'24 CA SAF - Peyton Woodyard (Alabama Verbal)

2024 four-star DB in California picks up an offer from Colorado. #GoBuffs https://t.co/5bS51s1LnX

— ChadSimmons (@ChadSimmons_) January 25, 2022

 

Texas A&M offers 2024 4-star Peyton Woodyard out of California. He is in Aggieland today with a big group #GigEm https://t.co/A4sD5fruwe https://t.co/FQt6pAhlZz

— Brian Perroni (@Perroni247) January 27, 2022

 

2024 four-star DB Peyton Woodyard was ‘re-offered’ by #Alabama on Tuesday. The West Coast athlete grew up in a Crimson Tide household. Woodyard talks about the latest with Alabama and when hopes to return to Tuscaloosa with his family- https://t.co/7jPd9XqD4y #RollTide pic.twitter.com/Ao7gW5mUJ9

— Andrew Bone (@AndrewJBone) January 26, 2022

 

Top 2024 DB Peyton Woodyard talks Notre Dame, USC, Texas and other top schools in his recruitment https://t.co/mT9sgXjbNB pic.twitter.com/M7Ben4G8OO

— Adam Gorney (@adamgorney) February 14, 2022

 

5-Star DB/S @peypey_wood previewed his upcoming visit to @oregonfootball w/ @DuckZone503 - Check it out on @ScoopDuckOn3 ($) https://t.co/cgOBPwqlGu

— Justin Hopkins (@JHopkinsSD) March 26, 2022

 

Bellflower (Calif.) St. John Bosco '24 DB Peyton Woodyard is set for a busy April, will check out #Oregon this weekend followed by trips to #Michigan #MichiganState #OhioState and #NotreDame later this month https://t.co/iYuTJ5xKBa pic.twitter.com/NSUz98UIHf

— Greg Biggins (@GregBiggins) April 8, 2022

 

WOODYARD TO VISIT OHIO STATE ON APRIL 22
The top safety in the 2024 class will be visiting Ohio State later this month. Five-star California safety Peyton Woodyard told Eleven Warriors Friday he’ll be visiting Ohio State on April 22. Woodyard will also visit Oregon, Notre Dame, Michigan and Michigan State this spring.

"I've been talking with coach (Perry) Eliano once or twice a week," Woodyard said. "I'm looking forward to getting out there with both of my parents."

Woodyard is ranked as the 11th-best prospect and the top-rated safety in the 2024 class. He last visited Columbus in June, when he received an offer from the Buckeyes, but saw Ohio State practice at his high school, St. John Bosco, when the Buckeyes were preparing for the Rose Bowl in December.

“The practice was short and energetic and focused,” Woodyard told Eleven Warriors in December. “The coaches and players were focused and I liked their energy. I am honored that OSU has given me the opportunity to potentially be a part of their family, it is absolutely humbling.”

Woodyard, who recorded 62 total tackles, a pass breakup and a fumble recovery in his sophomore season, has 28 Division I offers thus far.

 

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Back at #TheShoe @OhioStateFB Friday 4.22 📍 @ryandaytime @Coach_Eliano #Buckeyes #GoBucks 🔴🌰 https://t.co/m4RJhWnCk8

— Peyton Woodyard (@peypey_wood) April 18, 2022

 

Bellflower (Calif.) St. John Bosco 2024 five-star DB Peyton Woodyard recaps 'amazing' visit to #Michigan (VIP)

"It’s a school that you would love to play for. It clearly is a football town."https://t.co/7wH2JNb235 pic.twitter.com/iPZlAUDe8l

— Brice Marich (@BriceMarich) April 22, 2022

 

Country's No. 3 safety wowed by #Buckeyes, had "phenomenal day" at #OhioState today. VIP https://t.co/diziz2B8P7

— Bill Kurelic (@Bill_Kurelic) April 23, 2022

 

This was definitely a great visit at The Ohio State University for our family @OhioStateFB @Coach_Eliano @ryandaytime @CoachJimKnowles Thank you. https://t.co/8Ttk3jTm3m

— Coach G (@GeraldWoodyard) April 26, 2022

 

Two weeks ago, five-star 2024 California safety Peyton Woodyard essentially took a Midwest recruiting tour.

Over a week's span, he visited Michigan State, Michigan, Ohio State and Notre Dame. Woodyard made his stop in Columbus on April 22 and told Eleven Warriors he thoroughly enjoyed his time at OSU. It was the first visit for Woodyard to Columbus since last June, though he did spend some time watching two of OSU’s Rose Bowl practices in California last December.

“It was great,” Woodyard said of his recent visit. “I’ve been talking to coach (Perry) Eliano over the phone, and shoot, I have a great connection with him. I just wanted to get out there and I was blown away. I talked to coach (Ryan) Day for a long time and had a great conversation with him. Just really everything about Ohio State I got to go into detail with that I didn’t really get to do last time.”

The 6-foot-2, 190-pound Woodyard said his conversation with Day was extensive.

“He was just letting me know that I’m a priority,” Woodyard said. “Just talking about all the details about Ohio State about what they have to offer as a program. Being able to connect with him and talk with him for what seemed like an hour was just really good.”

On his visit, Woodyard also met defensive coordinator Jim Knowles for the first time. After listening to him teach his defensive scheme, Woodyard came away impressed with OSU’s new head coach of the defense.

“That guy, I like him a lot,” Woodyard said. “He really knows what he’s talking about. He was explaining the defense to me and how it works. It's kind of crazy how everything in that defense falls together like puzzle pieces, that’s what he was explaining to me. It really intrigued me about him.”

Woodyard said the three-safety look Knowles utilizes in his defense certainly intrigues him. The California prospect said OSU considers him playing either free or strong safety at the next level, but more likely free safety because of his ability to blitz, play deep and play man-to-man coverage.

“I think it’s great,” Woodyard said of the scheme. “It gives, in my opinion, the best position on the field to have three of them at the same time. We kind of do that in our high school right now, we have a four-safety defense pretty much. It works out pretty well. So I like the idea of having three safeties on the field and it seems like a fun defense to play in.”

Woodyard, who has more than 30 Division I offers, said the biggest factors in his eventual decision will be his connection with a college’s coaching staff and where he feels the most comfortable. Ohio State has certainly done enough to merit consideration in those factors.

“I think what would be the most appealing thing (about Ohio State) is the new defensive staff,” Woodyard said. “Coach Eliano at Cincinnati put a bunch of dudes out into the league, Jim Knowles and his track record is really good as well. I think that’s the most exciting thing, to see them develop DBs again and get them out to the league like they have been for years.”

Woodyard said he hopes to visit Columbus again sometime in the fall for a game visit. He was supposed to attend the Oregon game last season, but was unable to make the trip due to travel issues.

“(Going to a game) at Ohio State is something I really want to do,” Woodyard said.

He does not have a specific timeline for when he wants to make a commitment, though he’ll likely start narrowing his focus before his junior year.

“In the summer I’ll probably go down to southern and East Coast schools that I’ve been talking to,” Woodyard said. “After that, I’ll probably start narrowing my list down and watch the teams throughout the season and see how everything plays out.”

 

The the country's No. 1 safety who says his interest in #OhioState is "very high" tells me it meant a lot to him that the #Buckeyes travelled cross-country to watch him in action on Wednesday. VIP https://t.co/iphCL4wwIq

— Bill Kurelic (@Bill_Kurelic) May 12, 2022

 

Coveted 2024 St. John Bosco (Calif.) safety Peyton Woodyard is still open in his recruitment. But two perennial powers are making a big impression early on, he tells @ChadSimmons_. (On3+)

DETAILS: https://t.co/N61pQrl2S1 pic.twitter.com/ZAwgBthB8N

— On3 Recruits (@On3Recruits) May 17, 2022

 

7:30 p.m. kickoff ensures Ohio State’s season opener with Notre Dame will be a big recruiting weekend for the Buckeyes.

We’ll have a bit more info in a Thursday morning article on why Week 1 could be the biggest recruiting weekend of the entire season, but a top-priority recruit in the 2024 class has already confirmed months in advance he’ll be in Columbus on Sept. 3: Five-star safety Peyton Woodyard.

“I will definitely be at the game,” Woodyard told Eleven Warriors Tuesday. “That is something coach (Perry) Eliano and I discussed. I’m looking forward to the gameday experience and the preparation prior to the game. I want to see how the coaches interact with the players, specifically coach Knowles and coach Eliano on the defensive side. I’m also looking forward to seeing coach Day coaching in the field.”

While Woodyard isn’t ready to completely narrow down his school list from more than 30 Division I offers, his recruitment could be shaping up to be a battle between the Buckeyes and the Fighting Irish.

“Both schools are high on my list, as well as others,” Woodyard said.

Woodyard recently made his second visit to Ohio State in late April and was impressed with what he saw. The Buckeyes’ 2024 class got off to a roaring start with the commitment of five-star quarterback Dylan Raiola, and that commitment may pay off in more ways than one. Raiola has been on record saying he will actively try to recruit his peers to join him in Ohio State’s 2024 class, and he’s mentioned Woodyard specifically by name. Raiola’s commitment to the Buckeyes has captured Woodyard’s attention.

“Dylan and I talk to each other frequently,” Woodyard said. “I’m really excited for him and his choice. Clearly, relationships matter and I certainly want to play with players that have the same priorities as me. God, family and a national championship.”

 

Great seeing my guy today! 🤙🏽 @RaiolaDylan pic.twitter.com/meEaDUJxFK

— Peyton Woodyard (@peypey_wood) May 29, 2022

 

Elite 2024 safety and Ohio State target Peyton Woodyard at Georgia this weekend. https://t.co/IhxYQGsAKK

— Bill Kurelic (@Bill_Kurelic) June 3, 2022

 

• One of the top defensive targets for newly hired defensive coordinator Jim Knowles in next years recruiting cycle spent his weekend in Athens. 2024 five-star safety Peyton Woodyard of St. John Bosco (CA), who already holds an offer from the Buckeyes, made a visit to Georgia and was spotted spending time with offensive lineman Earnest Greene, a former target for the program in the 2022 class.

 

Thank you @TexasFootball @Coach_Gideon @CoachSark for the southern Texas hospitality! Appreciate you and the entire staff for making us feel at home! We had a great time! #HookEm 🤘🏽 #TexasEliteBash pic.twitter.com/nbGYOEMkQ5

— Peyton Woodyard (@peypey_wood) June 13, 2022