As the college football offseason hits full stride, Ohio State is turning its focus squarely onto recruiting. With spring practices wrapped and the transfer portal’s spring window closed, the Buckeyes enter a crucial stretch of the calendar—the summer months, where recruiting momentum is often made or lost.
While much of the national attention has drifted into dormancy, Ryan Day and his staff are busy laying the foundation for the future. The 2026 class currently includes 12 verbal commitments, but the bulk of the cycle’s heavy lifting is just beginning. With official and unofficial visits ramping up, Ohio State is setting the stage for a summer packed with pivotal decisions.
One of the first dominoes may fall soon. Four-star cornerback Jordan Thomas, one of the most coveted defensive backs in the class, is set to announce his commitment Monday at 2:30 p.m. ET. Ranked as the No. 16 corner and No. 124 player nationally by 247Sports, Thomas has narrowed his choices to Ohio State, Michigan, Auburn, Notre Dame, and Texas A&M.
The Buckeyes are considered the frontrunner for the 6-foot-1 defensive back out of Bergen Catholic (NJ), which also produced current OSU freshman and five-star wideout Quincy Porter. Thomas has visited Columbus twice this spring, and per On3’s prediction model, Ohio State holds a slight edge over the Aggies as decision day nears.
Should Thomas choose the Buckeyes, he would add to a growing secondary group already featuring Jakob Weatherspoon, Blaine Bradford, and Simeon Caldwell. Ohio State is also in heavy pursuit of five-star safety Bralan Womack, the No. 1 safety nationally, which could make for one of the most talented DB hauls in recent Buckeye history.
On the defensive front, the Buckeyes are still looking to gain traction. This past Friday, they made the final four for Carter Meadows, a highly ranked EDGE out of Washington, DC. A top-35 prospect nationally and No. 4 among edge rushers, Meadows trimmed a list of nearly 30 suitors down to Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, and South Carolina.
The need for top-tier defensive line talent has grown more pressing in Columbus. While Ohio State added edge players Zion Grady and Epi Sitanilei in the 2025 class, the program has lacked consistency landing top-10 defensive linemen since signing Eddrick Houston in 2024. Houston, notably, has since shifted inside to tackle.
Complicating the issue is ongoing speculation about defensive line coach Larry Johnson’s future. Whispers about his potential retirement and a recent decline in player development have made some recruits hesitate. For Ohio State to reestablish its D-line dominance, landing Meadows could be a turning point.
Beyond the top targets, Ohio State’s staff remained busy over Mother’s Day weekend, issuing a series of new offers to future stars. Notably, Jett Harrison, the younger brother of Buckeye legend Marvin Harrison Jr., received a 2028 offer. Early buzz around the younger Harrison is already building.
Other notable offers included 2027 four-star tight end Grant Haviland, 2026 defensive lineman Earnest Rankins (No. 12 DL nationally), and 2028 offensive tackle Koehn Dial. The Buckeyes also offered linebacker Tahj Gray, another 2028 prospect who’s drawn early national attention.
In more immediate news, recently committed four-star wideout Kayden Dixon-Wyatt (Mater Dei, CA) announced he is shutting down his recruitment. Like fellow Mater Dei receiver Chris Henry Jr., KDW appears locked in with wide receivers coach Brian Hartline, showing no interest in reopening his process.
As the summer stretch heats up, Ohio State has positioned itself well in several high-profile recruitments. With more key visits and decisions coming soon, the next two months could prove pivotal in determining whether the Buckeyes’ 2026 class finishes as one of the nation’s best—or falls short in key areas like the defensive line.