The Ohio State Buckeyes, despite their consistent top-tier recruiting efforts, have once again faced disappointment on the 2026 recruiting trail as another highly coveted elite target has opted to commit elsewhere, further highlighting the fierce competition and occasional frustrations inherent in modern college football recruiting. This latest development, occurring in early July 2025, comes hot on the heels of other recent misses for the Buckeyes and casts a shadow over what is otherwise a strong, but not yet dominant, 2026 class.
While recent “Buckeye Bomb” headlines celebrated Ohio State landing ESPN’s No. 1 overall recruit (the specific name of which is not yet confirmed in the provided search results but was part of the previous prompt’s hypothetical scenario), and the successful flip of in-state defensive tackle Jamir Perez from Florida, the reality of recruiting is that not every battle can be won. Even for a program of Ohio State’s stature, maintaining a perfect record with every top target is virtually impossible. This latest miss, alongside others in crucial positions, suggests that the Buckeyes are still facing significant challenges in securing all of their primary targets, especially those from outside their traditional stronghold.
Let’s dissect the current state of affairs for Ohio State’s 2026 recruiting class and the context of these recent misses.
As of early July 2025, Ohio State’s 2026 recruiting class is indeed formidable, holding a consensus top-5 national ranking across various recruiting services. On3.com, for instance, lists them at No. 5 nationally with 19 or 21 commitments, depending on the source, and a strong contingent of blue-chip prospects (71% blue-chip ratio according to On3). The class is headlined by significant offensive firepower, including five-star wide receiver Chris Henry Jr. (Santa Ana, CA) and four-star wide receivers Kayden Dixon-Wyatt (Inglewood, CA), Jaeden Ricketts (Pataskala, OH), and Brock Boyd (Southlake Carroll, TX). They’ve also recently secured a quarterback in four-star Luke Fahey (Mission Viejo, CA), a long-sought-after position for the class.
On the defensive side, under the guidance of Defensive Line Coach Larry Johnson and Linebackers Coach James Laurinaitis, the Buckeyes have added several promising talents. They’ve recently secured commitments from four defensive linemen in June and July alone, including four-star Khary Wilder (Gardena, CA), four-star Damari Simeon (Egg Harbor Township, NJ), and three-star Cameron Brickle (IMG Academy, FL), along with the aforementioned in-state flip of Jamir Perez. Linebacker commits include four-star Cincere Johnson (Cleveland, OH) and four-star CJ Sanna (Lewis Center, OH), while the secondary boasts four-star safeties Blaine Bradford (Baton Rouge, LA) and Simeon Caldwell (Jacksonville, FL), and four-star cornerback Jordan Thomas (Oradell, NJ).
This is a strong class, packed with talent and representing a national reach. However, the narrative of “missing out” on elite targets persists.
The disappointment stems from several high-profile prospects in critical positions who have opted to commit elsewhere, often to SEC programs or other rising powers:
- Felix Ojo (Five-Star Offensive Tackle): This is perhaps the most glaring recent miss. Ojo, rated as the No. 2 offensive tackle and No. 7 overall player in the 2026 class by 247Sports, was considered a legitimate target for Ohio State, with the Buckeyes in his final two alongside Texas. Instead, Ojo chose to stay in his home state, committing to Texas Tech on July 4, 2025. This decision, to a program not traditionally competing for top-10 national recruits, was a significant blow and an unexpected outcome for Ohio State, highlighting the increasing complexity of NIL and regional allegiances.
- Landon Barnes (Four-Star Edge Rusher): Ohio State aggressively pursued Barnes, a highly-rated defensive end from Duncanville, TX. Despite an official visit to Columbus, Barnes committed to Ole Miss on June 30, 2025. This was a direct head-to-head loss to an SEC program for a crucial defensive position.
- Carter Meadows (Four-Star Edge Rusher): Just days before Barnes’ decision, another top defensive end target, Carter Meadows, committed to Michigan. Losing a top-75 national recruit to their bitter rival in a position of need is always a tough pill to swallow for the Buckeyes.
- Luke Wafle (Defensive End): Wafle, another defensive end target, committed to USC on June 19, reportedly after the Trojans “upped their NIL offer.”
- Xavier Griffin (Five-Star Linebacker): While he took an official visit to Ohio State and there was some buzz, five-star linebacker Xavier Griffin from Georgia (ranked as the No. 1 or No. 2 LB nationally) ultimately committed to Alabama in early July. This was expected, but still a miss on an elite talent.
- Mack Sutter (Tight End): A top tight end target, Sutter from Illinois, remains heavily favored to commit to Alabama, another potential miss for the Buckeyes.
- Jared Curtis, Faizon Brandon, Dia Bell, Ryder Lyons (Elite Quarterbacks): Before landing Luke Fahey, Ohio State pursued several higher-rated quarterbacks in the 2026 class, including five-stars Jared Curtis (committed to Georgia), Faizon Brandon (Tennessee), Dia Bell (Texas), and Ryder Lyons (BYU). The Buckeyes ultimately “fell out of those recruitments,” illustrating the intense competition for elite signal-callers.
These misses, particularly at key positions like offensive tackle and defensive end, raise pertinent questions for the Ohio State coaching staff, especially head coach Ryan Day and defensive line coach Larry Johnson:
- Defensive End Recruiting: The most consistent area of concern appears to be defensive end. Ohio State has only one edge rusher committed in Khary Wilder and has missed out on multiple top targets. As noted by Eleven Warriors, Ohio State “still needs to add at least one more defensive end in the 2026 class.” This is a critical position for the Buckeyes’ defensive scheme and a historical strength, making the misses particularly notable.
- NIL Competition: While Ohio State’s NIL collective is robust, the competitive landscape is escalating. Felix Ojo’s decision to go to Texas Tech, allegedly due to “dynamics of recruiting in the NIL era,” and Luke Wafle’s commitment to USC after an “upped NIL offer,” suggest that the financial aspect is playing an increasingly dominant role, and Ohio State may not always be willing or able to match the most aggressive offers.
- Geographical Pull: Despite Ohio State’s national brand, pulling elite talent from the deep South (Texas, Georgia, Louisiana, Florida) remains incredibly challenging against entrenched SEC powers. While they land some, the sheer volume of five-star talent in those regions often ends up staying closer to home or within the SEC.
- Maintaining Momentum: While the overall class ranking is strong, losing out on a series of top targets can affect momentum. The “Buckeye Bomb” of landing the No. 1 overall player (if true) will certainly re-energize efforts, but consistently missing on other tier-one prospects means the class might not reach its absolute highest potential.
For Ohio State, the 2026 recruiting cycle is far from over. Ryan Day and his staff are proven recruiters, and the current class is already filled with significant talent. However, the trend of losing out on specific elite targets, particularly at critical positions, will continue to be a storyline to watch. In the cutthroat world of college football recruiting, every miss, especially a high-profile one, is scrutinized, and the pressure to land the very best remains constant for a program with national championship aspirations. The Buckeyes will need to rally and close strong to ensure this class truly fulfills its potential.
