Ohio State’s 45-16 win over Maryland did more than move the Buckeyes to 5-1. It also gave the program one of its last chances for a while to put a big crowd, a loud stage and a loaded visitor list in front of some of the country’s top 2028 prospects.
With homecoming bringing Buckeye alumni and fans into a packed Ohio Stadium, Ohio State had the kind of setting recruits notice. And last weekend’s game mattered even more because the Buckeyes head to Indiana this week, then go into a bye. That made the Maryland matchup the final home game for multiple weeks where Ohio State could host recruits on game day visits.
One of the biggest names in the building was 2028 four-star running back Jayshawn Mitchell of San Antonio Brennan in San Antonio, Texas.
Running back is clearly a priority for Ohio State in the 2028 cycle. The Buckeyes missed on top 2027 target David Gabriel-Georges, who chose Tennessee over Ohio State, and they’re trying to avoid getting caught in that spot again.
They already have a commitment from four-star RB Elijah Newman-Hall, but they still want at least one more back in the class. Mitchell would fit nicely alongside him.
The competition, though, is fierce. Mitchell has already taken game day visits to Texas, SMU and Georgia this year, and he has more scheduled before the season ends.
He also carries nearly 40 scholarship offers, which gives him plenty of options. Still, his trip to Columbus appears to have landed well, and he said he could see himself playing for the Buckeyes in the future.
Ohio State will have to keep making him feel like a priority if it wants to pull him out of SEC Country.
Mitchell is ranked No. 8 among running backs in the 247Sports Composite, No. 113 overall and No. 12 in Texas.
Ohio State also hosted 2028 five-star edge Cassell Cruickshank of Fayetteville, North Carolina, from E. E. Smith, and he, too, seemed to come away impressed with the visit.
Edge talent is another major need in Ohio State’s 2028 class, along with interior defensive line help. The Buckeyes already hold a commitment from four-star edge Jameer Whyce, but they still have room to add more firepower up front. Cruickshank would be a major addition next to him.
Like Mitchell, he comes with a crowded recruitment. Cruickshank has more than 40 scholarship offers and has already taken unofficial visits to Tennessee, Oklahoma, Auburn, Georgia and South Carolina. He plans to keep working through more visits as the season winds down.
Ohio State likely needs another return trip from him to put itself in strong position, and a late-November visit for the Michigan game would be an ideal setup. So far, though, he has not hinted at one.
Cruickshank is the No. 2 edge in the 247Sports Composite, the No. 7 player nationally and the No. 1 recruit in North Carolina.
There was one change to the planned visitor list: 2028 five-star defensive lineman Kellan Hall of Christian Academy of Louisville in Louisville, Kentucky, was originally expected to be in Columbus, but he had to adjust his schedule at the last minute. Instead, he visited Kentucky last weekend. Ohio State should still get its turn, though, since Hall has reportedly rescheduled for Nov. 28, when the Buckeyes host Michigan.
In Other News...
Ohio State Just Got A Clear Warning About Indiana's Quarterback
Indianas quarterback has already drawn a detailed scouting report heading into the matchup with Ohio State, and the message is pretty clear: the Buckeyes cannot treat this as a routine Big Ten assignment. Josh Hoover is expected to be the focal point of Indianas offense, with the discussion around him centered less on raw numbers than on the way the Hoosiers can create stress with their play design. The expectation is that Indiana will lean on deep shots and misdirection to test Ohio States discipline and communication.
For the Buckeyes, the bigger concern may be how much of that plan can be disrupted before it gets rolling. The source pointed to defensive approaches other teams have used against Indiana as possible blueprints, which puts the emphasis on preparation and recognition for Ohio States front and secondary. Hoovers ability to move around adds another layer, but the real issue is whether Ohio State can identify the counters fast enough when Indiana starts pushing the ball vertically and changing the picture in front of it. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Finally Gets The Early Test Fans Have Been Waiting For
Indianas narrow win over Nebraska did more than keep the Hoosiers moving forward, it preserved some real weight around their upcoming trip to Columbus. For Ohio State, that means the early stretch finally brings the kind of opponent fans have been waiting to measure this team against, with a conference game that should reveal more than the usual September tune-up.
The Hoosiers are not the same group that rolled through last season, either. They have had to replace star quarterback Fernando Mendoza with Josh Hoover, and that change only adds another layer to a matchup already carrying plenty of interest. For Ohio State, it is the sort of test that can start answering whether the Buckeyes are exactly where they think they are, or still have some proving to do. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Faces A Right Side Decision Before Indiana
Ohio State got a little breathing room with the bye week, but the right side of its offensive line is still something worth watching before Indiana arrives. Starting right tackle Austin Siereveld sat out the Maryland game with an injury and remains questionable, leaving the Buckeyes in a spot where health and continuity matter almost as much as the matchup itself.
Phillips Daniels is back after nearly a month away and is the next man up if Siereveld is not ready. For a team trying to use the extra time wisely, the week off gives Ohio State a chance to sort through a spot that can quietly shape protection, run-game rhythm and how comfortable the offense feels coming out of the break. [Read more 🡒]