The Hartford took an offer from the Buckeyes during an informal visit last month.
Top 7.. Top 3🔜 #crownme pic.twitter.com/pRX2rUPpkc
— Malik Hartford🤴🏽 (@MalikHartford) February 11, 2022
West Chester (Ohio) Lakota West four-star athlete Malik Hartford on Friday morning edged out Ohio State in his top seven along with Cincinnati, Kentucky, Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame and West Virginia.
The 6-foot-3 and 175-pound Hartford, who is considered the 18th-best athlete and number 216 prospect overall in the class of 2023, received an offer from the Buckeyes after an informal visit on January 22.
Hartford — who is being recruited as a safety by Ohio State — spent that afternoon with head coach Ryan Day, defensive coordinator Jim Knowles and safari coach Perry Eliano, their lead recruiter with the Bearcats, who offered him a scholarship. It was the first program.
Former teammate of freshman offensive tackle Tegra Tshabola and cornerback Jaire Brown, Hartford recorded 58 tackles, two interceptions and a sack for the Firebirds last season.
He is one of three uncommitted in-state players on offer with the Buckeyes, including Findlay four-star offensive tackle Luke Montgomery and Liberty Township Lakota East four-star offensive guard Austin Sereveld.
That number will drop to two next week, as Montgomery is expected to join the Buckeyes on February 17 as Ohio State's four-star offensive guard Joshua Padilla of Huber Heights Wayne and Dublin Kaufman's three-star defensive tackle Will Smith Jr. 2023 Sq.
The Hartford, which teased that it will reduce this group of seven to three sooner than later, plans to return to campus this spring and hopes to make a decision on his college before the start of his senior season. .
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