Ohio State football recruiting is heading for a big boom this Spring. According to ESPN's Eli Lederman, Ohio State is one of ten programs with big springs ahead. ESPN currently ranks Ohio State's 2026 recruiting class 32nd, but if they manage to capitalize on key targets, they could position themselves well for this summer to gain a barrage of commitments.
Current Commitments
Ryan Day has secured four total commitments in the 2026 class, with three of them in the ESPN Junior 300. Many teams with more commitments have higher rankings this early in the recruiting process, but Ohio State is targeting some of the highest-rated recruits in the country; they do not typically commit early. However, that is not always true, as ESPN's top-ranked player in the 2026 class, Chris Henry Jr., has been committed to Ohio State since July of 2023.
The two other top 300 players are Jakob Weatherspoon and Corbyn Fordham. Their fourth commitment, Jaeden Ricketts, is not even currently ranked by ESPN, but both 247 Sports and On3 have him in the top 300. This is a very nice foundation of recruits for Ohio State to build on and for them to help recruit the rest of the class.
Key Targets and Competitive Landscape
The first step for Ohio State this spring is to lock down the state of Ohio. Ohio's number 1 prospect is cornerback, Elbert Hill. Lederman said, "[Hill] has visited no program more than Ohio State, and the Buckeyes are battling Alabama, Oregon, and USC, among others, for the nation's top defensive back."
Although Hill is from Ohio, those three programs will not be easy to beat. Oregon and USC are known for the large NIL deals they like to offer players, and Alabama just came into Ohio to steal Justin Hill in the 2025 class. But Tim Walton is one of the best recruiters in the country. With the other Ohio cornerback, Victor Singleton, committed to Illinois, I expect the Buckeyes to go all out to sign Elbert Hill.
Lederman also highlights two other defensive recruits outside Ohio: "Ohio State is also heavily involved in the recruitments of a pair of top-20 defenders between defensive end Jake Kreul and safety Jett Washington." If Ohio State can manage to receive commitments from them this Summer, it will significantly increase its recruiting rank.
Upcoming Visits
Lederman highlights six players coming on visits to Ohio State this spring and how Ohio State kept one despite a coaching change.
Five of the six visits come from "Running backs Savion Hiter and Jonathan Hatton Jr., safeties Bralan Womack and Blaine Bradford, and wide receiver Jabari Mack are among the top-100 prospects set for late-spring official visits with the Buckeyes." The highest-ranked of those five is Savion Hiter.
After Hiter scheduled a late spring visit with Ohio State, he had glowing words about Carlos Locklyn to On3's Steve Wiltfong and even went as far as to call Ohio State Running Back U. "They’re also RBU. Ezekiel Elliott, TreVeyon Henderson coming out of there now. Quinshon Judkins too."
But the most crucial spring visitor, according to Lederman, is the fourth-best recruit in the 2026 class, Jackson Cantwell. Lederman said, "The departure of offensive line coach Justin Frye hasn't deterred Cantwell from his interest in the Buckeyes. He'll visit Ohio State on March 20 and could still schedule an official trip with the program in June."
Lederman highlights how another top-ranked offensive line recruit, Iheanacho, no longer shows interest in Ohio State. But he isn't alone as top offensive line recruits in the state of Ohio, Maxwell Riley and Adam Guthrie, are both trending toward Clemson according to 247 Sports crystal ball selections.
Lederman's analysis to watch Ohio State this spring is spot-on. With opportunities for so many highly rated recruits to come on campus and not only meet position coaches but also assistants and players, the Buckeyes have a plethora of opportunities to create momentum and get recruits buzzing about the Ohio State program that just came off a national championship a couple of months ago.