When Damarion Witten arrived at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center for Wednesday’s recruiting camp, he said Ohio State tight ends coach Keenan Bailey immediately gave him the control, asking what he wanted to work on.

Ahead of his senior year at Glenville High School in Cleveland, Witten said he arrived with goals of improving his blocking skills. So Bailey and Witten, along with Ohio State tight end Cade Stover, went to work, focusing on technique, body positioning and burst against a tackling sled.

While it was the first time he had ever worked with Bailey on the practice field, Witten said he felt comfortable, seeing how much Bailey cares about how his room develops.

To Witten, it was the same level of care he’s seen from Bailey since he took over Kevin Wilson’s post as Ohio State’s tight ends coach in January.

“(Bailey) said I was the first tight end he called, to keep working with me,” Witten said, who has held an Ohio State offer since September. “And ever since that day, him telling me that plays a big part and truly shows me that he cares and I’m the one he’s wanting.”

Bailey and Ohio State seem to have an idea of what Witten could be for a college football program.

Standing at 6 feet 4, 215 pounds, Witten describes himself as a mix of Georgia tight end Brock Bowers and Stover, aspiring to be an all-around offensive weapon similar to what he said the Buckeyes have planned for freshman Jelani Thurman.

“They told me I’m a mismatch tight end,” Witten said. “I can stay flex, just go outside (as a) receiver and match up with a DB, every time it’s a mismatch. It’s really like how I want to be: a mismatch, play tight end and receiver at the same time.”

Blocking was not the only thing on Witten’s mind Wednesday.

Telling Bailey he also wanted to work on his speed cuts as a receiver, Witten worked with both the tight ends and wide receivers, getting pre-camp work with offensive coordinator Brian Hartline, while also getting one-on-one reps against defensive backs.

Ohio State is not the only program vying for Witten’s services.

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On June 9-11, he officially visited Kentucky before his official visit with Ohio State June 23-25. Witten did not mention any other official visits, but said he’s currently “50/50” without a definitive timeline. Witten also has Wisconsin, Texas and Oregon in his top five.

Witten can see what his future would look like at Ohio State.

While the Buckeyes have picked up a commitment from four-star tight end Max LeBlanc, Witten said the competition in the 2024 class would push him to “go harder and to make my presence known.” But he also knows what he, LeBlanc and Thurman could do together.

“If I am willing to commit to Ohio State, I feel like we would have one of the best tight end rooms in the country,” Witten said. “Me, Jelani and Max teaming up together, it really shows that Ohio State can really come back.”

But to Witten, it doesn’t matter what program he choses. He plans to make an impact at the next level.

“Me being in the tight end room with the coaches… I think it’s really going to change the program around,” Witten said.

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: 2024 TE Damarion Witten sees potential future with Ohio State football