Even in a recruiting dead period, Ohio State keeps finding ways to make noise.
The Buckeyes are still waiting on a couple of major 2027 decisions, but the momentum isn’t stopping there. As June fades into July, the latest buzz points to Ohio State being in strong shape with top targets in both the 2027 and 2028 classes.
One of the biggest developments came on the wide receiver front. After Brian Hartline left for USF, there were obvious questions about how Ohio State would replace one of the sport’s best recruiters and developers at the position.
Ryan Day turned to Cortez Hankton, and early returns have been encouraging. Hankton has already helped land multiple commits, including five-star Jett Harrison and 2029’s Austin Miller, and now he’s in the mix for another elite target.
That target is Braylon Clark, a 2028 wideout from Charlotte, North Carolina. The 6-foot-3, 190-pound prospect is ranked No. 14 overall nationally and No. 4 at his position in the 247Sports Composite.
On Wednesday, Ohio State drew a wave of Crystal Ball and RPM picks in his direction, with Steve Wiltfong and Chad Simmons among those projecting the Buckeyes to win out. Alabama, Florida, Oregon, Tennessee and others are also involved, but the current momentum clearly favors Columbus.
If Ohio State does close on Clark, it would be the second five-star receiver to join the Buckeyes in the 2028 cycle.
The good news didn’t stop there. Ohio State also picked up more positive movement with 2027 defensive line target Karlos May.
The Alabama native, ranked No. 132 overall and No. 15 among defensive linemen in the 247Sports Composite, is set to announce his decision on July 18. The latest Crystal Ball activity has pointed toward the Buckeyes, and the feeling around this recruitment has been that Larry Johnson and Ohio State are in strong position.
May would be the fifth defensive lineman to choose Ohio State if he lands with the Buckeyes, a haul that would stand out as one of the best in program history. It would also give Ohio State what could be the best overall group in the trenches in the 2027 class.
There’s still more work to do before next week’s decision, but the trend lines are encouraging.
And there’s more to watch at quarterback, too. Ohio State’s 2028 board remains loaded, and Ryan Day and Billy Fessler may once again have their pick of the litter when it comes to the class leader. Christopher Vargas has been trending toward the Buckeyes this week, and New Jersey quarterback Lukas Prock is also keeping Ohio State high on his list.
With the playmakers already committed, the Buckeyes have a strong pitch in that race as well. That should make the coming months interesting, especially if Ohio State keeps stacking wins like this one.
In Other News...
Ohio State Just Sent A Huge Message After Brian Hartline's Exit
Brian Hartlines move to South Florida could have sent Ohio States receiver pipeline into a spin, but the early read is that the Buckeyes have kept the room steady. Even with one of the sports most recognizable wideouts moving on, Ohio State has already landed commitments from Chris Henry Jr., Jamier Brown and Jett Harrison, a strong sign that the programs pitch at the position still carries real weight with elite prospects.
Braylon Clark is the latest name to watch, with momentum building around another potential Buckeyes commitment. There is still some uncertainty in the class, and Ohio State is not done chasing every top target, but the bigger takeaway is hard to miss: Hartlines exit has not slowed the recruiting machine in the way plenty around the sport expected. [Read more 🡒]
Major Preseason Projection Gives Ohio State Fans Real Reason To Dream
A preseason projection from Athlon Sports is giving Ohio State fans plenty to daydream about, placing the Buckeyes atop the national picture before a snap has been played. The magazine sees a path through the bracket that would send Ohio State past Oklahoma in the Rose Bowl and Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl, which is the kind of setup that naturally gets attention in Columbus when expectations are already sky-high.
The optimism is easy to understand with so much of the offensive lineup back and confidence around what the Buckeyes can be this fall. Still, the familiar checklist remains in front of them: beat Michigan, win the Big Ten and finish the job on the national stage, after coming up short a year ago despite a 12-0 start. The questions on the other side of the ball and in the kicking game are real, which is why the projection feels more like a challenge than a coronation. [Read more 🡒]