Ohio State football hoping to steal a 4-star WR right from LSU's backyard

LSU and Ohio State are standing out for the youngster.
Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day takes the field before the NCAA football game at Ohio Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025 in Columbus, Ohio.
Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day takes the field before the NCAA football game at Ohio Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025 in Columbus, Ohio. | Samantha Madar/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Ryan Day and Ohio State football are putting in serious work when it comes to the 2027 class. Yes, the 2026 haul is the focus, but the Ohio State staff is turning a lot of heads when it comes to high school juniors who are taking their recruitment seriously.

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Such is the case for '27 wide receiver Miguel Whitley, who is quickly becoming a top target for schools across the country. Throughout his recruitment, the 6-0, 180-pound speedster has picked up 21 offers. However, in a new interview with Rivals' Sam Spiegelman, the touted wideout said that Ohio State and LSU are his top schools and there isn't any separation there.

4-star WR Miguel Whitley has Ohio State football and LSU at the top of his list

Whitley is a playmaker for St. Augustine High in New Orleans, which is a little over an hour away from the LSU campus in Baton Rouge. Obviously, Brian Kelly wants to keep players in the area close to home, but Day is no stranger to landing playmakers from Louisiana.

Just ask Kelly how he feels about missing out on 5-star safety Blaine Bradford, who quite literally plays his high school ball in Baton Rouge. Despite that and Bradford's older brother playing for the Tigers, the standout defensive back is an Ohio State commit and he has said multiple times that he's locked in with the reigning national champs.

What will Whitley end up doing? He's ranked four stars, the No. 28 wide receiver in the country and No. 11 player from Louisiana for the 2027 class. There's still plenty of time until he makes a final decision, but LSU and Ohio State are the two teams to watch out for.

This could prove to be an incredibly difficult decision for him. On one hand, playing for LSU is probably something he's thought about ever since he was a little kid - the Tigers are known for developing top-level receivers too.

However, Brian Hartline is changing everything for the Ohio State offense, with Jeremiah Smith set to be the next phenom who makes his way to the NFL. This is all something Whitley will be keeping in mind for when he eventually shuts things down and commits to his college of choice.

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