Ohio State’s recruiting pitch is getting a major boost from what keeps happening on Sundays and in NFL contract rooms.
That “Developed Here” message has real weight right now, and the Buckeyes have plenty to point to. Former stars Denzel Ward and Chris Olave have landed deals that only sharpen the program’s reputation, and with Olave’s new totals added on Thursday, Ohio State has another fresh example to show the next wave of prospects. Ryan Day summed up the moment this week at Big Ten Media Days with a simple line: “It’s a great time to be a Buckeye”.
That kind of momentum matters as Ohio State keeps working the 2028 class, where familiar names and premium offensive line targets are already popping up.
One of the more intriguing early targets is Arizona receiver Legarrette Blount Jr., whose family name already carries plenty of recognition. The 6-foot-1, 175-pound prospect is ranked No. 611 nationally and No. 51 among receivers in the 247Sports Composite, and Ohio State is standing out for him.
Oregon is also near the top of his list, and with double-digit offers already in hand, he has no shortage of options. Still, the Buckeyes are right there, and with at least three receivers likely to sign in 2028, they’re in the kind of position they want to be in.
Cortez Hankton has done strong work leading the room’s recruiting efforts, and Blount Jr. is another name to keep an eye on.
The offensive line is trending in a similar direction. Tyler Bowen has been a major reason Ohio State keeps landing elite talent up front, and the Buckeyes are already sitting on five commits in the current cycle while turning attention toward the future. On Thursday, On3 analyst Allen Trieu projected two more big targets to Columbus: Kavon Blackmon and John Paul Carrico.
Blackmon, an in-state prospect from Springfield, Ohio, is a four-star tackle ranked No. 132 nationally and No. 16 at his position by the 247Sports Composite. At 6-foot-6 and 275 pounds, he already has more than 20 offers, and being just over an hour from Columbus gives Ohio State a real shot to stay close and keep pushing. Right now, that appears to be working.
Carrico brings a different kind of size to the board. The Kentucky native is listed at 6-foot-8, 295 pounds and ranks No. 189 nationally and No. 22 among tackles in the 247Sports Composite. He’s another four-star target with a strong offer list, and Ohio State would love to pair him with Blackmon as a set of bookend tackles in the 2028 class.
There’s still a long way to go, but the Buckeyes are in the right spot with both.
And then there’s the family angle again. Ohio State’s top-ranked player in the 2027 class is DJ Jacobs, and while Miami and Tennessee keep trying, he remains committed and saying the right things. The Buckeyes are also making a push for his younger brother, Dawson Jacobs, and they’ve emerged as one of his top schools.
Dawson Jacobs is a 6-foot-3, 240-pound defensive lineman ranked No. 176 nationally and No. 21 among linemen in the 247Sports Composite. He already has nearly 30 offers, and the programs moving hardest in his recruitment right now are Miami, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oregon, and Tennessee.
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Cincere Johnson Is Giving Ohio State Fans Another Reason To Dream
Cincere Johnson arrives in Columbus with the kind of profile that naturally gets Ohio State fans talking before he ever takes a real snap. A 5-star recruit and the No. 1 linebacker in the 2026 class, the Cleveland native picked the Buckeyes after drawing offers from plenty of top programs, and he has already spent the offseason adding 20 pounds of muscle as he gets ready for his debut season.
For a defense that always expects impact talent to show up early, Johnson is the latest reason for optimism. The Buckeyes do not need to be reminded what a difference a ready-made linebacker can make, but they are getting one anyway, and the only real question now is how quickly he turns all that recruiting buzz into production on the field. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Fans Have Every Reason To Mock Michigans Latest Tone
At Big Ten Football Media Days, Kyle Whittingham took a notably calmer view of the sports biggest pressure-cooker games, saying rivalry matchups can be intense and emotional without crossing into personal hatred. The Michigan coach specifically said he does not hate Ohio State coach Ryan Day, framing the rivalry as a fierce competition that does not need to spill over into personal animosity.
For Buckeyes fans, the tone is hard to miss, especially given how much of the Ohio State-Michigan buildup usually leans into edge and emotion. Whittinghams comments leave room for the broader rivalry to stay heated on the field, but they also invite a familiar reaction from Columbus, where any hint of restraint in this matchup tends to become its own kind of punch line. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State's Biggest Big Ten Threat Might Surprise Buckeye Fans
Ohio State enters the season with the kind of familiar expectations that come with being a conference heavyweight, even if the Buckeyes have not won the Big Ten since 2020. Around the league, they are still being sized up as the favorite to reclaim the crown, and there is plenty of optimism that the offense can do its part if the line settles in and the key pieces perform the way they are supposed to.
Still, the more intriguing problem on the schedule may not come from the usual suspects. Indiana has emerged as a legitimate contender after a national-title run and has quickly earned respect under Curt Cignetti, enough to make this matchup feel like more than just another checkpoint on Ohio States path. For a team trying to get back on top of the Big Ten, the challenge may arrive in a place Buckeye fans might not have circled first. [Read more 🡒]