Is Ohio State recruiting about to pick up? What we learned from visits and what’s next
Is Ohio State recruiting about to pick up? What we learned from visits and what’s next
Ohio State has 15 commitments for its recruiting Class of 2027, but some high-profile additions could be on the way. Ben Jackson / Getty Images
By Cameron Teague RobinsonJune 25, 2026 7:05 am EDT UpdatedOhio State has had an eventful month of official football recruiting visits. Though it has landed just two June verbal commitments for the Class of 2027, the Buckeyes continue to be linked to five-star prospects in the current cycle, as well as the 2028 and 2029 classes.
With plenty of targets announcing soon and more than two months until the start of the season, this will be an anxious waiting period for an Ohio State class that is just No. 15 in the 247Sports Composite right now with 15 verbal commitments. Here’s what we learned over the past weeks of visits and what’s next:
Commitments
Four-star CB Deontay Malone: The Massillon, Ohio, native was the first commitment of the month. He’s a big one for the Buckeyes, who, to that point, didn’t have a cornerback on the board. Malone is the No. 33 corner in the 247Sports Composite and made the decision public just two days after his June 12 visit.
Four-star CB Jaden Carey: Three days after Malone committed, Carey made his decision public and joined the secondary, as well. He continued the Buckeyes’ success at powerhouse St. Thomas Aquinas in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and is ranked No. 42 among cornerbacks.
2029 class WR Austin Miller: While most recruiting sites don’t have rankings for the 2029 class just yet, Miller will likely be a five-star receiver when they do begin. The Bellflower, Calif., star had a stellar freshman season, tallying 35 catches for 609 yards and eight touchdowns, with 883 rushing yards and 13 more touchdowns on the ground. There’s a long way to go before Miller signs in two years, so expect the California schools, especially USC, to get involved in this one, but this is a big start for new receivers coach Cortez Hankton.
What is still a major position of need?
There are two positions I’m looking at: quarterback and defensive tackle.
There’s been some drama surrounding Ohio State’s pursuit of a quarterback, as longtime commit Brady Edmunds visited UCLA in June to explore his options. He didn’t flip after the UCLA visit and left his visit with Ohio State this past weekend. The four-star recruit from Huntington Beach, Calif., is an important piece of the class for the Buckeyes, who don’t have another quarterback to turn to. He’s No. 18 among QBs in the 247Sports Composite, where the top 35 players at the position are committed.
It’s still likely that Ohio State tries to land a second quarterback for the class, but it won’t just settle for one.
As for defensive tackle, the Buckeyes have three edge rushers committed already but are looking to improve along the interior.
The Buckeyes got the last visit for the No. 14 defensive lineman in the country, Karlos May of Birmingham, Ala. Ohio State feels good about its defensive line class with five-star DJ Jacobs, four-star Wyatt Smith and the possibility of five-star Marcus Fakatou. If it can add May, the Buckeyes could be set up front.
| Player | Pos | Stars | Ranking | State |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DJ Jacobs | DE | 5 | 4 | GA |
| Jamier Brown | WR | 5 | 23 | OH |
| Wyatt Smith | DE | 4 | 78 | FL |
| Kellen Wymer | OT | 4 | 81 | OH |
| Prince Goldsby | DE | 4 | 93 | MO |
| Eli Johnson | S | 4 | 203 | TX |
| Brady Edmunds | QB | 4 | 219 | CA |
| Quinton Cypher | LB | 4 | 246 | NC |
| Deontay Malone | CB | 4 | 284 | OH |
| Brody McNeel | OT | 4 | 316 | VA |
| Jimmy Kalis | OT | 4 | 328 | PA |
| Mason Wilt | OT | 3 | 362 | OH |
| Jaden Carey | CB | 4 | 384 | FL |
| Davis Seaman | T | 4 | 423 | OH |
| Angelo Smith | S | 3 | 875 | FL |
Scheduled announcements to watch
Caden Moss, June 26: Moss is a four-star offensive tackle from Mississippi who the Buckeyes have been prioritizing for a while. He is expected to pick between Ohio State and Ole Miss and would be an important get for offensive line coach Tyler Bowen. If he does commit, Moss would give Bowen two top-100 recruits in the same class, as he already has four-star Kellen Wymer, an in-state interior lineman, on board.
Blake Wong, June 27: Ohio State is still hoping to add to the receiver group in the 2027 class, and the four-star Wong is choosing between the Buckeyes, BYU, Oregon, Utah and UCLA. Can Ohio State close on the multi-sport athlete? Wong is also a sprinter on his Norco, Calif., track team and had 20 touchdowns in the 2025 high school season.
Karlos May, July 18: May will choose between Ohio State, Georgia, Auburn and Florida State on July 18, just days before David Gabriel Georges is supposed to make his decision. While May isn’t the five-star recruit that will make headlines, he’s essential to an Ohio State class that needs more help along the interior of the defensive line. Defensive line coach Larry Johnson has put together a strong class so far, and he has a chance to solidify the group before the season begins.
David Gabriel Georges, July 22: There’s no decision more important to this class than what the five-star running back at Baylor School in Chattanooga, Tenn., decides. Tennessee is pushing hard for Gabriel Georges, who is from Canada, but the Buckeyes have been prioritizing the No. 2 running back in the 2027 class for a long time. If Ohio State can keep him away from the Vols, it’ll be the biggest win for running backs coach Carlos Locklyn. This one will likely go down to the wire, and even if he picks Ohio State on July 22, it’ll have to fight off Tennessee all the way to signing day.
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How long can Ohio State’s 5-star receiver streak continue?
You’d have to go back to the 2022 class to find the last time Ohio State didn’t sign a five-star wide receiver, and that streak might not end anytime soon.
Jamier Brown is the prize of Ohio State’s 2027 class and doesn’t seem like he’s going anywhere, and the Buckeyes have already been linked to 2028 five-star Jett Harrison, the brother of Marvin Harrison Jr. (and son of a Hall of Famer).
If Ohio State can land Harrison, who was at one of its prospect camps in June, and keep Miller locked in through the 2029 class, the hold on the Wide Receiver U title may continue despite the departure of ace recruiter Brian Hartline.
For much of that time, the thought was that Hartline was the difference, but Hankton is continuing the momentum. He’ll have to close on Harrison and Miller, but for now, it seems like Ohio State will stay in the running for the best receiver prospects in the country.
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Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
