The state of Ohio has emerged as one of the premier recruiting hotbeds in college football. Ryan Day typically has no shortage of blue-chip talent in his backyard, and the Buckeye continues to produce Power Four prospects every cycle. Looking ahead to the 2026 football season and the 2027 recruiting class, that trend shows no signs of slowing down.
Ohio Recruits to Watch
5-star WR Jamier Brown: The elite wide receiver has been a longtime Ohio State commit but is planning to take two additional official visits before totaling shutting things down. Miami, Ohio State and Oregon are slated to get those visits. Brown is the latest big-time Buckeyes wideout that will be pursued until pen meets paper. This time, without Brian Hartline in the mix.
4-star CB Ace Alston: The four-star cornerback still has schools trying to push him off his commitment to Notre Dame. His top group of schools was very close before he ultimately decided on the Irish. Missouri, Indiana and USC are still making pushes.
4-star ATH Brayton Feister: He’s one of the best two-way players in the Midwest this cycle. Feister racked up 133 tackles, 39 TFL and 13 sacks on defense as a junior. Oregon has actually been the school setting the pace for the Ohio native. He plans to return for a visit soon. Visits are also in the works to Miami, Indiana, Georgia and USC.
4-star TE Jordan Karhoff: The talented tight end will continue to be a name on the rise this offseason. Ohio State, Missouri and Texas A&M have all made him a priority.
Biggest Recruiting Battles
Miami, Ohio State and Oregon for wide receiverJamier Brown: Ohio State fans are tired of this yearly tradition but it’s not going away. Brown is a coveted prospect from coast to coast. And without Brian Hartline in Columbus other teams smell blood in the water.
Kentucky and Louisville for offensive lineman Reed Gerken: This recruitment felt pretty wide open heading into the winter but a pair of schools are emerging. Kentucky has made Gerken a huge priority. Vince Marrow has been on him for Louisville. This one could be fun to track.
Ohio State against the field for EDGE Reinaldo Perez: The Buckeyes raced off to a huge lead here and its surprised many (including myself) that he’s not already a Buckeye. Perez has continued to take other visits and spoken highly of each school. Florida, Indiana, Purdue and USC are in hot pursuit.
In-State Outlook
Cincinnati: Eight of the Bearcats 24 high school signees were from Ohio in the 2026 recruiting class. It’s worth noting that the only four-star prospect the team signed, defensive lineman Lance Dawson, is from the state. If the Bearcats can keep snagging talent from inside the state it will help the program’s long-term success.
Ohio State: For all the flack that Ryan Day catches about in-state recruiting sometimes, 11 signees in 2026 came from Ohio. Almost all the best players in the state signed with the Buckeyes. We’ll see how things unfold in the 2027 cycle for the school.
Sleepers to Watch
3-star RB Julian Baker: The Washington Court House (Ohio) Miami Trace standout has been racking up stats his entire high school career. As a junior he posted 2,414 all-purpose yards with 39 total touchdowns. He also chipped in 34 tackles, 1 sack and 2 TFL. His stock could soar this offseason.
3-star EDGE Jaylen Mercer: The rangy edge rusher has been on the radar of college staffs for a while now. Kentucky and Missouri are looming as serious threats now but other schools will surely get involved too.
3-star OT Davis Seaman: The offensive lineman has been a good regional recruit with offers from most of the schools in the area. But I’m wondering if his recruitment will hit another level with more national type offers? Ohio State, Kentucky and Penn State are setting the pace for now.
Parting Predictions
1. Ohio State gets less than half of the top 10 players in the state for the 2027 class: The Buckeyes typically do very well with the high-level recruits in the state that they pursue. The team already holds a couple commitments from top–10 prospects but I think the work done by other schools will resonate. Ohio State will still land a top-5 recruiting class.
2. Oregon lands 4-star ATH Brayton Feister: The do-it-all athlete loves coach Dan Lanning and the coaching staff in Eugene. He’s already been for a game and will be back this winter. I’m expecting him to play in the Big Ten. Just not for Ohio State or Penn State.
3. Ace Alston sticks with Notre Dame: This was closer than people realize when Alston picked Notre Dame. But despite pushes from Indiana and others Alston will stick with the Irish. The commitment was about more than just football and those things aren’t changing in South Bend.