2027 class OT Reed Gerken confirms taking Ohio State visit for Week 2 game against Western Michigan 

Offensive tackle Reed Gerken, from Perrysburg High School in Ohio, is quickly becoming one of the top targets in the 2027 recruiting class. He and Perrysburg secured a 28-21 victory against SFDS and followed it up with a dominant 37-0 win over Marysville last month.

Gerken is also keeping a close eye on his future college destination, as he will be making game-day visits during the 2024 season, with his first stop set for coach Ryan Day's Ohio State. On social media, the sophomore shared his excitement, tweeting:

"I will be at THE Ohio State University this weekend! Thank you @etwill21 for the invite can't wait to be there! Go Bucks 🌰

@CoachJFrye @CoachSollenne @ryandaytime @mickdwalker."

The Buckeyes started their 2024 season with a commanding 52-6 victory over Akron and are preparing to host Western Michigan this weekend. Ohio State will enter the matchup as a heavy favorite, opening as a 39.5-point favorite, according to DraftKings. The Buckeyes have only faced Western Michigan once before, in 2015, when they secured a 38-12 win.

Ohio State's upcoming match will be against Marshall on Sept. 21 at Ohio Stadium.

Reed Gerken sets high expectations for the 2024 season

Reed Gerken is carving his own path in football, following in the footsteps of his father, who was a former player at Napoleon High School. Gerken is determined to make a significant impact on the field.

Speaking to the Toledo Blade, Gerken shared his goals for the upcoming season, saying:

"I’m hoping that I have a really good season this year," Gerken told the Toledo Blade. "I need to improve on my physicality."

Gerken is aware of the demands of his position and wants to improve himself based on that.

“I want to be the most physical kid out there," he said. "Also, I want to work on footwork, whether it’s for pass blocking or run blocking. I want to keep getting better. Physicality and footwork go the longest way for offensive line. That’s my biggest goal going into this season.”

Gerken's dedication is beginning to pay off, as he has already received multiple offers from college programs, despite being in his sophomore year. Miami (Ohio) was the first to extend an offer, and he has since gained interest from several NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision schools, including Toledo, Kent State, Bowling Green and Central Michigan.

Gerken had a great visit to Tennessee in June, and he has already announced that he will make a game-day visit to the Vols on Sept. 14.