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Ohio State football fully expected to miss out on another 5-star target Friday night

When it rains, it pours for the Buckeyes.
ByBraulio Perez|
Nov 16, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day gestures to the officials against the Northwestern Wildcats during the second half at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
Nov 16, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day gestures to the officials against the Northwestern Wildcats during the second half at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images | David Banks-Imagn Images

All you can do is shake your head at this point. It's proving to be a week to forget for Ryan Day and the Ohio State football staff out on the recruiting trail. Already this week, Day and Co. have missed out on elite recruits Savion Hiter and Bralan Womack.

The news isn't expected to get any better on Friday night - nope, it's going to get worse. The Buckeyes have desperately wanted to land 5-star offensive lineman Darius Gray this cycle and he's getting ready to shut down his recruitment. However, all signs are pointing to him telling Ohio State thanks, but not thanks. Instead, it's looking like he's going to be South Carolina-bound:

5-star OL Darius Gray is expected to commit to South Carolina over Ohio State and others

When it rains, it pours, right? Thus far for the 2026 class, there isn't a single blue-chip offensive lineman on the board for the Buckeyes. Games are won in the trenches and the Ohio State fanbase was quite hopeful that Gray would realize playing for the reigning national champs would be the right call.

Instead, Shane Beamer and the Gamecocks went all-in to turn his head and the feeling is the SEC side has done enough to lock up one of the top players in the country. Gray is ranked five stars and the No. 1 interior offensive lineman in the country by both Rivals and 247Sports.

Throughout his recruitment, the 6-3, 285-pounder picked up a head-turning 45 offers. In the end, he was down to five finalists: LSU, South Carolina, Ohio State, Tennessee and Clemson. From our chair, picking South Carolina over Ohio State is a bit of a head-scratcher. Perhaps NIL helped send things over the top for USC?

Athletic director Ross Bjork has been under fire a bit for not spending big to attract top talent. Earlier this year, 5-star prospects Tyler Atkinson and Womack both said Ohio State was their No. 1 school. In the end, they spurned the Buckeyes for Texas and Auburn, respectively. Hiter picking Michigan was also rough and now Gray likely rocking with South Carolina is only going to make people in Columbus even more upset.

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