While Ohio State and Ryan Day just celebrated a massive close to the Early Signing Period, that doesn't mean the hard work out on the recruiting trail is over. Day is working to get a jumpstart on the 2027 class and plenty of eyes are going to be on running back Kemon Spell.
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Once a Penn State commit, Spell opened up his recruitment and all signs were pointing to him giving Notre Dame his verbal. Then, Georgia was in the driver's seat. Things are far from certain for him, though he just announced his Top 5 this week. Per Hayes Fawcett, Spell is planning on taking official visits to his finalists, with Ohio State on the list:
NEWS: Five-Star RB Kemon Spell is down to 5 Schools, he tells me for @rivals⁰⁰The 5’10 210 RB from McKeesport, PA is ranked as the No. 1 RB in the ’27 class on all websites
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) December 10, 2025
Spell plans to take all of his OVs and then make a decision afterhttps://t.co/BLPkN09Fci pic.twitter.com/VJuySW30BK
Ohio State football has made the Top 5 for running back Kemon Spell
This past cycle, the Buckeyes were hoping to land 5-star running back Savion Hiter, but he ended up signing with Michigan. While that was a bummer, going after Spell and capturing his commitment would be a major get for Day, who knows all about landing elite targets and hanging on to them.
We were all reminded of that with Chris Henry Jr., the top-ranked wideout in the country for 2025. Leading up to the end of the Early Signing Period, Oregon was going all-in to flip him. With Brian Hartline leaving for USF, it opened the door for Henry to rethink things.
In the end, he signed with Ohio State and everyone was relieved. So, what will end up happening with Spell? Each and every single official visit he takes is going to be crucial for him. For Ohio State, it's going to want to roll out the red carpet and make sure his time in Columbus is memorable.
Per the 247Sports Composite, Spell is ranked five stars, the No. 1 running back in the country and No. 7 prospect nationally for his class. He has picked up 20 offers this cycle, with powerhouses across the country wanting his signature next December. Will it be Ohio State? We'll see how his official visit goes, but it feels like Day has a little bit of catching up to do.