When asked on Wednesday what he is looking for in a school, four-star wide receiver Dakota Guerrant mentioned several characteristics. These included a coach who could put players in the NFL, a winning program, a stable head coach and a positive locker room culture.
If those attributes sound familiar to Buckeye fans, it's because Ryan Day and Brian Hartline have worked hard to build that at Ohio State. So Guerrant and the Scarlet and Gray are a perfect match, right?
Perhaps, but there's another factor to consider. Guerrant is from Michigan, and players from the state up north don't often play for Ohio State.
"You're built to go to Michigan," Guerrant said on Wednesday when asked about the schools' rivalry transcending into recruiting. "'Don't go to the opposite side.' Stuff like that."
While many people around Guerrant hope to see him in maize and blue, the wideout isn't going to let others dictate where he plays college football. He will make the best decision for himself.
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The Buckeyes are definitely in the mix. Guerrant watched the Scarlet and Gray win the national championship last season. As the country's No. 8 receiver in the 2027 recruiting class, according to the 247Sports rankings, he is also aware of Ohio State's recent success at the position, which has produced five first-round receivers in the last four NFL Drafts.
"They're Receiver U," Guerrant said of the Buckeyes. "They put guys in the NFL. They close. They win. I mean, they got everything. It's self-explanatory."
Despite being from out of state, Guerrant has spent a good amount of time around the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. He visited on Saturday during a busy recruiting weekend for the Scarlet and Gray. He returned on Wednesday with some of his Harper Woods teammates for Ohio State's first of three 7-on-7 camps.
Another touchdown catch by 2027 wide receiver Dakota Guerrant. pic.twitter.com/yTY1tgK3jG
— Patrick Murphy (@_Pat_Murphy) June 11, 2025
Guerrant was impressive as the Pioneers delivered several dominant performances. He was the primary target of his quarterback, consistently finding the endzone and showcasing his celebrations after each touchdown. Guerrant also occasionally switched to the defensive side to help contain opposing receivers.
"It's good right now," Guerrant said, speaking during the camp. "We're playing some alright teams… The team's playing pretty decent. We've got to save our legs, though, because we've got a lot of games to go."
While Hartline moved around the camp to observe various players, including Buckeye receiver commit Jamier Brown, who was at the WHAC with his Wayne High School teammates, he spent time watching Guerrant. Hartline was joined by Day to witness Guerrant catch three touchdown passes during an unstoppable performance in the knockout round.
Guerrant has built a relationship with Hartline and appreciates the potential of what could be his offensive coordinator and position coach.
"He has good energy when we're around him at practice and when we're working out with him," Guerrant said of Hartline. "He's very attentive to detail and very direct. Every little thing matters with him. So, I feel like that's why other guys have been able to go to the league and be first-round draft picks."
Like many receiver recruits, Guerrant is aware of what Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith accomplished last year. Despite being a freshman, Smith started from Week 1 and led the Buckeyes in receiving yards (1,315) and touchdowns (15).
While it's not easy to do what Smith did for the Scarlet and Gray, Guerrant knows it's possible, having witnessed what the freshman take the field early in his career.
"That I can play," he said of what watching Smith tells him about Ohio State. "If I come in and dominate and do what I'm supposed to do, then I'll be able to play and the best man's gonna play."
Smith is often the player that recruits want to meet and emulate their game after; however, Guerrant is different. He sees more similarities between his game and that of Buckeye junior Carnell Tate.
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"Just smooth. Very smooth," Guerrant said of Tate. "In and out of routes. Catch the ball.
"I feel like I'm very smooth in my routes and I'm a natural catcher of the ball."
Though he's finished camping for the summer, Guerrant mentioned Tennessee, Texas A&M, Oregon and, of course, Michigan as teams of interest. The Scarlet and Gray are also part of that discussion.
Gurreant hasn't made plans to return to Ohio State yet but would like to get back to see the Buckeyes in action this fall.
"I haven't planned anything," Gurrenat said. "I usually plan that in like August. Figure out what I'm going to do. But I'll definitely be down for a game."