Ohio State added another name to its 2028 board this week, and the latest target comes with plenty of heavyweight company.
Dion Edwards, a 6-foot, 160-pound athlete from Tyner Academy in Chattanooga, Tennessee, announced Wednesday evening that the Buckeyes had extended an offer. Ohio State now joins 30 other programs in his recruitment, a list that already includes Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Miami, Oregon, Tennessee, and several more. For now, the in-state Volunteers appear to be the team to beat.
Edwards is expected to line up as a defensive back at the next level. Per the 247Sports Composite, he ranks as the No. 81 player nationally and the fourth-best athlete in the 2028 class.
The next step for Ohio State is simple: get him on campus and show him what the program has to offer. With several premium home games still ahead, that visit feels likely.
If he does make the trip, the interest already looks mutual.
Ohio State is also pressing hard for an in-state running back in the 2027 class, and that chase has narrowed.
Jordan Hall of Cincinnati Princeton announced Thursday that he is down to three schools: Ohio State, Missouri, and Penn State. The 5-foot-11, 205-pound back has boosted his profile with a strong senior season, and the Buckeyes have kept him high on the priority list as they work to land a 2027 tailback from inside Ohio.
Hall, who was once committed to Miami Ohio, has drawn more attention as his stock has climbed. Carlos Locklyn and the Ohio State staff have stayed involved, and the Buckeyes’ pitch now comes with a chance to keep him close to home. Hall is ranked No. 847 nationally and as the 60th-best running back in the 247Sports Composite.
His decision is coming soon, with Oct. 23 set as the date.
Ohio State’s recruiting calendar keeps moving, and another visitor is already lined up for next week’s home game against Maryland. Jamarcus Johnson, a 6-foot-5, 308-pound defensive tackle from Toombs County in Lyons, Georgia, is scheduled to be in town.
Johnson sits at No. 29 nationally and is ranked as the fifth-best defensive tackle in the 2028 class by the 247Sports Composite. He already has nearly 20 offers, including Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, and others, and Ohio State has joined that race as well. The Buckeyes are looking forward to his unofficial visit in just over a week.
In Other News...
Julian Sayin Sends Ohio State Offense A Clear Warning Before Iowa
Julian Sayin left the Illinois game sounding more like a quarterback settling into the bigger picture than one looking for a quick victory lap. He pointed to the offense's steady progress, the value of keeping drives alive with his legs, and the growing comfort level around him as young receivers continue to take on larger roles. Jeremiah Smith has been a central part of that mix, and Sayin also credited the veteran offensive linemen for helping stabilize things up front as the Buckeyes keep building.
The next test comes with another road trip, and Sayin made it clear those spots demand sharper execution and a little more maturity from everyone involved. Iowa is the kind of place where the margin for error can shrink fast, and Ohio State's quarterback knows the offense cannot treat this as a finished product. The message from Sayin was simple enough: the Buckeyes have come a long way, but the real work is still ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Still Has One Passing Game Issue Jeremiah Smith Cant Solve
Jeremiah Smith has been everything Ohio State could have hoped for in the passing game, and then some. The offensive coordinator, Arthur Smith, pointed to the wideouts exceptional production, with Jeremiah Smith leading the nation in receiving yards and touchdowns, while the Buckeyes continue to lean on him as the centerpiece of the aerial attack.
Still, the passing game has one lingering question beyond its star. Ohio State is trying to establish a reliable second option, with Devin McCuin currently sitting as the teams second-leading receiver, and coaches and players have kept stressing that the offense will need more than one target to keep evolving. The message from inside the program is clear enough: the Buckeyes are pleased with the production they have, but they also know the next layer of consistency has to come from somewhere else. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Has One Huge Chance To Make A National Statement
Ohio State heads into a rare early measuring-stick game with a chance to leave no doubt about where it stands nationally. The Buckeyes have looked sharp enough to build real momentum, and the next step comes in a difficult road setting where every possession matters and every explosive play carries extra weight.
Jeremiah Smith remains one of the biggest reasons this game has taken on added intrigue, even beyond the team stakes around him. With the matchup set against unbeaten Iowa and its stingy defense at Kinnick Stadium, Ohio State will also be watching how Julian Sayin handles the moment and whether the defense can create the kind of turnovers that turn a good win into something louder. [Read more 🡒]