How one Ohio State 2026 cornerback prospect can help make the Buckeyes’ class full of Ohioans

TOLEDO, Ohio — For nearly the entirety of Friday night, Victor Singleton was on an island.

The 2026 Toledo Central Catholic cornerback is one of the top players in the state, and Brother Rice’s offense knew it.

Singleton wasn’t targeted until the second half, and though he allowed a go-ball to be caught against him, he made up for it with a big hit and an interception just a few plays later. It was a crash course on just how dangerous Singleton can be.

“Just work on my technique, even if the ball’s not coming my way for sure,” Singleton said postgame.

The talented cornerback is 6-foot-1 and has all the makings of an elite college defensive back. He’s got the requisite length, and most notably, the athleticism to play at a Big Ten level.

And, perhaps more notably, he’s got the confidence to play the position.

“As long as you do you, play your game, play with some swag,” Singleton recalled his coaches telling him. “And do you.”

As the No. 76 overall prospect and No. 7 cornerback, per the 247Sports composite rankings, Singleton is one of the better players in the state. He’s also one of a handful of players that could make up a class for cornerbacks for Ohio State secondary coach Tim Walton that doesn’t extend beyond state lines.

Ohio State views him as a press corner that can jam receivers off the line of scrimmage, using his length and athleticism.

“We’ve been texting lately about coming back down and stuff,” Singleton said of his relationship with Walton. “I’ll be at the Ohio State-Michigan game though.”

Singleton is being recruited by Walton and defensive assistant Gerren DuHart, who are up against just about every major program in the country. Singleton, who was just offered by Michigan and Texas A&M, has a host of visits lined up.

After a trip to Columbus for the season opener, he went to Michigan and Kentucky for visits. UCF, USC and Nebraska are on deck, as are return trips to Columbus and Ann Arbor.

If he does pledge to the Buckeyes, it could make for a loaded in-state class for Ohio State. The state’s top prospect, five-star cornerback Elbert Hill (Archbishop Hoban) and four-star cornerback Jakob Weatherspoon (Avon) are all in the top eight of the state’s rankings, and the top 200 of the composite rankings nationally.

The pressure to stay home isn’t lost on Singleton, even if he tries to block out the noise.

“Not really, but some of them do (say that),” Singleton said. “I don’t be feeling that, for real.”

He doesn’t have a timeline set just yet for when he wants to narrow down his list, or make a decision, but it’s clear that Ohio State will be a massive factor in his decision until the very end.