Ohio State football battling 3 big-time recruiters for elite EDGE announcing soon

As NIL payments begin to be replaced by direct payment from schools to the players through the $20.5 million pool of revenue-sharing money, a change instituted by the House v. NCAA Settlement, the playing field could become a bit more level for programs without the history or financial backing of Ohio State. 

With 16 commits, Ohio State’s 2026 recruiting class currently ranks 5th in the country, but as commitments continue to roll in through the summer, the defending national champions could be on the rise. One recruiting battle to keep an eye on is for four-star edge rusher Landon Barnes, because the Buckeyes will be tested by three other programs that are recruiting at a high level at the dawn of the revenue sharing era: LSU, SMU, and Washington. 

LSU perennially attracts elite talent, and that’s continued to be the case under Brian Kelly. The Tigers sit at No. 13 in the country while SMU and Washington both sneak into the top 20. SMU, especially after making the jump to the ACC and qualifying for the College Football Playoff in their first year as a Power Conference program, is looking to elevate its status, and landing a player like Barnes in a head-to-head battle with the Buckeyes would be noteworthy for Rhett Lashlee. 

Landon Barnes is a priority target for Ohio State at a position of long-term need

Barnes is the 139th-ranked player in the country according to 247Sports Composite Rankings and the 18th-best edge rusher. At 6-foot-3, 235 pounds, the Duncanville, Texas product would be Ohio State’s highest-ranked edge in the 2026 class, sliding in ahead of four-star Khary Wilder. 

After losing veteran stalwarts Jack Sawyer and JT Tuimoloa to the NFL after last season’s national title, edge rusher is both a short-term and long-term need for the Buckeyes. Losing defensive coordinator Jim Knowles to Penn State may amplify the importance of having high-level players at the position for Ohio State. 

This offseason, Ohio State had to go into the transfer portal to find a replacement for Sawyer and Tuimoloa, plucking Beau Atkinson from North Carolina to play opposite senior defensive end Kenyatta Jackson Jr. That’s unlike a program that has produced edge rushers like last year’s crop, Joey and Nick Bosa, and Chase Young. 

While Barnes is a priority target, he’s not the only edge that the Buckeyes are after. Barnes was joined by his high school teammate at Duncanville High School and fellow four-star edge KJ Ford for an official visit this past weekend. Ford is the 116th-ranked player in the 2026 class and 15th-ranked edge rusher. He has yet to schedule his commitment, but if Barnes commits to Ohio State next week, it could be good news on both fronts and keep the pesky up-and-comers like SMU at bay.