Wisconsin '23 LA LB - Tackett Curtis (Transfer to Wisconsin)

Rivals.com
24/7Sports

OUTSIDE LINEBACKER
6'3'' | 220 LBS
CLASS OF 2023

Ohio State has offered.

 

I would like to thank @CoachJimKnowles for offering me a scholarship to play football for The Ohio State University‼️ #GoBucks #ManyMade pic.twitter.com/1Zf3ZhIuWx

— TACKETT CURTIS (@curtis_tackett) January 18, 2022

 

Check out Tackett Curtis #6 Freshman Safety by Tackett Curtis on @hudl https://t.co/TvzCNSmCvF #hudl

— OSUBasketballJunkie (@ScarletBuckeye2) January 18, 2022

 

OSU OFFERS CURTIS
While Jim Knowles was brought to Ohio State for coaching more than recruiting, he’s still covering some ground on the recruiting trail. On Tuesday, he headed all the way down to Louisiana to extend an offer to a linebacker he feels would be a perfect fit in his defense, one that Oklahoma State had offered in May. The newly hired defensive coordinator presented the scholarship opportunity to 2023 four-star linebacker Tackett Curtis.

The 6-foot-2, 218-pound Curtis is ranked as the 64th-best prospect and the fifth-best linebacker in the 2023 class. He has 43 Division I offers including Arkansas, Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oklahoma State, Oregon, Oklahoma, Texas A&M and USC.

In 13 games for Many High School (Many, Louisiana) this past season, Curtis racked up 103 total tackles (12.5 for loss), a sack, an interception and a fumble recovery. Curtis also played both ways, as he was the team’s quarterback in a run-first offense, rushing for 494 yards on 43 carries with three rushing touchdowns. His passing numbers were pedestrian as he completed 16 of 51 passes for 320 yards, two touchdowns and four interceptions, but that’s why Knowles is the one recruiting him.

Curtis’ father, Jess Curtis, is the head coach at Many High School.

 

Among the first stops that new Ohio State DC Jim Knowles made was to Many (La.) High to check on Rivals100 LB Tackett Curtis

More on the Buckeyes entering the mix for one of the nation's best defenders: https://t.co/Y83aHuO3aW pic.twitter.com/BSzn0GQBeV

— Sam Spiegelman (@samspiegs) January 18, 2022

 

Second visit to see @curtis_tackett in as many weeks for @CoachJimKnowles — Buckeyes turning up the heat on one of the players Knowles recruited hard at Oklahoma State. https://t.co/QQFlO7I8Lt

— Jeremy Birmingham (@Birm) January 28, 2022

 

• Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles was in Louisiana on Saturday and checked in on 2023 four-star linebacker Tackett Curtis of Many (LA). Curtis, the No. 5 LB in the class, was offered by the Buckeyes just two weeks ago and has already seen Knowles on two separate occasions since the offer.

 

Watch huge #OhioState target in game action and be prepared to be wowed! And he is "very" interested in the #Buckeyes. VIP https://t.co/mH3o32upxW

— Bill Kurelic (@Bill_Kurelic) February 5, 2022

 

This week’s Buckeyes Recruiting Roundup features 2023 Louisiana LB target Tackett Curtis (@curtis_tackett) and his relationship with Jim Knowles and the Buckeyes.

“He wants to build that defense around me and let me go eat.”https://t.co/ZYRAGJarir

— Robert Fenbers (@Robert_Fenbers) February 15, 2022

 

On Jan. 17, Jess Curtis picked up his phone and contacted Jim Knowles.

Curtis, the uncle of four-star Louisiana linebacker Tackett Curtis and his head football coach at Many High School (Many, Louisiana), was simply hoping to check in with the newly hired Ohio State defensive coordinator. While Knowles was at Oklahoma State, he had recruited the younger Curtis hard, extending him an offer to play for the Cowboys. But the family hadn’t heard from him since he took the Buckeyes’ job.

“I shot him a text,” the elder Curtis said. “I said, ‘Hey coach, what’s the deal at Ohio State? Are you still interested in Tackett?’”

Knowles called Jess immediately. Coincidentally, Knowles had planned to fly to Louisiana one day later to visit Tackett in person. Following his visit with Knowles, the 65th-best player and sixth-best linebacker in the 2023 class per 247Sports’ composite rankings picked up an Ohio State offer.

“He was always on me at Oklahoma State,” Tackett Curtis said. “We took a visit out there to go see them during the summer, and we loved it. We had a great relationship throughout the whole year. When I saw him make the switch to Ohio State, he started getting back on me. He told me ‘It’s the same deal, just a different logo.’ So he still sees the potential in me.”

Ten days later, Knowles took another flight to Louisiana to visit Tackett again and told him he wanted to build his defense around him, quickly establishing him as the Buckeyes highest-priority target at linebacker for the 2023 cycle.

“His word was good,” Jess Curtis said. “For him to back it up the next week and come back, it really, really solidified in Tackett’s mind that he was for real. He’s got big plans for Ohio State. We love that guy. I’ve known him from prior years when he first started at Oklahoma State. He recruited our area hard for some kids prior to Tackett. His personality is so fun. He’s really got that brilliant mind, but a great personality that players love playing for. It’s infectious.”

It’s not hard to see why Curtis is such a hot commodity as a prospect. In 13 games for Many High School this past season, Curtis racked up 103 total tackles (12.5 for loss), a sack, an interception and a fumble recovery. His standout prep career earned Tackett the nickname of “Rambo,” a popular action movie character played by Sylvester Stallone, because the standout linebacker “has always been a silent assassin for us and takes everyone out,” according to Jess Curtis. The Buckeyes are recruiting Curtis as a Mike linebacker.

“He’s just got such a knack for finding the football,” Jess Curtis said. “Just instincts, true instincts. He’s so quick to the football. He gets there and he’s so violent. You watch his film and that highlight could go on for 30 minutes. Everything he hits goes backwards. That’s just a tribute to his progress in the weight room and the speed that he gets to the ball. I really feel like he’d be a natural fit at Mike linebacker (for OSU). And we play him in a free safety role a lot here, it helps him develop and we wanted to make sure he was ready to do both. I think you’re going to see a complete football player.”

Both Tackett and Jess hope to visit Ohio State sometime in the spring or the summer.

“We definitely plan on trying to get up there and seeing coach Knowles and the defensive staff and see how they run things up there,” Tackett said.

 

Q https://t.co/KoeqUj0vRb via @11W

— OSUBasketballJunkie (@ScarletBuckeye2) February 18, 2022

 

Top of the board #OhioState target Tackett Curtis locks in first visit with the #Buckeyes. VIP https://t.co/SWx3sQmnf8

— Bill Kurelic (@Bill_Kurelic) February 23, 2022

 

New: 4-star Many (La.) LB Tackett Curtis is set for a busy spring of visits across the country.

The Top 100 prospect shares the latest on the schools coming after him hardest, the push from #LSU and his decision timeline.https://t.co/FRA4kVkb5F (On3+) pic.twitter.com/1NRXBaFxeh

— Billy Embody (@BillyEmbody) March 2, 2022

 

Ohio State officially begins spring practice Tuesday morning.

While spring practices are integral for the development of players already on the roster, it’s certainly also pivotal for recruiting, as plenty of prospects are set to visit Columbus to get a feel for the campus and coaching staff over the next six weeks.

On the first day of practice, OSU is already going to welcome a priority target to campus: four-star 2023 Louisiana linebacker Tackett Curtis. Curtis will be visiting OSU with his family, including his uncle Jess Curtis, who is Tackett’s head football coach at Many High School (Many, Louisiana).

“He’s excited to get to see the facilities,” Jess Curtis told Eleven Warriors Monday. “And to continue to see what their plans are for him. They have done a great job with that through Zoom, but getting to sit down with them in person is important to him. Getting to see a practice is going to be great as well.”

OSU defensive coordinator Jim Knowles has a longstanding relationship with the Curtis family dating back to his days coaching at Oklahoma State. Knowles made it clear to Tackett he was a priority in January by making two separate trips to Louisiana to visit him. In Knowles’ scheme, Tackett said the OSU defensive coordinator envisions the 6-foot-2, 218-pound prospect playing Mike linebacker.

“He likes what he’s heard from Knowles on how they want to use him,” Jess Curtis said.

 

We Appreciate the hospitality today at Ohio State! First class program. Thanks to @MattGuerrieri @CoachKMcFarland @markpantoni @CoachJimKnowles @ryandaytime for making us feel at home. #GoBucks #BuckeyesFootball pic.twitter.com/AfBOkYwr4n

— Jess Curtis (@coach_jcurtis) March 9, 2022

 

I had a great time today at The Ohio State!! I appreciate the staff for making it a special day for me and my family! I enjoyed spending the day with @MattGuerrieri @CoachJimKnowles @CoachKMcFarland @markpantoni ! Thank you so much! pic.twitter.com/co2xVlzBfX

— TACKETT CURTIS (@curtis_tackett) March 9, 2022

 

Priority #Buckeyes' target, LB Tackett Curtis tells me he had a "special day" at #OhioState. Tackett and his coach @coach_jcurtis talk about their Ohio State visit today on @Bucknuts247. VIP https://t.co/8lCJKJohMa

— Bill Kurelic (@Bill_Kurelic) March 9, 2022