The Ohio State football program has been trying to land some top defensive line recruits. Unfortunately for them, they haven't been able to land any yet. It has been tough sledding for Larry Johnson, which is why fans of the Bucekyes have been so hard on him.
The Buckeyes have not been able to duplicate the same kind of recruiting success that Johnson had early in his Ohio State coaching career. He hadn't gotten a commitment for the 2026 recruiting class yet. That finally changed on Tuesday night when he was able to land a four-star edge player.
Khary Wilder picked the Ohio State Buckeyes over UCLA, which was the other program he was choosing between. Wilder is a low four-star recruit, but he's still solid nonetheless. He becomes the 15th member of the Buckeyes' 2026 recruiting class.
Four-star defensive lineman picks the Ohio State football program to get Larry Johnson on the board
Wilder stands at 6'4 and 260 pounds. He is someone who can play both inside and outside on the defensive line. Where he plays will likely depend on what kind of defensive system Matt Patricia is going to play. Wilder is versatile enough to play both, even though he's listed as an edge.
Johnson finally has his first recruit for the 2026 class, but it shouldn't be his only one. This is likely going to be Johnson's last recruiting class because it's very unlikely he will be on staff next season. The Buckeyes aren't going to let him keep coaching until he's 80.
There are still a few high-level prospects on the board that Johnson has his eye on. Luke Wafle is the guy at the top of this list. He needs to keep landing high-level four-star recruits in his final season to keep fans off his back. Quite frankly, they need that depth on the defensive line.
Patricia has done a good job of helping Johnson on the recruiting trail. He's done more work than people thought on that front. Still, there are several guys Ohio State is hoping to grab before the cycle is over up front.