With Cody Simon’s eligibility ending and Gabe Powers transferring to Kansas State, Ohio State is looking to add a few linebackers to keep their roster fully stocked. Although they do not yet have any committed to their 2026 recruiting class, the Buckeyes did get a Crystal Ball prediction to land one from Ohio.
Alan Trieu of 247Sports has predicted the Buckeyes will land C.J. Sanna of Olentangy High School. He’s currently a three-star recruit who is the 33rd-ranked linebacker in the country. The 6’3”, 225-pound Sanna will take his official visit to Ohio State on May 30th. But he will also be in Columbus twice in the coming weeks for unofficial visits. Things have heated up quickly between Sanna and the Buckeyes as he was offered a scholarship on January 31st.
Sanna is not the only in-state linebacker to have a Crystal Ball prediction to join the Buckeyes. A prediction for Glenville’s Cincere Johnson (6’3”, 222) was given in late November. June will be a very busy month for the nation’s 8th-ranked linebacker. Johnson will be visiting Alabama, Oklahoma, Ohio State, and USC.
Although he does not have a fifth official visit scheduled, he’s taking unofficial trips to numerous schools this spring, including Oregon. Two weeks ago, he told Bucknuts’ recruiting expert Bill Kurelic that the Buckeyes are his leader, but Alabama is up there as well. Some are recruiting Johnson as an edge rusher, but Ohio State sees him as a middle linebacker.
In addition to Sanna and Johnson, the Buckeyes have offered two other Ohio linebackers-Storm Miller of Strongsville (6’3”, 220) and St. Xavier’s Jakobe Clapper (6’2”, 196). Right now, Ohio State’s 2026 recruiting class has just four commitments. With the recruiting dead period ending March 2nd, expect to see players start giving commitments once they begin taking those unofficial visits.