2026 Recruiting News (Part 5)

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NorthPoleBuckeye's picture

Need someone to commit and double our commitment list :)

+ 6 HS
NorthPoleBuckeye's picture

Added Jett Washington to the Big Board.

+ 8 HS
bucknut502's picture

247 shows that his uncle is Kobe Bryant. I wouldn’t mind getting a young Mamba! 

Jesus Won

+ 2 HS
undercoverbuck's picture

He's tall for a safety (6'5 for those wondering) but looks more wiry than what Styles looked like. Does anyone know what the idea is for him? 

Now i become Boob Salsa, grifter of men.

+ 2 HS
bull1214's picture

The Sanchez’s said that he’s actually 6’3. 

+ 6 HS
undercoverbuck's picture

Thanks for that. I would assume safety is plan if he's closer to 6'3 than 6'5.

Now i become Boob Salsa, grifter of men.

+ 3 HS
pcola_buckeye's picture

If you've got pterodactyls on offense, you're going to need pterodactyls on defense to handle them! ;)

"College football cannot be explained by science or religion, which is why it remains perfect." ~ Ramzy Nasrallah

+ 1 HS
KlayDog's picture

5-star 2026 ATH Derrek Cooper told me he'll be back at Ohio State for the Michigan game. He's at Chaminade-Madonna, the alma mater of Jeremiah Smith and is being primarily recruited by Carlos Locklyn. I think Ohio State will end up being a real player in his recruitment. He camped in Columbus this past June, fwiw.

Update from Birm on The Podcast Text Subscription

Player Profile: https://247sports.com/player/derrek-cooper-46147129/

+ 19 HS
Brandingo's picture

I know this offer is only 2026, but it seems like Coach Lock is not timid to send out offers early and often which I'm appreciating. I like that we're a little more selective at times, but I think with the player limit increasing we can afford to tone that down some.

I can't believe God gave me a chance to be a Buckeye.

+ 5 HS
BrowardBuckeye's picture

Take it from someone based in South Florida, Derek Cooper is an absolute beast.  And has professional athlete bloodlines.  Expect him to stay home at the U, but hoping Lock and the good guys can pull off a surprise.

+ 4 HS
Brandingo's picture

Good guys make Elbert Hills top 10. Disappointing to see another NEO kid trying to bring him to Oregon though...

I can't believe God gave me a chance to be a Buckeye.

+ 12 HS
bull1214's picture

You can’t lose what you never had. OSU never had mcNutt regardless of who his daddy is. 

+ 6 HS
Simpleman424's picture

Elbert is all Buckeye. I’d do my best to separate myself from McNutt if I were him at this point. That OHSAA situation and flashing gaudy necklaces with that Oregon money. People like that want what they want now and that’s never an environment you can fully trust. Let them go to the TAMU’s and Auburn’s of the world…

God Bless

+ 20 HS
BrowardBuckeye's picture

Wait, are you defending the OSHAA? 

Simpleman424's picture

Negative. Saying he (rumored) did that for his own personal benefit and it wasn’t about helping the future and all the other bs that was floated around it. We'll never actually know but the perception in his recruitment/persona tend to lean very strongly towards it being true.

God Bless

+ 3 HS
tekk69's picture

At this point McNutt can get f*cked. Kid tries WAY too hard…at everything. We avoided a locker room cancer with this one. 

-1 HS
buckeyeguy0615's picture

At this point McNutt can get f*cked... We avoided a locker room cancer

Dude this kid is a freaking minor. Step away from the keyboard for a bit lol 

+ 10 HS
PeneiSewell's picture

I'm convinced most college football fans that follow recruiting hate kids the way they talk about recruits when they act like high school kids

+ 6 HS
buckeyeguy0615's picture

I think they get so used to following it that they genuinely forget they are kids sometimes. The worst is when you call them out on it and they still don't care or pretend it's normal.

+ 5 HS
NorthPoleBuckeye's picture

Sam Utu added to the Big Board.

+ 5 HS
305Buck's picture

I’m curious to see what Brady Smigiel does with Florida State sitting at 1-4 now. Kid committed to them without even visiting Ohio State and Chip Kelly was the first coach to ever offer him. 

+ 12 HS
305Buck's picture

Some big board changes:

RB - Demarius Yates committed to Miss State

WR - Malachi Toney reclassified to 2025

TE - Carson Sneed committed to Tennessee, Ryder Nix committed to Oklahoma, Kendre Harrison released a top schools list without Ohio State on it

DL - Tyler Atkinson should be switched to LB, Zavion Griffin-Haynes committed to UNC 

LB - Xavier Griffin committed to USC, Shadarius Toodle committed to Auburn

ATH - Jermaine Kinsler is being recruited as a DL and Amari Sabb is being recruited as a DB 

+ 17 HS
NorthPoleBuckeye's picture
+ 4 HS
305Buck's picture

https://247sports.com/Player/rodney-dunham-46144990/

Elite visitor on campus this weekend. Larry Johnson going after North Carolina hard this cycle. 

+ 13 HS
305Buck's picture

Speaking of North Carolina, Zavion Griffin-Haynes will be at the Indiana game despite his commitment to UNC. 

+ 18 HS
BuckeyeIke's picture

Unlikely that Mack Brown is there more than this year.  Can't be 70+ and give up 70+ to James Madison and lose and keep your job.  Hopefully, Zavion is an early flip for us.  

Ike

+ 9 HS
Beauregard's picture

Also lost to Jed Clampett's dog, Duke.

+ 8 HS
lowercase's picture

Well, apparently the only reason he didn't commit to us was become we wouldn't accept his commitment so I don't know how likely it is that we get an early flip from him

+ 6 HS
Buckiowa's picture

https://247sports.com/player/cameron-brickle-46133048/

Visiting this weekend. 300 lb DT with offers from everyone but OSU and from Pennsylvania. 

Wiltfong also mentioned that a "prominent prospect committed elsewhere" may visit this weekend. Any ideas?

+ 12 HS
Buckiowa's picture

My guess is a QB or Zelus Hicks.

+ 7 HS
Simpleman424's picture

ON3 reporting Dorian Barney (Alabama commit - CB) is visiting this weekend. Number 6 ranked CB in the nation in the 247 composite.

God Bless

+ 16 HS
305Buck's picture

Yeah I’m guessing Brady Smigiel, Dia Bell or Jared Curtis as the committed prospect he’s talking about. Not that many elite recruits committed in 2026.

+ 14 HS
Simpleman424's picture
+ 9 HS
Hanawi_'s picture

This dude is very large and looks like he's 30.

https://247sports.com/player/tommy-tofi-46136021/

+ 14 HS
NorthPoleBuckeye's picture

Tofi and Krempin both added to the Big Board, thanks for the info Hanawi!

+ 9 HS
305Buck's picture

Maxwell Riley visiting this weekend, would love to get an early commitment out of him. 

+ 19 HS
bobsegersilverbulletband's picture

Haven't been into 2026 yet. Any of the recruitniks have a list of top targets?

Bobcat66

+ 1 HS
NorthPoleBuckeye's picture

Added Dunham and Barney to the Big Board.

+ 5 HS
High Street Street Fighter's picture

How in the effing hell has Adam Guthrie, OT from Washington Trace, not been offered??????? You'd think OSU had the best young group of OT's in America if they feel they need to "make him earn his offer."

He's 215 on the Composite, 6'7" 285 lbs....lives in major Buckeye country. He has offers from half of the SEC and Clemson and we're twiddling our thumbs. Criminal he doesn't have an OSU offer.

https://247sports.com/player/adam-guthrie-46144652/

-10 HS
Simpleman424's picture

A few things…a dash of humility could certainly be sprinkled on the program in regards to internal belief in the OL room and where it actually stands. Not a bad room by any means and I think they’ll be respected far more on the national landscape after the season than they currently are. 
He is missing offers from Alabama and Georgia also which has led some to believe there’s something there we’re not seeing.

Lastly, the general vibe is that there may be an offer coming shortly.

God Bless

+ 10 HS
napbuck's picture

He was offered by Georgia yesterday.

+ 4 HS
Simpleman424's picture

247 isn’t reflecting that then 

God Bless

+ 4 HS
keith7456's picture
-1 HS
Simpleman424's picture

Nice…and then there was one. Might as well jump on Bama…

God Bless

+ 3 HS
High Street Street Fighter's picture

11W is the biggest bunch of apologists for crappy OL play I've ever seen.

You guys automatically demand NC's but you're not willing to invest in the OL....but you sure want a bunch of 5 star WR and QB's that disappear when OSU faces a good defense against TCUN and the bowl games.

The best teams in the country like UGA, Tennessee and Texas all want this 6'7" OT ranked around 210 on the composite and OSU is playing "hard to get" at a position where the backups are laughable. It doesn't make any damn sense to me but you guys are the recruiting experts who've cheered on this great OL that we're watching "man handle" Iowa on 4th and 2.

I'm okay with it but I don't expect NC's like you guys do. If I was serious about winning a NC, I would care a lot more about not offering highly ranked OT's in our back yard.

Let's go get that 5 star WR from Wayne. Eff the OL.

-10 HS
High Street Street Fighter's picture

Sorry......I needed to vent! Just in shock we waited so long to offer the kid. I get losing top 100 OOS guys.....but waiting until the entire SEC offers a top 215 in-state guy at the absolute biggest need on the field??????

Still hard to believe but I'm not surprised given how we've recruited the OL the last several years.

-3 HS
bull1214's picture

They offered him today. Your rant had ZERO to do with it. 

+ 14 HS
NorthPoleBuckeye's picture

but you sure want a bunch of 5 star WR and QB's that disappear when OSU faces a cheating defense against TCUN

Fixed.

+ 6 HS
Buckiowa's picture

OSU has a different policy for offering in-state guys than out of state guys. If they offer him, they must be comfortable taking his commitment. The same doesn't apply to out of state schools offering an Ohio kid. They had him in camp and have a close eye on him and if they don't think he's good enough, that's that. He's also visiting this weekend too.

+ 6 HS
Double Nickels's picture

Birm said he was just ok at camp this summer. They probably told him things to work on and improve on if he wanted an OSU offer

+ 9 HS
Buckpasser51's picture

Wow! You ask a question (actually a rhetorical question)and get "grayed out"? How dare you express an opinion here. Anyway, an upvote to you for bringing the young man to the board's attention. Thank you.

-7 HS
305Buck's picture

You must be new here. Pretty sure people are downvoting him because his shtick in these threads isn’t new and he didn’t bring Guthrie to the boards attention, he’s been known for well over a year now. 

+ 20 HS
Squatchy's picture

^^^ Not always what you say, but how you say it.

How firm thy friendship

+ 3 HS
305Buck's picture

Chris Henry Jr. out for the season with a knee injury. 

+ 16 HS
937Buck's picture

Hate to hear that. Hoping for a full and speedy recovery. 

+ 11 HS
305Buck's picture

Jahkeem Stewart has officially reclassified to 2025, can be removed from the big board. 

+ 15 HS
NorthPoleBuckeye's picture

He has been removed from the Big Board, hopefully he will soon be added to the Committed list in 2025!

+ 5 HS
Buckiowa's picture

Adam Guthrie gets his OSU offer.

+ 28 HS
NorthPoleBuckeye's picture

Added to the Big Board, thanks for the info Buckiowa.

+ 6 HS
305Buck's picture

Alabama commit Dorian Barney got to watch BIA make plays all day while Alabama loss to Vandy lmao. 

+ 22 HS
NorthPoleBuckeye's picture

He got to watch the first string pitch a shut out while Bama was giving up 40 points...to Vandy!

+ 13 HS
nafimafi's picture

on the same dline as Damien Shanklin. im not too familiar with Indiana HS FB but thats pretty damn good

+ 9 HS
305Buck's picture

Warren Central is one of the powerhouse schools in Indy. 

+ 8 HS
OxfordRaisedBuckeyeBred's picture

Warren has more D1 guys on the d line besides those two and they have a good o lineman as well. Problem is they lack at every other position. Just got exposed by Lawrence North and future OSU receiver Monshun Sales (shh)

“I just roke up” - Daniel Larson

+ 4 HS
NorthPoleBuckeye's picture

Finch has been added to the Big Board, thanks for the info 305!

+ 3 HS
305Buck's picture

Matt Parker says things are progressing well between Ohio State and Will Conroy. They lost touch for a few months but got back in touch over the summer and the relationship has been progressing good ever since. 

Ohio State looking to be in a good spot to go 4/4 on the instate OL class of Riley, Greer, Guthrie and Conroy. Add Micah Smith to that then chase Immanuel Iheanacho.

+ 23 HS
lowercase's picture

Someone I really wanted in this class was Darius Gray. He earned an offer camping this summer and spoke pretty highly about the Buckeyes and Frye. I was hoping we'd be able to get him on campus for a visit this fall. 

+ 11 HS
305Buck's picture

Gray is who I said could be the initial replacement for Conroy when he left Ohio State off his top schools list. 

+ 6 HS
Hanawi_'s picture

Birm mentioned Da'ron Parks as someone with a lot of momentum to be in the class in his write-up today.

+ 15 HS
nafimafi's picture

4 star IOL from Sarasota, FL. listed up to 6'5'' and up to 305 lb

+ 11 HS
shawn kemps kids's picture

IIRC, originally from West Virginia, pretty close to Huntington. Moved to FL recently.

+ 6 HS
nafimafi's picture

yup. is from Hurricane, WV originally

+ 3 HS
305Buck's picture

Forgot about Parks, another really good option. 

+ 8 HS
305Buck's picture

Speaking of 2026 OL, a big one scheduled to be at The Game:

https://247sports.com/player/felix-ojo-46146626/

+ 12 HS
305Buck's picture

Dorian Barney said Ohio State is the school recruiting him the hardest, said Walton and Duhart haven’t slowed down even after his Alabama commitment. 

He’s expected to make another visit to Ohio State this season and it’s been said that Barney is Walton’s #1 corner target out of state. 

+ 20 HS
HolyBuckeye2002's picture

Sorry, even for a diehard who the heck is Duhart? An assistant to the assistant staffer?

+ 6 HS
Attack51's picture

Didn't know he went to TCC. Another plus in the Victor Singleton recruitment

+ 8 HS
keith7456's picture

I think Singleton is a lock. The only thing that could keep him out is some academic concerns according to Birm. He's got plenty of time to clean that up though.

+ 4 HS
305Buck's picture

Immanuel Iheanacho says he’s planning to be at Oregon-Ohio State and Ohio State-Michigan. He has already been to Maryland and Penn State this season.

Those are likely his top 4 schools with Ohio State and Oregon out front. 

+ 24 HS
dbam's picture

I'm ready to get hurt again.

+ 23 HS
BaltimoreBuck's picture

If we are somehow able to start pulling 5* OL and 5* DL, we will go on a tear like what Alabama did a decade ago. WOW just WOW if this happens.

+ 7 HS
Scarlet_Fire's picture

Man I reallyyyyy want to beat Oregon 

+ 6 HS
stlbuckeye15's picture

Same. Oregon will probably always have good NIL but it will be interesting to see how things go after Phil Knight graduates from mortality. To be clear, I'm NOT wishing death on anyone, just noting that he has been very instrumental in supporting the school financially and is 86 years old. Dan Lanning is the young, promising coach but they wouldn't be seeing this level of recruiting success without massive financial support.

"In weightlifting, I don't think sudden, uncontrolled urination should automatically disqualify you."
-Jack Handey

+ 3 HS
BuckeyeIke's picture

Same first and last visits as Stewart.

Ike

+ 6 HS
nafimafi's picture

Iheanacho seems to be more like an Alex Leatherwood/Amarius Mims massive framed 2010s Bama/UGA type prospect rather than the lean, athletic Sanders and Paris Johnson type.

+ 7 HS
keith7456's picture
+ 6 HS
GoBucks24's picture

I wonder if we made a move again??

+ 3 HS