Ohio State is barely into preseason camp, but the Buckeyes are already making noise on the recruiting trail.
With the opener against Ball State set for Sept. 5, the focus in Columbus is naturally on the team in front of it. Ohio State recently named its captains for the season and also announced that wide receiver Brandon Innis will wear the Block O jersey this year. Still, Ryan Day and his staff have not let the calendar slow down their recruiting push.
That effort has helped Ohio State build another strong class in the 2027 cycle, and the Buckeyes are getting an early jump in 2028 as well. The class already includes verbal commitments from wide receiver Jett Harrison, quarterback Christopher Vargas, four-star running back Elijah Newman-Hall and edge Jameer Whyce. All four are considered among the best at their positions, and there is a real chance each finishes as a five-star prospect.
Now Ohio State appears to be in front for one of the top in-state targets in the group: four-star offensive tackle Kavon Blackmon of Springfield, Ohio.
Blackmon picked up an official scholarship offer from Ohio State in June, and since then the Buckeyes have made a clear effort to make him feel like a priority. That kind of attention has started to show in the recruiting predictions.
Steve Wiltfong of On3.com recently named Ohio State the favorite in Blackmon’s recruitment and went ahead with a prediction for the Buckeyes. Allen Trieu had already made the same call in late July.
The timing would fit what Ohio State wants to do up front. Tyler Bowen helped land an impressive offensive line class in the 2027 cycle, with much of that success coming from in-state talent. Getting Blackmon would give the Buckeyes a similar start in 2028.
Ohio State is not alone in the mix, though. Blackmon holds at least two dozen offers, including from Cincinnati, Colorado, Florida State, Kentucky, Louisville, Michigan State, Nebraska, Purdue, Tennessee, UCLA and others.
Blackmon has not indicated whether he plans to commit soon or let the process stretch out. Game-day visits this fall should give a better read on where he stands. Even so, Ohio State’s emphasis on keeping the state’s best players home appears to be paying off early.
Blackmon is ranked as the No. 15 offensive tackle in the 247Sports Composite, the No. 130 overall recruit and the No. 5 player in Ohio.
Ohio State also took another early step into the 2029 class on Monday, offering linebacker Jayvion Maldon of Loudon Sports Academy in Leesburg, Virginia. Maldon’s recruitment is still very early, but he already has offers from Virginia Tech, Maryland, Michigan, NC State, Nebraska, North Carolina, Pitt and more.
In Other News...
Ohio State May Have Found Jeremiah Smiths Most Dangerous New Running Mate
Ohio States passing game already has a centerpiece in Jeremiah Smith, but the preseason chatter around the Buckeyes is starting to turn toward who can force defenses to pay for loading up on him. Eleven Warriors ranking of the programs top 20 players for 2026 points to Devin McCuin as the likeliest No. 2 receiver, and the fit is obvious enough to get attention. The UTSA transfer brings proven production, having piled up 152 catches, 1,696 yards and 16 touchdowns in three seasons, along with the speed and playmaking traits that can stretch a defense horizontally and vertically.
What has made McCuin stand out inside the program is not just the track record, but the way Ohio States coaches and teammates have talked about him since he arrived. Theyve praised his physicality, his football IQ and the kind of impact he can have on an offense that expects to keep the pressure on opposing secondaries. If McCuin does become the Buckeyes next dangerous running mate for Smith, it could give Ohio State the sort of receiver pairing that turns a good passing attack into a nightmare to defend. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio States Backfield Suddenly Looks Like A Real Strength Again
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For a team with big goals, that matters because the Buckeyes do not just need one runner to pop, they need a room that can carry real weight when the schedule tightens. The coaching staff and players have both pointed to the talent in the group as a key piece of what they are trying to build, and the challenge now is turning a promising camp into something that holds up once the games start. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Has A Quarterback Problem Behind Julian Sayin
Julian Sayin has settled in as Ohio States starter for the upcoming season, but the depth chart behind him is still taking shape. Ryan Day said freshman Luke Fahey and Tavien St. Clair are continuing to battle for the backup job, and the competition has not been decided yet as the Buckeyes work through camp.
Fahey and St. Clair are both expected to get early-season snaps, giving the staff a clearer read on which young quarterback is ready if the need arises. For Ohio State, the bigger question may not be who wins the job today, but who can be trusted to step in behind Sayin when the games start to matter. [Read more 🡒]