Top 2024 recruiting battles to watch between Ohio State and Michigan

Ohio State and Michigan have as heated of a rivalry as there is in college football — both on the field and the recruiting trail. While the Buckeyes have consistently won out with some of their shared top targets, it’s been the Wolverines who have taken home the last two matchups between the programs on the field.

2024 will be no different, as the two are already set up for a handful of momentum recruiting battles in the Midwest. Here are five prospects to watch that the Buckeyes and Wolverines are both in hot pusruit of:

4-star CB Bryce West

School: Cleveland (Ohio) Glenville
On3 Consensus Ranking: No. 27

Glenville has been kind to the Buckeyes on recent years, with the likes of Cardale Jones, Troy Smith, Ted Ginn Jr., Marcus Hall, Marshon Lattimore, and Donte Whitner making their way to Columbus. This year’s cycle has Bryce West placed in that storyline after his countless returns back to Ann Arbor and Columbus throughout his high-profile recruitment. Co-defensive coordinator and area recruiter Steve Clinkscale and Michigan On300 defensive back commit Jacob Oden are pushing hard for West.

At the same time, the Buckeyes have made him a major priority, going so far as head coach Ryan Day personally offering him a scholarship back in December 21. This one will be a battle throughout the rest of his recruitment.

4-star RB Jordan Marshall

School: Cincinnati (Ohio) Archbishop Moeller
On3 Consensus Ranking: No. 77

Jordan Marshall, On3’s No. 4 overall running back in the country, dropped a top four that included Michigan, Ohio State, Tennessee, and Wisconsin earlier this month. And the Buckeyes and Wolverines are squarely involved with him as they push for keep one of the Midwest’s top players home.

Marshall made his last unofficial visit to Michigan this past January, where he received personal time with running backs coach Mike Hart and Steve Clinkscale. It marked his third appearance for Marshall on campus since June and is planning to schedule one more unofficial in the spring to be with the team again leading up to the official visit slate. Marshall will look to be committed by early July, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see it ultimately come down to these two. He and running backs coach Tony Alford are in constant communication, and the Buckeyes have made him their top target at the position.

4-star EDGE Elias Rudolph

School: Cincinnati (Ohio) Taft
On3 Consensus Ranking: No. 106

Rudolph dropped a top ten list early in the new year that had both Michigan and Ohio State on it. Clinkscale made a visit during the January contact period and offered two of Rudolph’s teammates in 2024 defensive backs Tayshawn Banks and Jay’Quan Bostic and have made them another package deal.

In-state EDGE Brian Robinson and Rudolph were the Buckeyes’ top two in-state targets at the position, and Ohio State has made Rudolph the priority.

4-star OT Deontae Armstrong

School: Elyria (Ohio) St. Edward
On3 Consensus Ranking: No. 332

Deontae Armstrong was offered in November by Steve Clinkscale and offensive line coach Sherrone Moore and made his first trip to Ann Arbor for Michigan’s Junior Day event right before the February dead period. Clinkscale and Moore have made Armstrong, his twin brother, and fellow St. Edward teammate in Ben Roebuck a package deal. Ohio State came to the party a bit later and jumped in the mix for both brothers in mid-January, and the in-state school has plans to get him to Columbus multiple times this spring.

4-star OT Devontae Armstrong

School: Elyria (Ohio) St. Edward
On3 Consensus Ranking: No. 334

Devontae Armstrong went with his twin sibling on the Junior Day festivities as well. He is listed as an offensive tackle but has the ability to play along the interior at the next level.

Much like his brother, Armstrong has been a priority for the Wolverines for quite some time, but Ohio State will now push hard to keep both at home.