Ohio State’s newest blue-chip receiver has already started cashing in.
Five-star 2028 recruit Jett Harrison, who committed to the Buckeyes a few weeks ago, has signed an NIL deal with New Balance, a competitor of Ohio State sponsor Nike. The announcement came with an ad showing Harrison catching footballs, and the entire Harrison family was featured as part of the campaign.
Harrison is the first blue-chip recruit in Ohio State’s 2028 class and comes in with plenty of star power. He’s rated the No. 4 overall recruit in the class and the No. 2 receiver. He is also the brother of Marvin Harrison Jr., which only adds to the attention surrounding his rise.
Ohio State does not publicly disclose the value of its NIL agreements, but the school allows athletes to sign with companies even if they compete with official sponsors. Harrison’s deal fits that model, and while the exact terms haven’t been revealed, it likely won’t be the last NIL opportunity he sees before he arrives in Columbus. He is still two years away from enrolling, and high school students in certain states are permitted to receive NIL deals.
The Buckeyes may also have help coming at quarterback. Ohio State is projected to land five-star 2028 quarterback Christopher Vargas this weekend, which would give Harrison a possible future partner in the passing game.
And if Ohio State’s receiver room already looks crowded, 2028 could make it even more loaded. Jeremiah Smith is the best player in the nation, Chris Henry Jr. arrives as a five-star freshman, and next year Henry Jr. is expected to pair with five-star Jamier Brown.
There are also rumors that Harrison could reclassify to next year, which would only add more firepower to the position group. Brock Boyd was also the talk of spring practice.
Even after Brian Hartline’s departure, Ohio State still looks positioned to stay strong at receiver. Cortez Hankton has already shown he can land top-end talent, though missing on Monshun Sales was a setback. If the Buckeyes finish this season by winning the national championship, that may be one of the few blue-chip misses Hankton takes.
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Ryan Day confirmed the suspension but offered no specifics, which leaves Beys status and any immediate path to playing time unsettled. For now, Ohio State can lean on options such as Bo Jackson and Isaiah West, but the situation is a reminder that even before the real competition starts, camp can bring its own off-field complications. [Read more 🡒]
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Brown is now back at Huber Heights Wayne High School after that brief stop at Big Walnut, and the school confirmed he is no longer enrolled while declining to say more. For Ohio State, the timing only adds to the questions around a commitment that has been under the microscope, especially with Brian Hartline no longer in place as a recruiter to help steady things. [Read more 🡒]
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Saturday now looms as the key date in this one, with Vargas set to make his decision and bring an end to the early speculation. For Ohio State, the appeal is obvious: landing a player with his profile this early would be a major statement in the class and a sign that the Buckeyes are winning the kind of head-to-head battles that matter on the recruiting trail. The final call is still ahead, but the sense around this recruitment is that the Buckeyes are in a strong position entering the announcement. [Read more 🡒]