Caleb Houser
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Ohio State makes short list for top-five DL, set to host pair of 2027 prospects
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Ohio State has another busy weekend ahead with more new names added to their guest list.
It’s an exciting time for Ohio State football. Fresh off a national championship, spring practice is buzzing with a ton of positives. The Buckeyes are clicking in every facet from this year’s group on the field and the recruiting trail, and that’s a testament to this coaching staff and all of the efforts they are putting in.
Another week of big time news, Ohio State has landed a five-star safety in Blaine Bradford, got news that five-star commit Chris Henry Jr. shut down his recruitment for good, and more top visitors have been on campus. Plenty of good vibes surrounding the program, Wednesday brought more of the same with names added to the guest list, which should continue to keep this staff plenty busy.
Hardly keeping up with all of the recruits that have made the trek to Columbus so far this spring, the Buckeyes continue to play host for top players from all over the country. Another name added on Wednesday, Texas native Eli Johnson shared he will make an unofficial visit this coming weekend at Ohio State.
A 6-foot-3, 200 pound safety, Johnson is currently unranked via his 247Sports profile for the 2027 class, but does have double digit offers to his name. Programs such as Baylor, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Pitt, Purdue, and TCU are a few worth mentioning, but taking visits like this to Ohio State helps get his name out there at an increased level.
What Ohio State is doing at the safety position right now is impressive to say the least and high profile recruits are taking notice as we’ve already seen this week alone. Though the 2026 class is the priority, this coaching staff is always open to the upcoming cycles and position coach Matt Guerrieri will use this to his advantage.
Sticking right in the 2027 cycle, Ohio State will also host defensive line prospect, Brayden Parks on Saturday when he makes an unofficial visit. The 6-foot-2, 265 pound Illinois native is another player that is not yet ranked via 247Sports, but having early offers from the likes of Illinois, Iowa, Kansas State, Michigan State, Notre Dame, and USC shows he’s well on his way to changing that narrative.
Seeing his recruitment really take off since the start of the 2025 calendar, nearly ten of his offers have come in the last three months alone. Always a position of need regardless of school, defensive line will continue to be a priority for every school and Parks is taking visits to ensure he has the pick of choice when it comes to where he plays at the next level.
Ohio State and Larry Johnson have always kept a close look at defensive line targets in Illinois being so close geographically and it wouldn’t be a shock at all to see the Buckeyes start to have more interest here. One way or another, this visit should help spark an increased interest.
More times than not, when a highly touted recruit is making a top schools list the Buckeyes tend to end up in the mix. No difference here, on Wednesday four-star defensive line target Deuce Geralds released his top 10 schools he’s still deciding from, and Ohio State was present once more for an elite defender.
The No. 63 player nationally and sixth best defensive lineman in the 2026 class per the 247Sports Composite grades, narrowing it down to ten isn’t a super short list, but considering he has well over 50 offers to his name, it does show the desire to really start getting down to business for his end game.
Joining Ohio State in the top 10 included Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, and Oregon.
What makes this update interesting though is knowing Geralds just wrapped up his latest visit with Ohio State on Tuesday of this week and came away glowing from his time spent in Columbus with the Buckeyes. Odds are Ohio State stays in the mix for the long haul for another one of the top players in the country regardless of position.
A player that had a Buckeye offer, Miller is the No. 329 player nationally and 25th best linebacker per the 247Sports Composite. Somewhat of a surprise timing wise, Miller of course had interest from Ohio State’s staff, and that’s likely to continue if he in fact keeps his official visit plans to see the Buckeyes in June.
For now however, Miller is off the table with a verbal to the Aggies, but if Ohio State wants back in the game they’ll have no issue of keeping communication lines open.
Continue reading...
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Ohio State has another busy weekend ahead with more new names added to their guest list.
It’s an exciting time for Ohio State football. Fresh off a national championship, spring practice is buzzing with a ton of positives. The Buckeyes are clicking in every facet from this year’s group on the field and the recruiting trail, and that’s a testament to this coaching staff and all of the efforts they are putting in.
Another week of big time news, Ohio State has landed a five-star safety in Blaine Bradford, got news that five-star commit Chris Henry Jr. shut down his recruitment for good, and more top visitors have been on campus. Plenty of good vibes surrounding the program, Wednesday brought more of the same with names added to the guest list, which should continue to keep this staff plenty busy.
More visitors set to make the trek to Columbus
Hardly keeping up with all of the recruits that have made the trek to Columbus so far this spring, the Buckeyes continue to play host for top players from all over the country. Another name added on Wednesday, Texas native Eli Johnson shared he will make an unofficial visit this coming weekend at Ohio State.
A 6-foot-3, 200 pound safety, Johnson is currently unranked via his 247Sports profile for the 2027 class, but does have double digit offers to his name. Programs such as Baylor, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Pitt, Purdue, and TCU are a few worth mentioning, but taking visits like this to Ohio State helps get his name out there at an increased level.
What Ohio State is doing at the safety position right now is impressive to say the least and high profile recruits are taking notice as we’ve already seen this week alone. Though the 2026 class is the priority, this coaching staff is always open to the upcoming cycles and position coach Matt Guerrieri will use this to his advantage.
Sticking right in the 2027 cycle, Ohio State will also host defensive line prospect, Brayden Parks on Saturday when he makes an unofficial visit. The 6-foot-2, 265 pound Illinois native is another player that is not yet ranked via 247Sports, but having early offers from the likes of Illinois, Iowa, Kansas State, Michigan State, Notre Dame, and USC shows he’s well on his way to changing that narrative.
Seeing his recruitment really take off since the start of the 2025 calendar, nearly ten of his offers have come in the last three months alone. Always a position of need regardless of school, defensive line will continue to be a priority for every school and Parks is taking visits to ensure he has the pick of choice when it comes to where he plays at the next level.
Ohio State and Larry Johnson have always kept a close look at defensive line targets in Illinois being so close geographically and it wouldn’t be a shock at all to see the Buckeyes start to have more interest here. One way or another, this visit should help spark an increased interest.
I will be at @OhioStateFB on Saturday. @R2X_Rushmen1 @CoachDubb_Drick @ryandaytime @EDGYTIM @GregSmithRivals @adamgorney @AllenTrieu @TomLoy247 @ChadSimmons_ @SWiltfong_ pic.twitter.com/UnukTiSbPX
— Brayden Parks 4️DT (@BraydenParks27) April 2, 2025
Ohio State makes the cut for four-star defensive line target
More times than not, when a highly touted recruit is making a top schools list the Buckeyes tend to end up in the mix. No difference here, on Wednesday four-star defensive line target Deuce Geralds released his top 10 schools he’s still deciding from, and Ohio State was present once more for an elite defender.
The No. 63 player nationally and sixth best defensive lineman in the 2026 class per the 247Sports Composite grades, narrowing it down to ten isn’t a super short list, but considering he has well over 50 offers to his name, it does show the desire to really start getting down to business for his end game.
Joining Ohio State in the top 10 included Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, and Oregon.
What makes this update interesting though is knowing Geralds just wrapped up his latest visit with Ohio State on Tuesday of this week and came away glowing from his time spent in Columbus with the Buckeyes. Odds are Ohio State stays in the mix for the long haul for another one of the top players in the country regardless of position.
Quick Hits
- Not an Ohio State addition but still newsworthy, in-state linebacker Storm Miller made his commitment on Wednesday to Texas A&M over the Buckeyes and several other schools.
A player that had a Buckeye offer, Miller is the No. 329 player nationally and 25th best linebacker per the 247Sports Composite. Somewhat of a surprise timing wise, Miller of course had interest from Ohio State’s staff, and that’s likely to continue if he in fact keeps his official visit plans to see the Buckeyes in June.
For now however, Miller is off the table with a verbal to the Aggies, but if Ohio State wants back in the game they’ll have no issue of keeping communication lines open.
Continue reading...