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Ohio State staff makes in-home visit to 5-star safety Xavier Nwankpa

Collin-headshotby:Collin Ginnan•12/02/21•

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Xavier Nwankpa-by-Birm-LR
Xavier Nwankpa is the Buckeyes top safety target and has been for a year. (Birm/Lettermen Row)

With the Early Signing Period approaching, the Ohio State coaching staff continues to make a push for one of its top targets in the 2022 class.

Ohio State head coach Ryan Day and secondary coach Matt Barnes visited Altoona (Iowa) Southeast Polk five-star safety Xavier Nwankpa Wednesday night. Head coaches are allowed to visit in-home once with recruits during the Contact Period, and Day took this opportunity to meet with Nwankpa as the Buckeyes battle Nwankpa’s home-state Iowa Hawkeyes for his commitment.

Xavier Nwankpa is a five-star prospect in the 2022 On3 Consensus Rankings, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He ranks third among all safeties nationally and is the No. 1 overall prospect in the state of Iowa.

Nwankpa took his official visit to Ohio State in June before visiting Columbus once more at the end of October for the Buckeyes’ matchup with Penn State. He took three more official visits to Iowa, Notre Dame and Texas A&M and has unofficially visited the Hawkeyes more than any other school.

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Xavier Nwankpa Scouting Summary

On3 Director of Scouting Charles Power wrote the following on Nwankpa as a prospect:

The best defensive back prospect from the state of Iowa in the internet recruiting era. An imposing, physical presence over the middle of the field, standing over 6-foot-2 and wielding significant striking power. A strong form tackler in space. Plays with instincts in as a cover two safety and has the ball skills to come down with contested catches both at safety and receiver. Registers as a good athlete at the position.

Buckeyes have one of the nation’s best classes

Ohio State currently sits at No. 4 nationally according to the 2022 On3 Consensus Team Rankings and is the top team in the Big Ten. Ahead of the Buckeyes are Georgia, Alabama and Texas A&M, each of whom hold commitments from multiple On3 Consensus five-star prospects.

Seffner (Fla.) Armwood four-star safety Kye Stokes is the lone safety commit in the Buckeyes’ 2022 class. Stokes officially visited Ohio State in June before going back to Columbus in mid-September.