Curt Cignetti has done just about everything right since he got to Bloomington. Though Indiana lost both its games against ranked opponents during last season’s College Football Playoff run, the Hoosiers might be even better in Year 2. So, even for Ohio State, it’s not a bad idea to check up on Cignetti’s work, especially on the recruiting trail.
That’s exactly what Ryan Day is doing, getting into the mix to flip three-star Indiana commit Ja’Dyn Williams. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound linebacker from Massillon, Ohio, committed to the Hoosiers back in June after taking official visits to Boston College, Virginia, and Kent State.
Clearly, the start of his senior season at Washington High School has turned heads in Columbus, and now Day and his staff are hoping that the mystique of the Buckeyes can change minds because Williams isn't the only player they're attempting to flip before early signing day in December.
Blessed to receive a offer from THE Ohio State University #AGTG @JLaurinaitis55 @CoachNMoore @CoachKent34 @EdwinGlick @MTigerFB @OhioStateFB @RecruitMTFB pic.twitter.com/qbsjhZz157
— Ja’Dyn Williams 3⭐️ (@jadynwilliams22) September 22, 2025
Ryan Day extends offer to 3-star Indiana commit Ja’Dyn Williams
Indiana has predominantly built its program through the transfer portal, especially with players that Cignetti brought from James Madison ahead of the 2024 season. Still, with the program emerging to national prominence, it could quickly become a real player in the Midwest, a fertile recruiting ground that Ohio State and Michigan have long dominated.
To establish more sustainable success, beyond just his first two years in Bloomington, Cignetti will need to entrench his program as a top recruiter in the region. His 2026 class currently ranks inside the top 30 nationally, after finishing 49th in 2025. The last top 30 class for the Hoosiers was in 2022 when Tom Allen brought in a group that included Omar Cooper Jr., currently Indiana’s leading receiver under Cignetti and offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan.
So, if Day can deliver a blow to the Hoosiers’ 2026 class while adding to his group, it’s the best-case scenario for the Buckeyes. Flipping Williams from his commitment won’t necessarily help Ohio State close the gap on the top-five recruiting classes in the 2026 cycle, but it will help get closer to a familiar level.
The Buckeyes currently rank No. 9 in the country with 21 commits and just two composite five-stars, Chris Henry Jr. and Blaine Bradford. Williams won’t add to the top-tier talent in the class, but he could be a late riser in the recruiting process.
Ohio State’s top linebacker commit in the 2026 class is four-star Cincere Johnson, an in-state recruit from Cleveland who is ranked No. 63 in the nation by 247Sports Composite. The Buckeyes also have Olentangy High School linebacker CJ Sanna committed in 2026.