The first practice of training camp is in the books, and Ohio State’s 2026 season is officially rolling.
Thursday marked the start of another highly watched camp in Columbus, and Ryan Day didn’t waste time making his message clear: this roster has what it takes to compete at the highest level. For now, the focus is on stacking workdays and getting ready for a schedule that doesn’t leave much room to breathe. Ohio State is staring at one of the tougher slates in college football, so these early sessions figure to get sharper and more demanding by the day.
Even with the spotlight on football, the recruiting machine keeps humming. The staff may be shifting more attention to the field once camp opens, but Ohio State still found room to add another name to its fall visitor list for the regular-season finale against Michigan in Columbus.
That visitor is Georgia receiver Madoxx Davis, who announced his plans on social media. Davis checks in at 5-foot-10 and 190 pounds, and he’s ranked No. 23 nationally and fifth among receivers in the 2028 class by the 247Sports Composite. He already holds more than 40 offers from major programs across the country, so making the trip to Ohio State on his own dime says plenty about where the Buckeyes stand with him.
It also fits the way Ohio State is building at receiver. Cortez Hankton and the staff are in the middle of another strong push at the position, with Jett Harrison already committed and North Carolina standout Braylon Clark still very much in the mix.
Clark is being heavily pursued, and Ohio State is rumored to be the leader right now. Add Davis to that picture, and the 2028 receiver group could end up being a big one.
For now, Davis is another top target keeping Ohio State near the front of the line, and the Buckeyes will get a chance to host him late in November.
One more recruiting note worth watching: Ohio State 2027 commit Jamier Brown has moved back to his former school. The Huber Heights Wayne High School prospect had transferred to Big Walnut this past year, then returned to Wayne for his senior season.
Brown also won a track and field state title this spring for Big Walnut, which makes the move back to Wayne, just north of Dayton, a little unexpected given how recent the first switch was. The bigger question now is eligibility. Wayne’s administration is working to make sure he can play, and that situation is one to monitor closely.
Brown is practicing as though he’ll be available, and that’s the outcome he and Ohio State want as he continues preparing for the next level.
In Other News...
Ohio State Freshman RB Suddenly Has An Early Camp Problem
A few days into fall camp, Ohio State already has a small early wrinkle in its running back room. True freshman Legend Bey was sidelined for the opening day of practice after being suspended for a violation of team rules, leaving the Buckeyes to move forward with other backs while the newcomer watches from the side.
Ryan Day confirmed the suspension but offered no specifics, which leaves Beys status and any immediate path to playing time unsettled. For now, Ohio State can lean on options such as Bo Jackson and Isaiah West, but the situation is a reminder that even before the real competition starts, camp can bring its own off-field complications. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Faces New Jamier Brown Questions At A Tough Time
Jamier Browns path has taken another turn, and it comes at a moment when Ohio State would prefer some stability on the recruiting trail. The five-star receiver commit had recently been at Big Walnut, adding a layer of intrigue to a recruitment that already carried plenty of attention because of his talent and the Buckeyes need to keep elite pass-catchers coming.
Brown is now back at Huber Heights Wayne High School after that brief stop at Big Walnut, and the school confirmed he is no longer enrolled while declining to say more. For Ohio State, the timing only adds to the questions around a commitment that has been under the microscope, especially with Brian Hartline no longer in place as a recruiter to help steady things. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Closing In On A Huge Quarterback Recruiting Win
The quarterback recruiting trail is heating up for Ohio State, and Christopher Vargas has become the name to watch as the Buckeyes push to land one of the nations most coveted young passers. Regarded as the top quarterback prospect in the 2028 class, Vargas has already made the rounds to several programs, with Ohio State and Penn State emerging as the main schools in the mix. He has drawn attention for his production at St. John's Preparatory School, along with the kind of multi-sport background that often shows up in top quarterback evaluations.
Saturday now looms as the key date in this one, with Vargas set to make his decision and bring an end to the early speculation. For Ohio State, the appeal is obvious: landing a player with his profile this early would be a major statement in the class and a sign that the Buckeyes are winning the kind of head-to-head battles that matter on the recruiting trail. The final call is still ahead, but the sense around this recruitment is that the Buckeyes are in a strong position entering the announcement. [Read more 🡒]