'Whenever you're ready, we're ready': Why Ohio State wants 2024 safety Reggie Powers III

Reggie Powers III doesn’t shy away from calling Ohio State his “dream school.”

The 2024 three-star Dayton safety told his mother at age 6 he “wanted to be a Buckeye,” mesmerized by former Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller as he forged his path from Springfield — which was 30 minutes away from Powers — to Columbus.

Reggie Powers II remembers seeing that desire from his son at an early age. But he also saw what came to separate his son as he grew older.

“Obviously, a lot of kids think that,” Reggie Powers II said, recalling his son’s desire to play for Ohio State. “But he worked for it to get to a position to play major college football.”

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Heading into his senior season at Centerville High School, Powers has that opportunity, earning an offer to join Ohio State football’s 2024 recruiting class. But even with an offer in tow, he is still taking things slow, ensuring the Buckeyes, while being his dream, are the best fit for him.

And for Ohio State, Powers is someone the program is willing to wait for.

“They are really set on the fact that ‘Your spot’s here,’ ” Powers said. “There’s no need to rush it. They just really make me feel comfortable not trying to rush anything. They’re just like, ‘Whenever you’re ready, we’re ready.’”

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Brent Ullery was not the first coach to discover what Powers can do.

The Centerville coach was approached by a younger member of his staff, who told him about a “special” player he needed to check out.

“I’m watching him play running back and defensive back, I think, and, even at a young age, he was floating, he was cutting on a dime, running through people,” Ullery said. “You just saw it and you’re like, ‘Man, this kid’s going to be special. He is leaps and bounds above everyone else.’”

Powers’ skills stemmed from his love for football and his ability to be “free” while on the field.

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“When I’m playing football, I don’t think about anything else,” Powers said. “It clears my mind with everything.”

With a clear mind, Powers has become a playmaker in Centerville’s defensive backfield.

Whether it’s playing as the team’s nickel safety, setting the edge and forcing plays back into the middle for the linebackers, or in the back at free safety, Powers fixates on aggression and explosion on each hit he makes.

“He plays fast, he plays instinctual, he doesn’t second-guess himself,” Ullery said. “I’m not saying he’s right all the time, but we tell our guys to be wrong strong, and that’s what he does.

“He’s just so old-school and fast and violent that when he blitzes or he comes off the edge or when he’s coming up to make a tackle, that he’s going to go through the guy or they guy’s going to turn back into the rest of the team.”

Last season as Centerville’s nickel safety, Powers was first-team All-Greater Western Ohio Conference, recording 80 tackles, eight tackles-for-loss, 10 pass break-ups, four forced fumbles and two sacks.

That instinct Ullery says Reggie Powers III plays with is clear to Reggie Powers II, who sees his son’s understanding of the game each time he lines up for a play.

“I can tell when he sees a play coming,” Reggie Powers II said. “Whether it’s a sweep or the offense runs a play action and he doesn’t bite, I can see him about to make a play before it happens. He’s got an understanding of the game.”

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Powers' understanding of football and the freedom he plays with made a big impression on Ohio State.

Ohio State cornerbacks coach Tim Walton first visited Powers at Centerville in the January after the safety’s sophomore season, later growing his relationships with Ohio State safeties coach Perry Eliano and former Ohio State analyst and current Indiana co-defensive coordinator Matt Guerrieri.

One year later, after Powers got the attention of many ACC and Big Ten schools, Reggie Powers II saw his son’s relationship with Ohio State intensify.

“January is kind of when it flipped,” Reggie Powers II said. “We’ve been in the process enough and he’s had enough success with the ACC schools. We know when it’s like you’re no longer somebody they are keeping warm, they are keeping tabs on. They’re like, ‘You’re a recruit now.’ ”

After his junior season, Powers said the Buckeyes see him as its next Lathan Ransom, matching the Ohio State nickel safety’s 6-foot-1 height, while expecting to build up his 195-pound frame once he gets into a college program.

But Powers said he will play any safety spot his team needs him to once he got to college as he prepares to move back to free safety for his senior season at Centerville.

“I’ll play safety, I’ll play nickel,” Powers said. “If I can get on the field, I’m going to do anything for the team.”

With the goal of committing before the season — which his father said should come before July — Powers is taking the process slow, saying Northwestern, Pittsburgh and Louisville remain top options for him along with Ohio State.

Knowing his son’s goals of making it to the NFL, Reggie Powers II said that jump can be made at any college program. His son’s decision comes down to what feels best.

“There are multiple places you can get developed and get there,” Reggie Powers II said. “It’s not like back in the day where you had to go to just five schools in order to go to the NFL. It’s all about the fit and the relationship.”

 cgay@dispatch.com 

@_ColinGay

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: 2024 Dayton safety Reggie Powers III captures Ohio State's attention