Ohio
Taking Stock of Ohio State's 2026 Recruiting Class Two Weeks Ahead of Official Visit Season
We’re officially less than two weeks away from official visit season.
With 13 commits, Ohio State sits at No. 3 in 247Sports’ national recruiting rankings, but the Buckeyes still hope to add at many positions before National Signing Day in December.
Dozens of recruits will soon flock to Columbus for their official visits, but before that happens, we take a look at where Ohio State has made additions so far in 2026 and what areas the Buckeyes can still add to.
Quarterback
Commits: None
Potential targets: This summer should be interesting
Breakdown: It’s uncertain if even Ohio State knows what signal caller it wants to pursue yet for the 2026 class. But we’d bet that plenty of quarterbacks in the 2026 class will be at OSU’s recruiting camps this June, where Ryan Day and Billy Fessler will have ample opportunity to watch potential gunslingers in action. One name I’d keep an eye on if he ends up camping is Michigan State commit Kayd Coffman, who was the MVP of the Under Armour Next camp in Ohio this spring and has had brief dialogue with OSU.
Running back
Commits: None
Potential targets: Favour Akih, Savion Hiter, Jae Lamar, Derrek Cooper, Carsyn Baker
Breakdown: Of all the running back targets listed above, Akih might be the most likely to end up a Buckeye. The in-state product made four visits to Columbus in the spring and will be at OSU for an official visit with a June decision likely approaching. Beyond that, Hiter, Baker and Cooper have officials scheduled with the Buckeyes, so the second running back might come from that trio if indeed Akih ends up at OSU.
Wide receiver
Commits: Chris Henry Jr., Jaeden Ricketts, Brock Boyd, Kayden Dixon-Wyatt
Potential targets: Jalen Lott
Breakdown: With four wide receivers committed to Ohio State already, Brian Hartline can call this class a wrap if he so chooses. Still, if a top-tier talent like Lott or someone similar wanted in to the Buckeyes’ 2026 class, you’d have to think they’d find some room.
Tight end
Commits: Corbyn Fordham
Potential targets: Mack Sutter, Mark Bowman
Breakdown: Keenan Bailey already has a highly touted tight end committed for 2026 with Fordham in the fold. But the Buckeyes will take another tight end if it’s a player the caliber of Sutter or Bowman, both of whom could be game-changers at the collegiate level. Sutter has an official visit scheduled with OSU and Bowman recently put the Buckeyes in his top seven schools, so we’ll see what developments occur over the next few weeks.
Offensive line
Commits: Maxwell Riley, Sam Greer, Tucker Smith
Potential targets: Micah Champ Smith, Felix Ojo, Aaron Thomas, Darius Gray, Drew Evers, Chancellor Campbell, J.B. Shabazz, Samuel Roseborough, Da’Ron Parks, Ekene Ogboko
Breakdown: Tyler Bowen got off on the right foot with Ohio State fans by landing two key Ohio offensive linemen and adding a third intriguing developmental piece. Now, he’ll try to pull off what OSU has struggled to accomplish in past recruiting cycles: Land a big out-of-state fish. Smith, Ojo, Gray, Evers and Roseborough would all apply to that category, and each could take an official visit to Columbus this summer. Landing Ojo would be a major win for the Buckeyes, but they’ll have staunch competition from Texas for the No. 2 offensive tackle in the country.
Defensive line
Commits: None
Potential targets: Jake Kreul, Luke Wafle, Landon Barnes, Aiden Harris, Andrew Harris, Deuce Geralds, Carter Luckie, Preston Carey, Kevin Ford Jr., Jamir Perez, Keysaun Eleazer, Carter Meadows, Lamar Brown, PJ Dean, Tyson Bacon, Jackson Ford, Damari Simeon
Breakdown: Defensive line is arguably one of the biggest needs for Ohio State this class, but the good news is Larry Johnson should have no shortage of options to choose from. Wafle, Geralds, Perez and Dean all seem to have some momentum with OSU at the moment, and the Buckeyes are still firmly in the running for others mentioned above. Like Bowen, Johnson should be busy this summer as he’ll have quite a bit of official visitors on campus. Of note, OSu offered Lamar Brown on Friday, the No. 1 defensive tackle in the 2026 class. He has a commitment date set for July 4, so things would have to move pretty quickly there, but the Buckeyes are still trying to go big game hunting at this position.
Linebacker
Commits: CJ Sanna
Potential targets: Cincere Johnson, Tyler Atkinson, Xavier Griffin
Breakdown: Between Atkinson and Griffin, James Laurinaitis is taking a swing at landing the No. 1 and No. 2 linebackers in the 2026 class this summer. Atkinson has been on the Buckeyes’ radar since he was an eighth grader, while Griffin just came back on the market following his decommitment from USC. Of course, Johnson is a huge priority to keep in state as well and is one of the best linebackers in the class.
Cornerback
Commits: Jakob Weatherspoon, Jordan Thomas
Potential targets: Justice Fitzpatrick, Nascar McCoy, Danny Odem
Breakdown: Tim Walton added another premier cornerback to his 2026 class with the commitment of Thomas, but the Buckeyes could still add one more player here. Fitzpatrick seems to be the preferred corner of choice. McCoy could play either safety or corner at OSU. Odem was just offered by Walton this week, so we’ll see where the relationship goes from here.
Safety
Commits: Blaine Bradford, Simeon Caldwell
Potential Targets: Bralan Womack, Donovan Webb
Breakdown: By far and away the biggest remaining priority at safety is landing Womack, the top-rated safety in the 2026 class. If OSU can land Bradford, Caldwell and Womack, Walton and Matt Guerrieri should take a bow. There’s still some crucial visits coming up in his recruitment, but the Buckeyes appear to be in the driver’s seat for him at the moment. If they can’t land Womack, someone like Webb makes a lot of sense as a third piece for the class.
The U.S. Bicentennial in 1976 was a monumental, year-long celebration marking the 200th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Coming in the aftermath of the turbulent 1960s, the political disillusionment of the Watergate scandal and President Richard Nixon’s resignation in 1974, and the capture of Saigon by the North Vietnamese and the end of the Vietnam War in 1975, the Bicentennial served as a crucial moment of national healing.
The festivities culminated on the Fourth of July 1976, with spectacular events staged across the country. The most enduring legacy of the celebration in Columbus is Bicentennial Park, located in the Downtown riverfront area along the Scioto River.
Dedicated on July 4, 1976, this 4.7-acre green space was built to permanently commemorate the nation’s 200th birthday. The park’s initial centerpiece was a massive fountain system featuring four circular pools that could shoot water 60 feet into the air.
From May 22 to June 2, 1975, Columbus served as the 11th official stop for the American Freedom Train. This massive, steam-powered rolling museum carried more than 500 priceless historical artifacts – including copies of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution – across all 48 contiguous states.
The train was displayed at the Defense Construction Supply Center [DCSC] in Whitehall and drew massive crowds of local families. Columbus held a special distinction during the tour: it was one of only three cities nationwide where the “Splendid Spirit” car was included with the train.
Warren Motts, the founding director of Motts Military Museum in Groveport, traveled with the train for its entire 25,000-mile journey, capturing the official photos that documented this historic event.
Beyond these massive metropolitan events, the true spirit of the Bicentennial thrived at the grassroots level. The American Revolution Bicentennial Administration (ARBA) encouraged local communities to form their own committees, leading to thousands of unique municipal projects.
Towns across the nation hosted local parades, commissioned historical murals, dedicated new parks, and sealed time capsules intended for the tricentennial in 2076.
It also triggered a resurgence of interest in local history and genealogy, as everyday citizens sought to trace their own roots back to the nation’s founding eras.
The civic energy and patriotism generated by the 1976 celebrations also helped pave the way for other major local traditions. Just a few years later, in 1981, Columbus launched its annual Red, White & Boom! celebration, which grew into the largest Independence Day fireworks display in the Midwest—a tradition deeply rooted in the community pride revived during the Bicentennial era.
Get involved in America 250 at your library this year! Visit columbulibrary.org for a full list of America 250 events.
Angela O’Neal is Local History & Genealogy Manager with the Columbus Metropolitan Library.
NORTHEAST OHIO (WOIO) – Thousands are without power Friday after severe weather sweeps across Northeast Ohio counties, creating weather-related damage.
FirstEnergy reports more than 71,000 in Northeast Ohio are without power Friday night.
More than 22,000 are without power in Cuyahoga County.
The utility company reports that more than 700 are without power in Erie County.
Lake County reports over 1,000 outages, and Portage has over 4,000 outages.
Trumbull County is experiencing over 1,000, and Ashtabula reports over 3,000.
Lorain County is experiencing more than 3,000 reported outages, and Geauga County has more than 7,000.
Medina County reported more than 1,000.
Chardon fire crews field wave of storm calls
The Chardon Fire Department shared the calls it responded to concerning storm damage Friday evening.
Fire crews said they responded to a tree in a house at 127 Burlington Oval.
The department said a tree fell on a gas line, causing a gas leak at 408 Charleston Avenue.
Wires were reported down on South Claridon Road, closing State Route 44 near South Street.
Wires were reported down on a house near Irma and South Hambden.
Fire crews said a tree was reported down on a home at 306 North Hambden.
The department also said alarms went off at UH Geauga Hospital.
Downed wires also closed Auburn and Twing roads.
The department said power was out on the south side of Chardon City.
Another tree was reported to have fallen into a house at 109 Burlington Oval, but no injuries were reported.
Fire crews said an incident involving a tree in a house and electric lines was reported at 11396 Aquilla Road, but no injuries were reported.
Fallen tree takes out power line in Independence
The city of Independence said a downed tree took out a live power line on lower Stone Road.
The city asked the public to avoid the area because of the danger posed by live wires.
The city said FirstEnergy had been notified and both police and firefighters were on scene.
Downed wires prompt closures across Hambden
The Hambden Fire Department said Friday night it was dealing with multiple storm-related incidents.
Crews said Claridon Troy Road was closed between Route 608 and Chardon Windsor Road because of downed poles and wires.
Kenny Drive was closed south of Leaders Mobile Home Park because of downed wires across the road, according to fire crews.
Multiple wires were reported down on Route 6 near Cutts and Grant Street along the north side of the road.
The department said the public should use caution in areas with downed wires and poles and should not attempt to move any of the wires.
Anyone with an electrical emergency or who encounters downed wires is asked to call 9-1-1.
Hambden Fire said people should not call 9-1-1 to report an outage.
The department said FirstEnergy is aware of these issues and is working to fix them.
Check FirstEnergy’s, AEP’s, and Cleveland Public Power’s websites for the latest outage numbers.
These outages come after severe thunderstorm warnings were issued for multiple Northeast Ohio counties this evening and were extended until 10:45 p.m.
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Check back with the 19 News First Alert Weather team for the latest weather forecast.
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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — Friday, July 3
Downtown Columbus: Billed as the Midwest’s largest fireworks show, Red, White & BOOM! takes place along the Scioto Mile. The fireworks show starts at 10:00 p.m. More information can be found on the event’s website.
Bexley: Festivities at Capital University begin at 6:00 p.m., with a fireworks display starting at 10:00 p.m.
Buckeye Lake: The Buckeye Lake Area Star Spangled Tradition (BLASST) fireworks display will take place at approximately 10:00 p.m. The primary viewing area is at Fairfield Beach, Lake Shore Drive NE, Thornville.
Canal Winchester: First Friday at Loose Rail Brewing will feature a fireworks show at approximately 9:00 p.m. The brewery will also show Red, White & BOOM! on big screens.
Gahanna: Activities start at 5:00 p.m. at the Gahanna Municipal Golf Course and the fireworks show is at 10:00 p.m.
Newark: Central Ohio Technical College and Ohio State Newark campus will host festivities with live music and food trucks at the Martha Grace Reese Amphitheatre, culminating with a fireworks display at dusk (approximately 10:00 p.m.).
Pickerington: The city’s fireworks show starts at 10:00 p.m.
Reynoldsburg: Festivities begin at 6:00 p.m. at Civic Park, with fireworks starting at 9:45 p.m.
Saturday, July 4
Chillicothe: Fireworks are scheduled to begin at approximately 9:45 PM from the Yoctangee Park Annex.
Circleville: AMVETS Post 2256 will host food trucks, live music, and a fireworks display after dark.
Clintonville: Whetstone Park of Roses hosts a live music event followed by fireworks at 9:45 p.m.
Delaware: Fireworks will launch from the city’s Cherry Street property at 10:00 p.m.
Dublin: Independence Day Celebration activities wrap up with fireworks at 9:50 p.m. at Dublin Coffman High School.
Grove City: Fireworks will launch from Murfin Fields at 9:45 p.m.
Hilliard: Freedom Fest takes place at Roger Reynolds Municipal Park with fireworks starting around 9:45 p.m.
Lancaster: A full day of celebrations culminates with fireworks at dusk at the Fairfield County Fairgrounds.
Marysville: Fireworks at approximately 9:00 p.m. at the Union County Fairgrounds.
New Albany: The July 4th Festival ends with fireworks at 10:00 p.m. at New Albany High School.
Upper Arlington: The annual Party in the Park begins at 5:00 p.m. at Northam Park, followed by fireworks at 10:00 p.m.
Westerville: Evening festivities and food trucks can be found at the Westerville Sports Complex until the fireworks show begins at 10:00 p.m.
Worthington: The city’s celebration concludes with fireworks launched from Thomas Worthington High School at 10:00 p.m.
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