Ryan Day has had full control over the Ohio State football program in the last decade. In that timeframe, the Buckeyes have been one of the most consistently dominant teams in the country. A lot of that has to do with the work on the recruiting trail that Day has done.
Day has been able to pull in some of the best recruits in the country in recent years. The 2027 class looks no different. They have pulled in multiple five-star recruits, including a couple of dominant defensive linemen. Day and his staff have done a masterful job of pulling in the best talent from across the nation.
With that being said, there are a few recruiting wins that have been bigger than others for Day. There are three of them in particular that have really helped them become one of the best programs in the country. All of these recruits have helped him win a national title.
3. J.T. Tuimoloau
Tuimoloau was a five-star defensive end recruit in the 2021 recruiting class. He committed to the Ohio State Buckeyes late, deciding to commit on the Fourth of July. However, he quickly showed that he would make an impact early on. He got better as each year progressed.
Tuimoloau picked the Buckeyes over Oregon and Washington, which was a big win for Day. He is a Pacific Northwest kid, so taking him from that area was a massive victory. Tuimoloau played a big part in the Buckeyes winning a national championship in 2024.
In that 2024 season, Tuimoloau finished with 61 tackles and a whopping 12.5 sacks. His performance against Penn State in 2022 was the stuff of legends, as he had six tackles, two sacks, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and two interceptions, including a pick-six.
2. TreVeyon Henderson
Running back TreVeyon Henderson also came in the 2021 recruiting class. He is the highest-rated running back the Buckeyes have had in the Ryan Day era. Henderson started as a true freshman and had to battle through some injuries before he reached his full potential.
However, Henderson had some massive moments in the College Football Playoff in 2024. He had long touchdowns against Tennessee, Oregon, and Texas. Having him on the field was the difference between winning and losing against the Longhorns, as he scored on a 75-yard screen pass right before the end of the first half.
Henderson picked Ohio State over Alabama, Auburn, and a host of other schools. It was a great recruiting win that resulted in Day winning a national championship.
1. Jeremiah Smith
The biggest win of Ryan Day's career was landing Jeremiah Smith. In 2024, Smith was committed to the Buckeyes for a while. However, Miami was making a late push for him. In fact, on Signing Day, Day didn't even know that Smith had officially sent in his letter until a media member told him during a press conference.
Since Smith has been on campus, he has been the best player that the Buckeyes have. Ohio State leaned on him heavily in the CFP in 2024, and Smith helped seal the national championship with a huge third-down catch. He's hoping to lead the team to another national title this year.
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