Ohio State’s 2028 defensive line board is starting to take shape, and the Buckeyes are in the mix for one of the class’s most coveted edge rushers.
George Parkinson IV, a 6-foot-4, 235-pound prospect from Pennsylvania, trimmed his list to six schools on Thursday: LSU, Oregon, Penn State, Tennessee, Texas A&M, and Ohio State. According to the 247Sports Composite, Parkinson is the No. 111 player nationally and the 14th-best edge rusher in the 2028 class.
That’s a heavyweight group of contenders, so Ohio State will have real work to do if it wants to separate itself. Even so, the Buckeyes have been building steady early traction with defensive line targets, and Parkinson’s inclusion on the list is another sign that Larry Johnson and the staff are staying in the thick of the race for elite front-seven talent.
The momentum around Ohio State’s 2028 recruiting efforts doesn’t stop there. In-state defensive tackle Thomas Minor is also drawing attention, and the latest Rivals RPM prediction from Allen Trieu points toward the Buckeyes. Minor, a 6-foot-3, 275-pound lineman from Big Walnut, is ranked No. 405 nationally and No. 38 at his position by the 247Sports Composite.
Minor’s offer sheet already includes Indiana, Michigan, Notre Dame, Tennessee, and others, but Ohio State has the obvious edge of proximity. Big Walnut has already produced Garrett Stover and now features top prospect Jamier Brown, giving the Buckeyes a chance to keep building a small but meaningful pipeline from the program. The Buckeyes already have one in-state defensive lineman committed in Jameer Whyce, and they would love to keep Minor close to home as well.
There’s also another name worth tracking in the 2028 class: Michigan native Camden Noe. The Portage Central standout is a two-way player with the size and athleticism that keep schools coming back for more. At 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds, Noe is ranked No. 116 nationally and No. 7 among 2028 prospects by the 247Sports Composite.
Noe already holds offers from Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Wisconsin, and several others, while Ohio State has not officially entered that group yet. That could change soon, though, as the Buckeyes continue sorting through their board. Interest from schools in the South is also picking up, making Noe another rising name to watch as Ohio State keeps pushing for defensive line help in 2028.
In Other News...
Ohio State Recruiting Momentum Is Building Around Another Elite Pair
Ohio States recruiting board keeps trending in the right direction, and the latest buzz centers on a pair of high-end targets who could help shape the Buckeyes future at opposite ends of the roster. Wide receiver Braylon Clark in the 2028 class is drawing real attention, while defensive lineman Karlos May has emerged as one of the more important names to watch in the 2027 cycle as Ohio State continues to push for elite talent up front.
The Buckeyes are also staying active with quarterback recruiting in the 2028 class, where interest continues to build beyond Christopher Vargas and other young passers are taking notice. For a program that has made its reputation on stacking blue-chip classes, the appeal is obvious, but the next few weeks will tell whether that momentum turns into another significant addition or simply keeps Ohio State in the thick of the race. [Read more 🡒]
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 🡒]