WATCH: No. 1 2024 prospect Dylan Raiola is an Ohio State Buckeye
CHANDLER, Ari. – There are a lot of happy Ohio State fans Monday night.
Dylan Raiola, the No. 1 prospect in the 2024 On3 Consensus rankings has committed to Ryan Day and the Buckeyes.
The five-star quarterback out of Chandler High chose Ohio State over schools like Georgia, Oregon, and USC. It took one visit to Columbus this spring to swing momentum in Ohio State’s favor and the elite talent is now the first 2024 commitment for the Buckeyes.
“Ohio State is a special program,” Raiola said in a sit-down interview with On3. “Everything they do, they do it right.
“From when you walk into the building, there is no fake to them. Coach Day mentioned to me, that they just open their gates and let their culture show. I can feel the brotherhood, the love, and is very real.”
This decision came a little quicker than Raiola expected it to. He thought he could commit this fall, but he really thought it would happen after his junior season.
The visits this spring changed that.
“That just shows you how important these visits are for people trying to find a home. You have to take those visits and things can change.
“I felt very at home at Ohio State. I am happy and ready to be a Buckeye.”
He announced his commitment on his birthday Monday, but he let coach Day and the staff at Ohio State know last month before the spring game.
“Once I wanted to go back out there for the spring game, I knew it was time. We took a red-eye flight and I couldn’t sleep. We had that meeting at noon. Once noon hit, I knew I was going to be a Buckeye.”
There is a lot Raiola is excited about when looking ahead to his future in Columbus. One is being a part of the rivalry against Michigan.
“I think it’s the best rivalry in college sports,” Raiola said. “We don’t say it (Michigan) at our house no more. It is the team up north.”