Ohio State’s recruiting run picked up real steam over the weekend, and the Buckeyes now have two more 2027 commitments in the fold with the possibility of another one landing Monday night.
The first domino fell Friday when Ohio State landed four-star offensive lineman Caden Moss, a major win in SEC territory. Moss is ranked by the 247Sports Composite as the No. 7 offensive tackle and No. 72 player in the country, while Rivals Industry slots him as the No. 5 interior lineman and No. 45 prospect overall. At 6-foot-5 and 320 pounds, he looks like an interior piece at the next level, even though he’s earned MaxPreps Sophomore All-American and MaxPreps Junior All-American honors at tackle in each of the last two seasons.
For a while, Ole Miss looked like the team to beat. Moss had been tied to the Rebels for a long stretch and made at least seven visits there in both official and unofficial settings, with his most recent official trip coming June 19.
Ohio State, though, stayed in the fight and got him to campus three times over the last two years, including an official visit June 12. That trip clearly mattered.
Tyler Bowen and the Buckeyes made their pitch, Moss became a real Ohio State target shortly after, and the On3 RPMs started trending toward Columbus in the days before his decision.
“There is no better place than Ohio State to get me where I want to go,” Moss told Rivals. “[Bowen]‘s straight to the point.
He told me for the dreams and aspirations I have, Ohio State is best for me. I want to be a first-round pick and the first offensive lineman off the board when my time comes, and he believes Ohio State is the place to make that happen.”
Moss gives Bowen his sixth offensive line commitment in the Buckeyes’ 2027 class. He joins fellow Ohioans Kellen Wymer, Mason Wilt and Davis Seaman, along with Jimmy Kalis of Pennsylvania and Brody McNeel of Virginia. Moss and Wymer are both top-100 players in the 247Sports Composite, and all six linemen are composite four-star prospects.
Ohio State also added to its receiver room on Saturday with the commitment of Florida wideout Jordan Donahoo, giving new wide receivers coach Cortez Hankton another early win. Donahoo is a three-star prospect and the No. 135 receiver in the 2027 class according to 247Sports, but the interest around him was obvious. He held more than 30 offers, with programs such as Cincinnati, Georgia Tech, Minnesota and Wisconsin in the mix, along with Hartline’s South Florida.
At 6-foot-4, Donahoo brings size to the position, and Ohio State got in late but made up ground quickly. Before the Buckeyes entered the picture with an offer on May 23, his top three was Cincinnati, Georgia Tech and Minnesota. He took his official visit to Columbus last weekend with fellow OSU target Blake Wong, who has since committed to BYU, and Hankton’s pursuit took off from there.
Donahoo’s junior season at Oviedo High School produced 34 catches, 627 yards and five touchdowns. He also competes in basketball and track and field for the Lions.
With Donahoo in the class, Ohio State is still aiming to land at least one more receiver alongside him and five-star Ohio native Jamier Brown. The Buckeyes are hoping that player ends up being five-star Monshun Sales or current Texas Tech commit Benny Easter.
And there’s more on the horizon. Sales is one of several top Ohio State targets set to announce in the coming weeks, but Monday night belongs to five-star defensive lineman Marcus Fakatou, the No. 24 player in the 247Sports Composite. Ohio State is viewed as the heavy favorite, though Texas has made a strong late push with NIL.
Ohio corner Monsanna Torbert is expected to decide later this week, with Ohio State and Michigan appearing to be the main contenders. Karlos May follows on July 18, and the Buckeyes are also believed to be the team to beat there.
The biggest name still out there is five-star running back David Gabriel Georges, who looks like Ohio State’s top remaining target. The Buckeyes and Tennessee are battling for him, and Carlos Locklyn and his staff apparently made a strong impression during Georges’ official visit at the end of May. Still, there’s a long way to go with more than three weeks left before decision day.
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Ohio State Awaits A Five-Star Decision That Could Shift Everything
Marcus Fakatous decision is almost here, and Ohio State is right in the middle of one of those recruitments that can linger over a program long after the announcement ends. The five-star defensive line prospect has become a major target for the Buckeyes, who have spent years leaning on Larry Johnsons track record of developing front-seven talent and turning the defensive line into a calling card on the trail.
His commitment is set to be streamed live on YouTube Monday afternoon, giving fans a front-row seat to a choice that could matter well beyond one signing day. Ohio State wants Fakatou to keep the pipeline strong up front, and the bigger question now is whether the Buckeyes can turn all that recruiting momentum into one more major win when the camera goes live. [Read more 🡒]
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Riley Pettijohn, Wisconsin transfer Alliegro and freshman Johnson are the names in the mix, but each comes with a different kind of uncertainty. Pettijohn has the athleticism to help off the ball, Alliegro brings size and experience, and Johnson looks like the cleanest physical fit, yet none of them is a simple replica of what Reese gave the Buckeyes. However this settles, Ohio State may have to piece together the role rather than hand it to one player and move on. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Faces New Pressure After Missing On Key Receiver Target
Ohio States wide receiver board took a hit this week when one of its top 2027 targets came off the table, a reminder that even the Buckeyes cant simply assume every blue-chip pass catcher will end up in Columbus. The staff has spent plenty of time building out that class, and the search for difference-makers at the position remains very much alive as recruiting battles keep tightening across the country.
The good news for Ohio State is that there is still plenty of high-end talent in play. The Buckeyes remain involved with five-star Monshun Sales and four-star Benny Easter Jr., both of whom are still navigating crowded recruitment sweeps, and they already have a commitment from three-star Jordan Donahoo in the 2027 class. Missing on one priority receiver only sharpens the focus on what comes next, especially for a program that expects to keep stacking options at a premium position. [Read more 🡒]