Ryan Day Locks in 2029 WR Recruit, Beating USC and Miami on the West Coast

Ohio State just landed a commitment from a prospect who won’t graduate high school until 2029. That’s how early the Buckeyes are playing this thing.

Austin Miller, a wide receiver out of Bellflower High in Southern California, announced Monday he’s shutting down his recruitment and heading to Columbus. The 6-foot-5, 200-pound freshman picked Ohio State over USC, Miami and Oregon, according to Hayes Fawcett of On3 and Rivals.

Miller isn’t just a size-and-project guy either. He’s already producing like someone two grades ahead. He caught 35 passes for 609 yards and eight touchdowns last season. But Bellflower didn’t just line him up outside. They handed him the ball too — 883 rushing yards and 13 more scores on the ground.

Defensive Versatility Sets Him Apart

Here’s where it gets interesting. Miller also played safety on defense and piled up 36 tackles, eight of them behind the line of scrimmage, plus four sacks off blitzes. That kind of two-way production at this stage is rare. Ryan Day’s staff clearly values a kid who can read and hit as well as he can run routes.

Miller is already being talked about as the top 2029 recruit in California, even though he doesn’t have an official star rating yet. That’ll change. He’s on track to be a five-star conversation down the road.

This isn’t the first time Ohio State has reached deep into Southern California for a young receiver. Chris Henry Jr., who starred at Mater Dei in Santa Ana, committed to the Buckeyes as a high school freshman in 2023. Miller becomes the first freshman wideout with West Coast ties to do the same since then.

First Commit of the 2029 Class

Miller is now the first player in Ohio State’s 2029 recruiting class, which means he’s essentially the face of that group for the next few years. That’s a lot of pressure for a kid who hasn’t even played a varsity game yet, but the early buzz around him suggests he can handle it.

The Buckeyes have been on a recruiting roll. Miller’s commitment comes just eight days after four-star cornerback Deontay Malone gave Ohio State his verbal pledge. That’s two top-tier defensive backfield pieces in a week, which is the kind of momentum that gets other recruits paying attention.

Miller’s frame and skill set already have scouts comparing him to some of the bigger receivers who’ve come through the program. Whether he actually grows into that potential is a years-away question. But for now, Ryan Day and his staff have locked in a prospect who could end up being one of the most talked-about recruits in the entire 2029 cycle.