June finished as a big recruiting swing for Ohio State, and the Buckeyes may not be done cashing in yet.
After opening the month slowly, Ohio State stacked up commitments across multiple classes and kept building momentum late. Tim Walton added a pair of corners in the 2027 class, Cortez Hankton pulled in one of the top receiver prospects in the 2029 class, and Larry Johnson landed the headline prize: five-star defensive lineman Marcus Fakatou.
That commitment gave Ohio State two five-star defensive line pledges, and Fakatou’s explanation for choosing the Buckeyes over Texas and Georgia says a lot about why more elite recruits could follow.
“Coach Larry Johnson, with his development that he's done over there with the Bosa brothers, Chase Young, Kayden McDonald, that all just spoke volumes to me. At the end of the day, God is important to me when I was looking for a school, and he (Johnson) is also big on his faith. Plus the development over there, I think that just played a big role when it came down to where I was picking.”
That kind of connection has been a recurring theme in Ohio State’s recruiting success under Ryan Day. Fakatou’s words point to more than just position coaching and NFL-style development; he also highlighted the personal side of the process.
“I think one thing I can say is not only are they going to get someone phenomenal on the field, but they're going to get someone phenomenal off the field. That's important, just because I think your character matters most, and then obviously your skills on the field. They're going to get someone who plays hard on the field and who gives to the community off of the field."
And there still appears to be room for more.
Ohio State has a real shot to land at least two more five-star prospects before Signing Day. Monshun Sales remains in play, with the Buckeyes and Hoosiers still in the mix.
David Gabriel Georges is another major target, and Ryan Day’s staff has spent the most time pursuing him. Georges is set to announce at the end of July, with Ohio State battling Tennessee, while Ole Miss is also on his list.
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Ohio State Just Pulled Off A Recruiting Win Fans Rarely See
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Brown has also become one of the more visible voices in the ongoing fight over NIL for Ohio high school athletes, helping push the issue into the spotlight through the OHSAAs emergency referendum process. Legislative resistance remains in the background, especially around compensation for middle and high school players, but early signs point toward support gaining ground. For a prospect with Browns visibility, the intersection of football, branding and policy is now part of the story around him, not just his production on the field. [Read more 🡒]