While Ohio State and Ryan Day are never going to admit to listening to outside noise, everyone has seen just how much interest both Miami and Tennessee have been showing in DJ Jacobs. The 5-star Ohio State commit is locked in with the Buckeyes, but of late, the Vols in particular seem to be going all-in to get him to change his mind.
Day knows just how important the elite pass rusher is for the future of Ohio State's defense, which is why he's not ready to take any chances. Because of that, per reporter Mick Walker, Day has locked in three visits for Jacobs this fall leading up to the Early Signing Period. Oh, and Jacobs will be coming with his entire family too. Your move, Josh Heupel:
Ohio State commit David Jacobs, No. 1 EDGE in the 2027 class, is bringing his whole family to Columbus for 3️⃣ games this season.
— Mick Walker (@mickdwalker) August 29, 2026
Including his younger brother Dawson Jacobs, a 2028 four-star DL 👀
Read: https://t.co/3uvCMTYC44 pic.twitter.com/wNkpTWNDhH
Ohio State is ready to do whatever is needed to keep 5-star DJ Jacobs on board
Previously, Steve Wiltfong reported that while multiple trips to Columbus were in the works, Tennessee is also expected to host Jacobs and his family for a visit - keep in mind that Jacobs' dad played at Georgia for current Tennessee defensive line coach Rodney Garner, and the relationship remains quite strong.
This could be a problem for Ohio State, but Day is working to remind Jacobs why he committed to the Big Ten school in the first place. Then, of course, the recruitment of Jacobs' younger brother, Dawson, is also going to come into play, which is why the Buckeyes are making sure he makes the trip to campus with his older brother for the trio of upcoming trips.
The Vols are also prioritizing the recruitment of Dawson, who is a 4-star standout for the 2028 class. Garner is leading the charge to get him to commit too, which is no surprise. Then, of course, there's still Miami to worry about, as Mario Cristobal wants to close out his 2027 class with a bang, which would be the case if he flipped Jacobs.
For a lot of Miami fans, they thought the elite pass rusher would commit to Miami in the first place, but it was Ohio State that was able to receive some good news. Now, it's on Day to make sure Jacobs stays on board, though Miami and Tennessee won't go down without a fight.
That's, of course, something to worry about for Day and Larry Johnson, but getting the youngster on campus for three trips this season speaks to how badly the Buckeyes want to sign him this December. Depending on how those trips go, it could end up deciding whether or not Jacobs makes things official with Ohio State soon enough. The pressure is there for Day to get this done, but he, of course, is no stranger to fending other powerhouses off when they try stealing his recruits.
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