Ohio State’s quarterback picture for 2027 got a lot cleaner on Thursday.
Brady Edmunds, the California native who has been committed to the Buckeyes since December of 2024, shut down his recruitment and reaffirmed his pledge to Ohio State. The move quiets the recent noise that had built up as the Buckeyes continued to evaluate other quarterbacks, which had left Edmunds with reason to think about keeping his options open.
Edmunds has long been tied to the program, and the relationship had been steady for more than a year before the last few months brought a little uncertainty. Ohio State’s pursuit of other passers wasn’t a reflection of a changed opinion on Edmunds so much as a push to make sure the room stayed stocked with top-end talent and depth. UCLA emerged as the school that most recently gave Ohio State pause, but Thursday’s decision puts the focus back on the original commitment.
At 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds, Edmunds is ranked No. 242 nationally and No. 20 among quarterbacks in the 2027 class by the 247Sports Composite. He also brings an offer list that matches his profile. Just as important for Ohio State, he has been one of the loudest voices in the class since committing, repeatedly pitching the Buckeyes to other top recruits on social media.
That role figures to continue as the class moves toward its final stretch. Edmunds has been a visible leader for the group, and for a quarterback to be helping drive the recruiting effort says plenty about where he stands with the program.
He can spin it with the best of them, and for now, the Buckeyes can breathe easier knowing the recruitment is closed.
Ohio State is also still drawing attention from another high-end pass catcher in the 2028 cycle.
Receivers coach Cortez Hankton has had a strong offseason in Columbus, making an immediate impact with the current roster while also building momentum on the recruiting trail. The Buckeyes already have top-ranked receivers committed in the 2028 and 2029 classes, and Hankton’s early work has helped keep the program in the mix for more.
One of the names watching closely is North Carolina receiver Braylon Clark. The 6-foot-3, 188-pound athlete is ranked No. 14 overall and No. 4 at receiver in the 2028 class by the 247Sports Composite. He is no stranger to Ohio State’s recruiting efforts, and he has been viewed as a potential Buckeye target for some time.
Clark’s interest matters because landing him would give Ohio State two players ranked in the top five at receiver in the 2028 cycle, which would put the program right back in the kind of position it has grown used to under Hartline over the last several years. Oregon and Tennessee are also pushing, so the Buckeyes still have work to do there.
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Woodson and Howard only deepen the regret. Woodsons all-around brilliance made him one of the rare defenders who could shape a season from every angle, while Howards Heisman run was built on the kind of moments Ohio State fans remember too well, from the punt return that broke a game open to the pose that followed. Put together, they are a reminder that some of the rivalrys most painful memories came from players Buckeye fans would have gladly claimed if the recruiting trail had gone a different way. [Read more 🡒]
