Ohio State’s 59-3 win over Kent State did more than get the Buckeyes back to 2-1. It also gave the staff another chance to work the recruiting board, and one of the biggest names on campus was 2027 three-star running back Jordan Hall of Princeton in Cincinnati.
Hall took an official visit to Columbus last week, and that trip could end up mattering a lot. He is one of the remaining priority targets for Ohio State in the 2027 cycle, especially after the Buckeyes missed on five-star running back David Gabriel Georges, who chose Tennessee over Ohio State. Once that happened, the staff moved quickly to identify a new target at the position, and Hall rose near the top of the list.
Ohio State has pushed hard for Hall even though he was committed to Miami (OH). The Buckeyes increased their contact with him and made sure he knew he was a priority. His recruitment picked up after that, with Maryland, Penn State, Cincinnati, Wake Forest and UCONN all entering the picture, and he eventually backed off his Miami commitment.
That made the Buckeyes’ official visit even more important. Hall had already been to Ohio State before, but getting him back to campus in that setting gave the program another chance to make its case. Before the game even started, Steve Wiltfong of On3 had already logged an official prediction in Ohio State’s favor.
Hall still does not have a commitment date, so there is time for the picture to change. But at this point, the momentum appears to be with Ohio State.
Hall is ranked as the No. 60 running back in the 247Sports Composite, the No. 848 prospect nationally and the No. 32 player in Ohio.
Ohio State also got a strong showing from another 2027 piece of the class. Five-star wide receiver commit Jamier Brown of Wayne in Huber Heights continues to stand out in his senior season, and last weekend offered another reminder of why so many people believe he has the chance to be the next great Ohio State wideout.
In Other News...
Ohio State Fans Will Notice A Big Schottenstein Change This Season
Ohio State fans heading back to the Schottenstein Center this season will find a noticeably different building. The university completed a $5.2 million renovation that brought in a new scoreboard, larger ribbon boards and an upgraded audio system, giving one of the Buckeyes busiest venues a cleaner, more modern game-day feel.
Mens hockey will get the first look at the new setup on Oct. 23, with basketball right behind it as the mens and womens teams host games in late October and early November. For a building that already serves as a hub for so much Ohio State action, the changes should be hard to miss once the season gets rolling. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State's Next Road Test Just Got A Lot More Real
Ohio State rolled past Kent State 59-3 to move to 2-1, and now the schedule is starting to bring a little more clarity to what comes next. The Big Ten announced that the Buckeyes will host Illinois before heading to Iowa on Oct. 3, a matchup now locked in for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff on CBS.
For a team still settling into the season, the timing matters because Iowa has long been one of the conferences more familiar measuring sticks for Ohio State. The series history includes its share of notable games and streaks, which is part of what gives this road trip extra weight even before the Buckeyes get there. [Read more 🡒]
Illinois Faces A Brutal Big Ten Test Right Away
Illinois is walking into conference play with a heavyweight on the other sideline, and Ohio State has already looked the part through three games. The Buckeyes have gotten steady quarterback play from Julian Sayin, a young passer who has settled in quickly, and they have paired that with one of the sports most dangerous targets in Jeremiah Smith, a receiver who keeps stretching what is possible in Columbus.
The challenge is not limited to the offense, either. Matt Patricias defense has been stingy despite replacing eight starters from last season, allowing only 30 points through three games and giving Ohio State the kind of balance that makes an opener feel like a measuring stick. For Illinois, the question is not whether the test is difficult. It is how much of a hit it takes from the start of Big Ten play. [Read more 🡒]