Caleb Houser
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Ohio State Recruiting: Buckeyes shouldn’t have to look far for defensive backs in 2026 class
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
The Buckeyes look poised to keep two of their best in-state kids at home in the next cycle.
If he’s not already, a big season from Ohio State’s cornerbacks this year should further cement Tim Walton as one of the better position coaches in the country. From the on-field development the past year and the recent stretch of elite recruiting, OG Walt has been absolutely crushing it for the Buckeyes, and there’s plenty more to come.
The 2025 class being a major example of his success, Walton currently has Devin Sanchez and Na’eem Offord committed — the No. 1 and No. 2 cornerbacks in the country, respectively. An incredible haul for any recruiting class, Ohio State is fortunate to have Walton heading this position group with all the tools he brings to the table.
Looking back at 2024, Walton was able to reel in Aaron Scott Jr., Bryce West, and Miles Lockhart in another top-ranked class. Looking at Scott and West specifically, the two being in-state products is what catches the attention most. Not needing to go more national last cycle, Walton prioritized his backyard like the staff does every year, and it resulted in commitments from a pair of top-70 national players.
Taking a look at 2026, it’s shaping up to be very much like the 2024 class.
Ohio is home to both Victor Singleton and Elbert Hill, and so again rather than having to look national in this upcoming cycle, the Buckeyes really don’t have to go far from home —just like they did in 2024. With the 2025 class providing those high-profile national talents, it works out in Ohio State’s favor that two of the top five cornerbacks in the country are once again right inside their own state borders. The only matter now is making sure they stay home.
On Monday, we saw Ohio State land the 247Sports Crystal Ball prediction in their favor for Singleton. The No. 50 player nationally and fourth-best cornerback in the class per 247Sports, Singleton was offered by Ohio State this past June and is quickly seeing his efforts pay off. Having been to campus multiple times, making the short trek south from Toledo, Singleton is rising up the ranks and is a guy this staff isn’t going to let leave the state lines without a real fight.
His in-state counterpart, Hill is no slouch of his own, currently slotted as the No. 51 player nationally and fifth-best cornerback per 247Sports. Put those two together and you have no reason to look elsewhere when your own high school recruiting ground is producing that much talent just a couple hours away from campus, and at schools the staff has recruited time and time again over the years.
Walton was able to lock down elite talent in 2024 thanks to his own roots in-state. In this current 2025 class, it is much more of a national approach, and because of his recruiting chops, Ohio State is dealing.
Next in the sights is the class to come. The efforts will still need to be there, but one would think similarly to 2024, the Buckeyes should have more success in continuing to load up an elite stable of cornerbacks thanks to not only national names, but national names that are from Ohio. That bodes well for Ohio State for years to come.
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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
The Buckeyes look poised to keep two of their best in-state kids at home in the next cycle.
If he’s not already, a big season from Ohio State’s cornerbacks this year should further cement Tim Walton as one of the better position coaches in the country. From the on-field development the past year and the recent stretch of elite recruiting, OG Walt has been absolutely crushing it for the Buckeyes, and there’s plenty more to come.
The 2025 class being a major example of his success, Walton currently has Devin Sanchez and Na’eem Offord committed — the No. 1 and No. 2 cornerbacks in the country, respectively. An incredible haul for any recruiting class, Ohio State is fortunate to have Walton heading this position group with all the tools he brings to the table.
Looking back at 2024, Walton was able to reel in Aaron Scott Jr., Bryce West, and Miles Lockhart in another top-ranked class. Looking at Scott and West specifically, the two being in-state products is what catches the attention most. Not needing to go more national last cycle, Walton prioritized his backyard like the staff does every year, and it resulted in commitments from a pair of top-70 national players.
Taking a look at 2026, it’s shaping up to be very much like the 2024 class.
Ohio is home to both Victor Singleton and Elbert Hill, and so again rather than having to look national in this upcoming cycle, the Buckeyes really don’t have to go far from home —just like they did in 2024. With the 2025 class providing those high-profile national talents, it works out in Ohio State’s favor that two of the top five cornerbacks in the country are once again right inside their own state borders. The only matter now is making sure they stay home.
On Monday, we saw Ohio State land the 247Sports Crystal Ball prediction in their favor for Singleton. The No. 50 player nationally and fourth-best cornerback in the class per 247Sports, Singleton was offered by Ohio State this past June and is quickly seeing his efforts pay off. Having been to campus multiple times, making the short trek south from Toledo, Singleton is rising up the ranks and is a guy this staff isn’t going to let leave the state lines without a real fight.
His in-state counterpart, Hill is no slouch of his own, currently slotted as the No. 51 player nationally and fifth-best cornerback per 247Sports. Put those two together and you have no reason to look elsewhere when your own high school recruiting ground is producing that much talent just a couple hours away from campus, and at schools the staff has recruited time and time again over the years.
Walton was able to lock down elite talent in 2024 thanks to his own roots in-state. In this current 2025 class, it is much more of a national approach, and because of his recruiting chops, Ohio State is dealing.
Next in the sights is the class to come. The efforts will still need to be there, but one would think similarly to 2024, the Buckeyes should have more success in continuing to load up an elite stable of cornerbacks thanks to not only national names, but national names that are from Ohio. That bodes well for Ohio State for years to come.
Continue reading...