currently verbally pledged to Notre Dame in its 2021 class.

Second, while there’s zero doubt that Styles is a player Ohio State wants in its 2021 class, there are some questions regarding his ultimate position. He’s a player who believes whole-heartedly that he’s a wide receiver at the next level. There are some analysts out there — I count myself among them — who believe he has a very bright future on offense. But Styles could be a better defensive prospect — in the Gareon Conley mold — if he’d allow himself to consider it.

To this point, he’s not considering it. To be clear, the Buckeyes are not recruiting Styles as a defensive player. But in reality, they’re just recruiting him as a player, period. They want him in the Ohio State program no matter what position he plays, and that’s been proven repeatedly by their whole-staff recruitment of him and his family.

That said, there’s going to come a time when the Buckeyes will have that perceived uncertainty about a potential position used against them, and they’ll need to have a plan in place to respond.

 

Many schools are in pursuit of elite 2021 WR Lorenzo Styles, so he has plenty of options, but have three schools started to separate themselves from the pack?

The talented playmaker out of Ohio gives the latest: https://t.co/U827yzDeEh pic.twitter.com/YS4jZtcGVi

— ChadSimmons (@ChadSimmons_) September 5, 2019

 

#NotreDame, #Michigan, #OhioState #Auburn and #Florida are pushing hard to land one of the top two-way athletes in the class of 2021, Lorenzo Styles Jr.

He breaks down his recruitment and where things stand: https://t.co/5wtJPRgIYN (VIP)

@LorenzoStyles3 @247Sports pic.twitter.com/CJqEDF2dmE

— Tom Loy (@TomLoy247) September 7, 2019