COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State football’s hectic week is now complete, as the Buckeyes have put together a top 10 recruiting class for the 2026 cycle.
And despite Saturday’s loss to Indiana in the Big Ten Championship Game, the Buckeyes still had some good news in the last few days.
Here are some thoughts (26 to be exact) about the 2026 class:
- Chris Henry Jr.’s drawn out recruitment was reasonable. I know, that could be a controversial take considering how everything played out, ending with a commitment on The Pat McAfee Show, but it’s important to note that two hours before he was supposed to sign, his offensive coordinator and future receivers coach decided to leave the program. The angst, while uncomfortable for Ohio State, was enough to be fair for Henry to take a step back for.
- As a whole, the receiver class is once again elite. And Henry is the type of player (at 6-foot-6) that can play right away for the Buckeyes’ offense, which is shockingly behind on receiver depth. At the very least, I’m expecting him to be a red zone weapon.
- Don’t look past wide receiver Jerquaden Guilford, either. He’s someone that can make an impact in 2027 and beyond.
- Ohio State general manager Mark Pantoni called Brock Boyd the most underrated receiver in the entire 2026 cycle. That certainly made me take note.
- The guy throwing them the ball, quarterback Luke Fahey, is another intriguing signee. He’s going to be a bit of a development project, but coaches rave about his football IQ. He won’t be a factor for a few years, sitting behind Julian Sayin in 2026 and likely Tavien St. Clair in 2027, but I’m keeping an eye on his development. He’s almost a comically accurate high school quarterback.
- Ohio State’s tight end Nick Lautar is fascinating. He doesn’t have the background of a basketball player like almost all other tight ends, but rather, he was a wrestler. The Buckeyes may have an elite blocker on their hands down the line. He doesn’t fit the mold of other tight end targets, and the Buckeyes have a unique player there.
- Offensive line coach Tyler Bowen may have had the biggest task of anyone on the coaching staff in this class, and he came through with flying colors. He’s also got three commitments in the 2027 class, and with the current five-man class coming through, I’m excited to see what he can do moving forward.
- Offensive tackle Sam Greer is going to be the Buckeyes’ left tackle one day. When? That’s too early to tell. But he’s a truly elite prospect. Be glad he played his high school football in Akron.
- In a class that needed Ohio State’s best effort, the Buckeyes adding five high schoolers (after just three in 2025) on the offensive line was a necessity — not a want. Consider that mission accomplished.
- Ohio State’s defensive line class, and front seven for that matter, is also a new look into what this defense wants to be. Overall, there are just body types that simply aren’t on the current roster. I’m expecting that to continue, whether or not Matt Patricia remains the defensive coordinator for another month, a year, five years or a decade.
- Khary Wilder at defensive end is someone that can play right away for Ohio State, and it may need him to. With so much uncertainty about the NFL Draft on the current roster, and a transfer portal still looming, Wilder could certainly be in the two-deep as a freshman. Long-term, he can be a dominant pass-rusher.
- Paring Quinn at edge rusher with Wilder is a solid duo, but the trio of Jamir Perez, Darryus McKinley and Damari Simeon is also intriguing. There’s versatility there, and Perez (at 6-foot-4 and about 340 pounds) is a true nose tackle. The Buckeyes haven’t that type of player in recent years.
- Braxton Rembert is another fascinating addition. He was somebody the Buckeyes flipped from Wake Forest late in the process, and the 6-foot-5, 200 pound linebacker gives Ohio State a remarkably unique talent. While unfair to compare anyone to expected first-round pick Arvell Reese, that’s the type of role that Rembert can play on defense — someone that can rush the passer and also drop into coverage. His basketball skills should play a part in that. It’ll be a development project, but one worth watching.
- Cincere Johnson at linebacker is going to be a stud. Ohio State’s connection to Glenville grows stronger once again. But let’s stop short of the Reese comparisons with him, too. I don’t think those are entirely accurate in terms of play-style.
- I love what Jay Timmons brings to the secondary. Jordan Thomas at cornerback is an elite addition as well, but Timmons has elite athleticism that can move him around to any part of the secondary. The flip from Florida State in November was a massive one for the Buckeyes.
- Elsewhere, there might not have been a better recruiting job by anyone on staff than Matt Guerrieri landing four-star Louisiana product Blaine Bradford. He’s a dynamic, play-anywhere type of safety and the fact that Guerrieri pulled him out of Baton Rouge was a truly great display of recruiting. Bradford should be a starter and a weapon for Ohio State.
- On the whole, the Buckeyes stressed versatility on the defensive side of the ball. At every level, there are players that can move up, down and around the lineup. That’s of major importance to this coaching staff and front office. Comparing this to previous year’s classes, I think it’s abundantly clear that this took a big step forward.
- Both Day and Pantoni mentioned, in various ways, the fact that this is now an economic game as well. One of the ways that played out was by waiting for senior film — Ohio State added a bevy of prospects in the fall, ensuring it had all the data points available on players. That’s one way in which the Buckeyes are going into this new recruiting world.
- On the other hand, I’m curious if that’s repeatable every year with abundant success. Day and Pantoni stressed the need to be right, but there’s also a need to be early as well. Pantoni specifically brought up Greer earning an early offer from the Buckeyes and how that mattered in his decision, but it can be a risky game trying to put together a recruiting class so late. We’ll have to see how it unfolds next year and beyond.
- Ohio State’s NIL is in a good spot. They’ll be competitive with recruitments, but Pantoni said that they won’t ever go after recruits solely looking for the highest dollar amount. Is that the correct strategy? Probably. Can that also mean the Buckeyes miss out on a few blue-chip players every once in a while? Of course.
- As Pantoni alluded to, it’s very hard — and expensive — to find talented players transferring at premium positions (quarterback, receiver, offensive tackle, defensive end and cornerback). The notion some fans have of, “We’ll just get him in the transfer portal in two years anyways,” is not a sound strategy long-term. Good players are paid by their current teams, too.
- For example, if Penn State’s standout freshman defensive end Chaz Coleman (an Ohioan) enters the transfer portal due to the changes in Happy Valley, the Buckeyes could absolutely be in the mix to bring him back to Ohio. But his price coming from the portal after a great first season is certainly not what it was a year ago. Taking bigger classes, like Ohio State did in 2026, can prevent situations like that.
- Player evaluations are going to be more important than ever. This is where Pantoni and the rest of the recruiting staff have to shine. Depth matters more than ever, which is why Ohio State’s 27-man class is so large. More kicks at the can=More chances to find playmakers. The days of simply stacking blue-chip talent at a given position are gone, because the money simply isn’t there for any program.
- I don’t think there’s much reason to fret about Ohio State getting out-recruited (per the team rankings from On3 and 247Sports) by USC, Notre Dame or anyone else in the top five. I think the Buckeyes identified their talents and what they were looking for and did a solid job. Relatively, this is about how Ohio State has recruited under Day.
- I think the 2026 class is a look into the future of what Ohio State recruiting is going to look like. Expect more flips and decisions coming late into the fall of various recruits’ senior seasons, expect the Buckeyes to focus on versatility and expect large class sizes. Ohio State has done a good job adjusting to the new world.
