Latest news with #OhioState
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7 hours ago
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Historic College Football Program Now Trailing in Latest Rankings
Historic College Football Program Now Trailing in Latest Rankings originally appeared on Athlon Sports. There has been some movement in the latest college football recruiting rankings for the 2026 class. Advertisement The Ohio State Buckeyes sit in third place on the On3 2026 rankings. That's where the Buckeyes have been for most of this offseason, but the gap to the No. 1 spot widened a little this week. Ohio State trails the USC Trojans and LSU Tigers in the 2026 rankings. On Thursday, the Trojans landed four-star edge rusher Luke Wafle instead of the Buckeyes. The addition of Wafle gives USC 30 commits in the 2026 class. Ohio State has 16 while LSU has landed just 10. Ohio Stadium, home of the Buckeyes football team© Samantha Madar/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Two SEC programs -- the Texas A&M Aggies and Georgia Bulldogs -- are coming on strong too and are right on Ohio State's tail. Texas A&M and Georgia are ranked fourth and fifth, respectively, on On3's 2026 recruiting class rankings. Advertisement The Aggies' class was rated sixth just two days ago. In the past 48 hours, Texas A&M jumped Georgia and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Georgia also passed Notre Dame this week. The Buckeyes possess the No. 3 recruiting class for 2026 according to the 247Sports rankings as well. But USC and Texas A&M are the two teams ahead of the Buckeyes on that list. Georgia and Notre Dame round out the top five classes at No. 4 and 5, respectively. On the 247Sports rankings, LSU sits at No. 11. Of Ohio State's 16 commits, 12 of them are four-star prospects. Two of the others are five-star players while the other two are three-star prospects. Advertisement Related: Ohio State Dealt Bad News on Coveted Star on Thursday This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
10 hours ago
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Ohio State Dealt Bad News on Coveted Star on Thursday
Ohio State Dealt Bad News on Coveted Star on Thursday originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Ohio State Buckeyes experienced both a high and low on the recruiting trail Thursday. The Buckeyes received a commitment from four-star linebacker Cincere Johnson. But the program also failed to land four-star edge rusher Luke Wafle. Advertisement On3's Steve Wiltfong reported Thursday that Wafle committed to the USC Trojans instead of the Buckeyes. "The Trojans were tracking for Wafle's commitment coming out of last weekend's official visit to Los Angeles," Wiltfong wrote. "Ohio State upped its NIL package and began to trend Wednesday morning. USC then made a counter-offer to that and ultimately got the pledge locked in. "We're hearing Wafle's package is between 2.2 and 2.6 million dollars over two years." Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day© Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images The Trojans quickly rose up Wafle's school rankings after he visited USC during the spring. In addition to Ohio State, Wafle chose the Trojans over the Penn State Nittany Lions, Texas Longhorns and Florida Gators. Advertisement Wiltfong wrote that Wafle also showed interested in the Oklahoma Sooners and North Carolina Tar Heels. The 247Sports composite rankings have Wafle rated as the No. 1 New Jersey prospect and sixth-best edge rusher in the 2026 recruiting class. The same set of rankings also placed Wafle at No. 55 overall in the entire class. It's a disappointing miss for the Buckeyes. However, with the addition of Johnson on Thursday, Ohio State still has 16 commitments and the No. 3-ranked 2026 recruiting class, based on the 247Sports ratings. At edge rusher, the Buckeyes have landed a commitment from four-star prospect Khary Wilder, who is the No. 241 overall recruit in the class according to the 247Sports composite rankings. Advertisement Related: Ohio State Gets Good News on Highly Touted Star on Thursday This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 19, 2025, where it first appeared.
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10 hours ago
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Ohio State Lands Extremely Early Commitment From Playmaker
Ohio State Lands Extremely Early Commitment From Playmaker originally appeared on Athlon Sports. It's too early for recruiting websites to have ranked the top players in the 2028 class. But that didn't stop the Ohio State Buckeyes from landing a running back for that cycle. Advertisement Buckeye Huddle's Marc Givler reported Friday that 2028 running back Elijah Hall committed to Ohio State. "The 6-foot, 200-pound prospect was one of the stars of this week's round of one-day camps at Ohio State and Hall wasted little time in picking the Buckeyes coming out of his visit," wrote Givler. "Hall chose the Buckeyes over early offers from Florida State, Miami (FL), and others." According to 247Sports, Hall is just the second 2028 prospect to give a college football program a verbal commitment. Ohio State Buckeyes football head coach Ryan Day© Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images The first 2028 commit was Massachusetts quarterback Ramar Thomas. In January, the signal-caller committed to the Boston College Eagles. Advertisement Neither prospect has a star rating. 247Sports' ranking system currently only extends through 2027. On3's Mick Walker, who attended the Buckeyes' summer camp, called Hall the "most physically imposing running back" Ohio State hosted this past week. "He is an incredibly well built for a soon-to-be high school sophomore. He also looked good going through drills but still received plenty of feedback from the aforementioned Locklyn about what to work on. In short, the 6-foot, 200-pound Hall is someone Buckeye fans should familiarize themselves with in 2028," wrote Walker. Hall's commitment comes as the Buckeyes are still trying to land an elite running back in the 2026 class. Advertisement Ohio State landed a verbal commitment from running back Favour Akih in the 2026 class on June 8. Akih is a four-star prospect on the 247Sports composite rankings. Related: Touted Star to Make Decision Between Georgia and Historic College Football Rival This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 14, 2025, where it first appeared.
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10 hours ago
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Ohio State Gets Clear Message From Highly Touted Five-Star
Ohio State Gets Clear Message From Highly Touted Five-Star originally appeared on Athlon Sports. It's safe to say the Ohio State Buckeyes left an impression on one of the top prospects in the 2026 recruiting class. Advertisement Five-star offensive lineman Darius Gray told On3's Steve Wiltfong on Friday that he had a great visit to the Buckeyes this past week. 'The big takeaways was definitely everybody is on the same page when it comes to goals," Gray told Wiltfong on Friday. "That's winning and being the best they can possibly be!' After his first Ohio State visit this spring, the offensive lineman shared what he enjoyed most about Ohio State. 'The environment at practice was live! The chance to be around winners is what excited me most," said Gray this spring. 'Just how the people in the building interact with one another!' Ohio State Buckeyes football head coach Ryan Day© Samantha Madar/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images The Buckeyes are competing with their top rival, the Michigan Wolverines, for Gray's services. Advertisement The LSU Tigers, South Carolina Gamecocks, Tennessee Volunteers, Virginia Cavaliers and Virginia Tech Hokies are also pushing to land the five-star lineman. According to the 247Sports Composite rankings, Gray is the No. 2 offensive lineman and second-ranked Virginia prospect in the 2026 recruiting class. The lineman is also rated the No. 28 overall player on the same rankings. Standing at 6-foot-3 and 285 pounds, Gray will play his final high school season at St. Christopher's School in Richmond, Virginia. Based on the 247Sports ratings, the Buckeyes have the No. 2-rated recruiting class for 2026. Ohio State has received 15 verbal commitments, 13 of which are either four or five-star prospects. Advertisement The only program rated ahead of the Buckeyes in 2026 recruiting is the USC Trojans, who have landed 28 verbal commitments. Related: Ohio State Lands Extremely Early Commitment From Playmaker This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 15, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
10 hours ago
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Ohio State Gets Good News on Highly Touted Star on Thursday
Ohio State Gets Good News on Highly Touted Star on Thursday originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Ohio State Buckeyes have a new recruiting commitment. On3's Mick Walker reported Thursday that four-star linebacker Cincere Johnson has committed to the Buckeyes. Advertisement "BOOOOOOM," Walker tweeted. "In-state linebacker Cincere Johnson commits to Ohio State. "The 6-foot-3, 240-pound Johnson is the No. 70 overall pick prospect in the 2026 class, according to the On3 Industry Ranking." Johnson chose the Buckeyes over the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Alabama Crimson Tide. The linebacker also had offers from other elite programs. Johnson announced his recruitment decision following an official visit to Columbus, Ohio, last weekend. That was one of several trips Johnson took to see the Ohio State campus. Ohio State Buckeyes football head coach Ryan Day© Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images It's possible Johnson's family played a major role in the linebacker's choice. Advertisement 'They loved it,' Johnson told On3. 'So that plays a big role there. Their biggest thing was just being able to feel the brotherhood and the camaraderie. 'My family's biggest thing is their son is going to a place and wanting him to feel at home. And they felt that, that's what they told me this weekend. So just the living situation, the school aspect and the community, obviously.' The 247Sports composite rankings placed Johnson at No. 2 among all Ohio recruits in the 2026 class. Johnson was also the No. 8 edge rusher and a top 75 prospect (No. 71 overall), like he is on On3's overall rankings. With Johnson, the Buckeyes have 16 commits in the 2026 recruiting class. Their class is No. 3 overall according to 247Sports. Advertisement The USC Trojans and Texas A&M Aggies are the only schools ranked ahead of the Buckeyes. Related: Ohio State Gets Clear Message From Highly Touted Five-Star This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 19, 2025, where it first appeared.
