Ohio State '23 OH OL (RS FR) - Joshua Padilla

The Hurry-Up: Joshua Padilla plans to attend Ohio State's home opener and Omari Abor includes the Buckeyes in his top five. https://t.co/6wQi7jiGxM

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) August 27, 2021

When 2023 four-star offensive lineman Joshua Padilla attended Ohio State’s spring game in April, he was impressed by the atmosphere.

The Wayne High School product can’t imagine what it’s going to be like when he attends his first Ohio State game on Sept. 11 against Oregon.

“I’m really excited, I’m pretty sure it’s going to be one of the biggest games of the year,” Padilla told Eleven Warriors Thursday night. “It’s going to be great getting out there. The spring game was my first time getting out there and seeing everything. It was super loud then, and there were like 20,000 fans. I can’t imagine what it’s like with 100,000 fans.”

Padilla has frequented Columbus quite often in recent months. In addition to attending the spring game, the in-state product attended an OSU camp in early June, then came back in late July for the Buckeye Bash & BBQ.

“It was nice to meet a lot of recruits and talk to them about Ohio State and see what their viewpoint is,” Padilla said of the BBQ.

Padilla said he talked with Ohio State assistant coaches Kevin Wilson and Greg Studrawa at least once a week throughout the summer, but has preferred to keep his focus on the field recently with his high school season starting. He said he’ll resume his contact with coaches after Sept. 1.

While he was an Ohio resident, Padilla didn’t necessarily grow up an Ohio State fan. The 6-foot-4, 265-pound interior offensive lineman said he just loved watching as much college football as he could. However, he looked up to former Ohio State offensive lineman Billy Price, who now plays for the Cincinnati Bengals.

“Seeing what he did, it's crazy,” Padilla said. “I remember when I was younger and watching him kill people from his size.”

In addition to the OSU game, Padilla plans to take gameday visits to Penn State, Notre Dame, Indiana and potentially another unnamed school. As of right now, OSU is in good standing with Padilla, who's ranked as the 194th overall prospect and 10th-best interior offensive lineman in the 2023 class.

“They’re definitely one of my top schools right now,” the junior said of Ohio State.

Padilla said he plans on making his commitment after he takes his official visits, but could bump the date up if he finds the right fit earlier.

 

Wayne offensive lineman Joshua Padilla will be among many recruits visiting Ohio State for tomorrow’s game. He talks about his excitement for tomorrow’s visit and how he’s been talking with Greg Studrawa and Ryan Day every day since coaches could begin contacting juniors Sept. 1. pic.twitter.com/txKgHvdAZh

— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) September 11, 2021

 

I appreciate Ohio State for hosting me at their game today, the atmosphere was crazy!! @CoachStudOL @OSUCoachKDub @CoachCookOL pic.twitter.com/kz2KSj8k1Y

— Joshua Padilla (@JoshuaPadilla66) September 12, 2021

 

O-lineman #Buckeyes have offered calls atmosphere in Ohio Stadium Saturday "crazy," has "high" interest in #OhioState and is looking forward to returning. VIP https://t.co/PQGNs59XfB

— Bill Kurelic (@Bill_Kurelic) September 12, 2021

 

#OhioState offer #66 ⁦@JoshuaPadilla66⁩ helps his man get to ground on running play. pic.twitter.com/xi6AAldZwJ

— Bill Kurelic (@Bill_Kurelic) September 18, 2021

 

#66 #OhioState offer ⁦@JoshuaPadilla66⁩ on long gain. pic.twitter.com/IARAPJ1a9i

— Bill Kurelic (@Bill_Kurelic) September 18, 2021

 

#OhioState offer ⁦@JoshuaPadilla66⁩ in pass protection. pic.twitter.com/QSvriR1uCe

— Bill Kurelic (@Bill_Kurelic) September 18, 2021

 

Right tackle and #OhioState offer ⁦@JoshuaPadilla66⁩ in pass pro against #75 Cincinnati commit AJ Salley. pic.twitter.com/7UNOTpVQ6a

— Bill Kurelic (@Bill_Kurelic) September 17, 2021

 

Watch: Top 2023 Ohio O-lineman and #OhioState offer @JoshuaPadilla66 talks #Buckeyes, relationship with OSU coaches, decision timetable and more. VIP https://t.co/fB4tH86MxG

— Bill Kurelic (@Bill_Kurelic) September 20, 2021

 

Wayne (OH) High School offensive lineman @JoshuaPadilla66 is one of four 2023 prospects from Ohio to have an offer from Ohio State.

Yesterday he visited Columbus for the second time this season.

What he had to say about the visit, here: https://t.co/5yccEsIXqy pic.twitter.com/x61wINcoUo

— Mick Walker (@mickdwalker) September 26, 2021

 

Josh Padilla checks back in on Birminology following his Buckeyes visit this weekend :: https://t.co/vnDOoQUb82

— Jeremy Birmingham (@Birm) September 27, 2021

 

The Hurry-Up: Ohio State 2024 linebacker target Edwin Spillman enjoyed his trip to Columbus last week and hopes to return later this fall. https://t.co/3zswxr85Sn

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) September 28, 2021

PADILLA VISITS OSU AGAIN
As recently as Sept. 10, Dayton resident Joshua Padilla had never attended an Ohio State game. Since Sept. 11, he’s now attended two.

The four-star 2023 offensive lineman first visited Columbus for the home-opener against Oregon on Sept. 11, then made a return trip back to OSU Saturday for the Buckeyes’ 59-7 win against Akron. The 6-foot-4, 265-pound guard made the trek to Ohio Stadium with his brother and his cousin. He told 247Sports this week he enjoyed his visit.

“I liked how the team was supported by the fans, 95,000 even though they were playing Akron,” Padilla told 247Sports. “I see (the team) coming together as a team. They were all excited and they came together.”

It would be hard to say the Buckeyes aren’t a front runner for the Ohio product considering he has visited Columbus a ton in the past few months by going to two games, a July cookout and the OSU spring game. He has another visit with the Buckeyes scheduled for Oct. 30 against Penn State. Padilla is the 194th-ranked prospect nationally in the cycle and the 10th-best guard.

 

Junior Season highlights https://t.co/GE7iQ63Sat

— Joshua Padilla (@JoshuaPadilla66) November 4, 2021

 

B⭕️⭕️M!!!!! @CoachStudOL @CoachCookOL @OSUCoachKDub @ryandaytime @OhioStateFB @Hayesfawcett3 pic.twitter.com/wxBfCc1R0U

— Joshua Padilla (@JoshuaPadilla66) November 4, 2021

 

#BOOM Ohio State lands its second commitment of the 2023 class in Dayton offensive lineman Joshua Padilla. pic.twitter.com/o4RfVm5oHH

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) November 4, 2021

 

BOOM! #OhioState lands a commitment from 4-star offensive lineman @JoshuaPadilla66 (FREE)https://t.co/u9YDRaXAcW pic.twitter.com/pwmef8buLZ

— Bucknuts (@Bucknuts247) November 4, 2021

 

B🅾️🅾️🅾️🅾️🅾️MMMM‼️‼️‼️‼️ pic.twitter.com/KJ1QXNtzl7

— Mark Pantoni (@markpantoni) November 4, 2021

 

Big get for the #Buckeyes in landing ’23 offensive lineman Josh Padilla. #OhioState keeping top Ohio talent in-state. https://t.co/mmF3ZDjJQy

— BuckeyeScoop (@BuckeyeScoop) November 4, 2021

 

In Joshua Padilla, Ohio State is getting an offensive lineman with a mean streak who plays to the whistle in the trenches. https://t.co/4dYHy70Eoe

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) November 4, 2021