The Ohio State Buckeyes are riding high on a wave of recruiting success, making significant strides in their 2027 class. After a slow start to the year, June has brought a flurry of commitments, breathing new life into the program's future prospects. Tim Walton kicked off the momentum with a strong push in the secondary, and now, the Buckeyes are seeing gains across other positions as well.
A notable highlight for Ohio State is Tyler Bowen's recruitment coup, marking his most significant acquisition since joining the Buckeyes. This momentum has resulted in three commitments for the month of June alone, and they've just added a fourth.
Cortez Hankton has successfully recruited Jordan Donahoo, a three-star wide receiver from Florida, who chose Ohio State over Cincinnati, Georgia Tech, and Minnesota. Donahoo is the second wide receiver to join this promising class.
Standing tall at 6'4" and weighing 185 pounds, Donahoo might be on the lean side, but that's nothing a little time with Coach Marotti can't fix. While he may not be the flashiest recruit in the class, his potential is undeniable, and he's set to grow into a formidable player for the Buckeyes.
Cortez Hankton isn't stopping with Donahoo; he's eyeing another big fish for the 2027 class. Monshun Sales, a five-star recruit and one of the nation's top receivers, is also in Hankton's sights.
The battle for Sales seems to be between Ohio State and the Hoosiers. Securing Sales would not only bolster the Buckeyes' lineup but also solidify Hankton's reputation as a top-tier recruiter, even in the absence of Brian Hartline.
With 17 commits now on board, Ohio State's recruiting class is currently ranked 10th nationally. However, with the potential addition of Sales and other five-star talents, they have a clear path to breaking into the top five by December. The key will be maintaining the commitments they've already secured, especially in this NIL era where financial incentives can sway decisions late in the game.
As for Donahoo, he seems firmly committed to the Buckeyes, drawn by the prestige of the program. While he may face stiff competition for playing time early on, his dedication and potential suggest that he’s in it for the long haul, ready to make his mark when the time comes.
In Other News...
Michigan Chaos Around Bryce Underwood Is Already Turning Heads In Columbus
Bryce Underwood is already drawing plenty of attention in Ann Arbor, and not all of it is the kind Michigan hoped for when it landed the highly touted quarterback. After a spring in which his performance prompted questions about how quickly he can settle in, the conversation around him has only gotten louder, with outsiders starting to wonder whether the Wolverines truly have their long-term answer under center.
For Ohio State, the intrigue is obvious because anything that chips away at Michigan's quarterback stability only adds another layer to The Game. The chatter has now reached the point where some are openly talking about the Buckeyes being the team that could end Underwood's run in Ann Arbor, which is the sort of late-fall subplot that tends to follow a quarterback until the pressure finally catches up. [Read more 🡒]
Jeff Okudah Had A Surprising Take On Jeremiah Smith's Rise
Jeff Okudahs perspective on Jeremiah Smith carries a little extra weight, given what he was at Ohio State and what he became after leaving. The former Buckeye cornerback and No. 3 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft recently weighed in on whether he could handle Smith in coverage, and the answer was not the sort of automatic shutdown claim fans might expect. Instead, it came off as a sign of respect for just how quickly Smith has turned into a receiver people around the program have to measure against.
Okudah also had encouraging thoughts about the current Ohio State secondary, which should matter to a team that is always trying to reload on defense without missing a beat. He pointed to Devin Sanchez and Jermaine Mathews as two young corners with the kind of upside that could make the back end of the defense a strength again this season, a reminder that the Buckeyes are still building around elite talent on both sides of the ball even as the conversation keeps circling back to Smith. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State's Recruiting Surge May Not Be Slowing Down Yet
Ohio States 2027 recruiting momentum picked up again over the weekend with commitments from two more prospects, giving the Buckeyes another burst of early class-building energy. Four-star offensive lineman Caden Moss, a highly regarded Missouri native, picked Ohio State after a stretch of visits and recruitment that included Ole Miss, while three-star wide receiver Jordan Donahoo of Florida added another pass-catching piece to a class that is starting to take shape on both lines and at the skill spots.
Donahoos pledge came after a late Ohio State offer and a strong push from new receivers coach Cortez Hankton, a sign the Buckeyes are still making noise even as the cycle remains young. The bigger question now is whether the weekends gains are just the start of a bigger run, with another major target lined up to make his decision soon and Ohio State positioned to stay in the mix at the front of the line. [Read more 🡒]