Gene Ross
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Ohio’s No. 1 player in 2026 lists Ohio State among top schools
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
2026 cornerback Elbert Hill | via Elbert Hill (@Rockk114) on Twitter
The Buckeyes made the cut for the top-rated in-state prospect in the junior cycle.
Ohio State didn’t get to host any recruits this past weekend with a road game in East Lansing, but the Buckeyes still found themselves in the recruiting headlines involving one of the nation’s best players in the 2026 class — one from right within state lines.
Elbert Hill, the No. 1 cornerback in the country and the No. 18 player overall as well as the No. 1 player in Ohio in the 2026 class, per the 247Sports Composite, cut down his list of around 30 offers down to 10, and Ohio State made the cut alongside Alabama, Michigan, Oregon and others.
Hill, a native of Akron, has been no stranger to Ohio State, having visited campus multiple times over the past year and with plans to return for The Game in November. The 5-foot-10 defensive back was named First Team All-Ohio after his sophomore campaign, helping lead Archbishop Hoban to two-straight state title games. Elbert logged seven interceptions and 10 pass breakups in 2023, with two pick-sixes and nine total touchdowns with his efforts on the offensive end.
A big part of the Buckeyes’ recruiting pitch has involved assistant coaches Tim Walton and Matt Guerrieri, who have formed a strong bond with Hill since first extending the official offer back in June of last year.
“My relationship with them is great,” Hill told Eleven Warriors after a recruiting camp in June. “Every time I see them, it’s something new. [The relationship] just goes higher and higher every time I talk to those guys.
Hill has spoken very highly of Walton, who is his primary recruiter as the team’s cornerbacks coach.
“I can also see he knows what he’s doing, and he know how to pick guys in the league, and me, that’s where I’m trying to go,” Hill told Cleveland.com. “So me just knowing that, is just a great relationship. A great way to think about Ohio State.”
Even though the defensive back is an in-state prospect, the Buckeyes definitely have to treat Hill like a top national recruit and the five-star prospect that he is. That being said, Ohio State seems to have gotten themselves off to a great start, as it currently owns the lone Crystal Ball in its favor, courtesy of OSU insider Bill Kurelic back in March. Ohio State is also the heavy favorite on On3’s Recruit Prediction Machine, but obviously a lot can change between now and the December 2025 early signing period.
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Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
2026 cornerback Elbert Hill | via Elbert Hill (@Rockk114) on Twitter
The Buckeyes made the cut for the top-rated in-state prospect in the junior cycle.
Ohio State didn’t get to host any recruits this past weekend with a road game in East Lansing, but the Buckeyes still found themselves in the recruiting headlines involving one of the nation’s best players in the 2026 class — one from right within state lines.
Elbert Hill, the No. 1 cornerback in the country and the No. 18 player overall as well as the No. 1 player in Ohio in the 2026 class, per the 247Sports Composite, cut down his list of around 30 offers down to 10, and Ohio State made the cut alongside Alabama, Michigan, Oregon and others.
Hill, a native of Akron, has been no stranger to Ohio State, having visited campus multiple times over the past year and with plans to return for The Game in November. The 5-foot-10 defensive back was named First Team All-Ohio after his sophomore campaign, helping lead Archbishop Hoban to two-straight state title games. Elbert logged seven interceptions and 10 pass breakups in 2023, with two pick-sixes and nine total touchdowns with his efforts on the offensive end.
A big part of the Buckeyes’ recruiting pitch has involved assistant coaches Tim Walton and Matt Guerrieri, who have formed a strong bond with Hill since first extending the official offer back in June of last year.
“My relationship with them is great,” Hill told Eleven Warriors after a recruiting camp in June. “Every time I see them, it’s something new. [The relationship] just goes higher and higher every time I talk to those guys.
Hill has spoken very highly of Walton, who is his primary recruiter as the team’s cornerbacks coach.
“I can also see he knows what he’s doing, and he know how to pick guys in the league, and me, that’s where I’m trying to go,” Hill told Cleveland.com. “So me just knowing that, is just a great relationship. A great way to think about Ohio State.”
Even though the defensive back is an in-state prospect, the Buckeyes definitely have to treat Hill like a top national recruit and the five-star prospect that he is. That being said, Ohio State seems to have gotten themselves off to a great start, as it currently owns the lone Crystal Ball in its favor, courtesy of OSU insider Bill Kurelic back in March. Ohio State is also the heavy favorite on On3’s Recruit Prediction Machine, but obviously a lot can change between now and the December 2025 early signing period.
Quick Hits
- Ohio State sent out a new offer on Friday to 2028 running back Micah Rhodes. Just a high school freshman, Rhodes is already starting to put together an impressive offer sheet, which now includes the Buckeyes alongside Baylor, Oklahoma, Ole Miss and Penn State, among a few others. The Texas native is off to a strong start to his prep career, amassing 468 yards and four touchdowns over the first four games of his freshman season, and has clearly caught the eye of position coach Carlos Locklyn.
#AGTG After a great conversation with @Locklyn33 I am blessed and EXCITED to receive a offer from THE @OhioStateFB️ #OakEm #thec0de #BlackPanther #Fate #RAREFAMILY @bobbyrhodesjr @TheQBTech @SWR_RFT @footwork_king1 @jarrettbailey12 @Coach_BCarp @N_Murph @ryandaytime @11W… pic.twitter.com/umyvbAHteS
— Micah Rhodes (@themicahrhodes) September 27, 2024
- The Buckeyes picked up a new addition on the baseball diamond on Sunday, with 2026 catcher Jeffrey Claycomb announcing his commitment to Ohio State. A native of Plano, Texas, Claycomb is the second top-350 commit for new skipper Justin Haire, having also landed left-handed pitcher Landon Thiel just last week.
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