Ohio State has a new in-state running back on its radar, and Jordan Hall’s senior debut is the kind of performance that can change a recruiting board fast.
Hall, a 5-foot-11, 205-pound athlete from Cincinnati Princeton, opened his season by helping Princeton beat Cincinnati Moeller in one of the week one headliners on the Ohio high school football schedule. He piled up nearly 200 total yards and scored three touchdowns in the win, and the momentum carried straight into the recruiting world.
The Miami (Ohio) commit also picked up a new offer from Penn State after the game, which only added to the attention coming his way. For Ohio State, the timing matters. The Buckeyes still need to add a running back to their 2027 class after missing on their top target just a month ago, and Hall has quickly become a name worth tracking.
According to the 247Sports Composite, Hall is the No. 1181 player nationally and the 88th-best running back in the 2027 class. He remains committed to Miami for now, but his stock is clearly rising.
Ohio State has not offered yet, but the interest is real. Hall said Thursday that he will be in Columbus next weekend for a game day visit against Ball State, giving Carlos Locklyn and his staff a chance to see him up close. That trip could also put the Buckeyes in position to make their move.
With Ohio State still looking for answers at the position, Hall has emerged as one of the latest in-state names to watch. And when the Buckeyes come calling on an Ohio prospect, it usually gets attention.
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