COLUMBUS – There was a youth movement with the recent South Florida Express visit to Ohio State over the past weekend as several top class of 2024 targets made the trip to check out the Buckeyes.
JoJo Trader, a 6-foot-2, 170-pound receiver/athlete was one of the major names from the younger class along with JJ Smith, both checking out everything that the Ohio State program had to offer.
As with many players, a decision will have to be made at some point about what a desired position in college will be, sometimes a player can dictate to a point and other times it may be dictated once a player gets on campus. For Trader, he just loves the game and knows that he has a lot of versatility, whether you call him a receiver or an athlete.
“I am an athlete, but I prefer receiver, but I can play defense, I can play both sides of the ball,” Trader said.
Recruiting is going well for Trader to this point with more than a dozen offers in-hand and that number should swell for as long as he keeps his recruitment open. Joining Ohio State are schools like Alabama, Florida, Florida State and Georgia to name a few. There will be no shortage of visibility playing at Miami Central high school and being part of the South Florida Express 7-on-7 team, but Trader is trying to keep it all in check.
For now, he is just enjoying the process and being able to be around his teammates and check places out.
“It is a blessing to be around all of these great people,” Trader added. “I feed off of the energy, it’s good.”
For all the players who made their way to Ohio State for the weekend visit, there may be a different checklist for what they are hoping to learn at a school and what ultimately will put one school alone at the top of the list and secure the commitment. What is important to Trader?
“I am hoping to build a bond with the coaches and the team,” Trader said.
If the future for Trader is at wide receiver, the Buckeyes have put themselves in a great position with the recent success of the position and that is evidenced by a pair of likely first rounders waiting to hear their names called within the month at the NFL Draft in Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson and the next wave of receivers ready to step up.
Every single receiver raves about receiver coach Brian Hartline as well as offensive quality control coach Keenan Bailey. What makes that tandem so special, especially to Trader?
“They bring a Florida vibe, so I feel like I am home, it is a great feeling,” Trader said.
Find out more in this quick exclusive video from over the weekend from the exciting athlete.