Rivals debuted its class of 2028 recruiting rankings on Monday, highlighting the top players in the country heading into their sophomore seasons of high school football, and the No. 1 overall player in the class would be a perfect fit as a Buckeye.
Brysen Wright debuted atop Rivals’ rankings and is the No. 5 overall player by 247Sports Composite Rankings. The 6-foot-4 wide receiver was impressive in his freshman season for Mandarin High School in Jacksonville, Florida, catching 31 passes for 646 yards and eight touchdowns en route to a district championship.
That performance earned him a scholarship offer from Ohio State, which was far from the first power conference program to express its interest, but with the Buckeyes’ history of excellence at the position, Ryan Day and offensive coordinator Brian Hartline are likely to be the last ones standing three years from now.
Ohio State WR target Brysen Wright debuts atop Rivals’ 2028 recruiting rankings
More than just extending an offer his way, Ohio State has connected with Wright, according to On3/Rivals Vice President Steve Wiltfong.
“The relationship with the coaches definitely and the program they’re building. When I went there I seen the teammates pushing themselves and seeing that was great,” Wright told Wiltfong. “The relationship with (Brian Hartline) I felt like I was at home.”
Hartline seems to have that effect on top wide receiver prospects. Since taking over the job of wide receivers coach in Columbus in 2018, the 2009 Ohio State graduate has shepherded eight wide receivers into the NFL Draft, including five first-round picks. The Buckeyes have produced at least one first-round wide receiver in each of the last four NFL Drafts, beginning in 2022 when Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave went off the board with back-to-back selections at No. 10 and No. 11 overall.
Hartline’s run of dominance at the wide receiver position doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon. Carnell Tate is one of the top NFL prospects in the country for the 2026 NFL Draft, while Jeremiah Smith Jr. is heading into his sophomore year as arguably the best player in college football.
The pipeline doesn’t end there. 2025 five-star Quincy Porter will begin his Ohio State career this season, while 2026 five-star Chris Henry Jr. will arrive next year. The 2027 cycle has barely begun, yet Ohio State already has a commitment from the class’s top wide receiver prospect, Jamier Brown. Wright would then be next in line. It almost feels inevitable.