Dan Hessler
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Ohio State trending for four-star offensive line target
Dan Hessler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
2026 four-star offensive lineman Pierre Dean | via @deanpj56 on X
The Buckeyes are beginning to trend for one of the nation’s top interior offensive line prospects in the 2026 class.
Ohio State has reached the end of the spring practice schedule, but that doesn’t mean anything has slowed down for the football team. Ryan Day and the Buckeyes’ coaching staff will be hard at work with the football team in preparation to follow up on a season where Ohio State won the newly-expanded College Football Playoff Championship.
Recruiting will also continue to be a top priority for the Buckeyes as well. Currently, the hot-button topic with college football recruiting is the transfer portal. Players have been able to officially enter their names into the portal for the offseason, and once again we are seeing crazy numbers.
So far, the portal has been kind to Ohio State, as many of the returning Buckeyes from the previous season are moving on from their college football careers or staying in Columbus. Ohio State is active on the other side though, as they have shown interest in numerous entrants. The Buckeyes will soon be playing host to transfer prospects as well as recruits still in high school.
Traditional recruiting is obviously a top priority for the Ohio State coaching staff, and the Buckeyes played host to dozens of recruits during the spring practice sessions — and that work seems to already be paying off. Ohio State’s 2026 recruiting class currently ranks at No. 3 in the 247Sports Class Rankings with 11 verbal commitments.
The Buckeyes will continue to add to the class, and are now trending for one of the nation’s top offensive line prospects in Pierre Dean (Clemmons, NC / West Forsyth). Ohio State was recently the recipient of a 247Sports Crystal Ball prediction for Dean from 247Sports Ohio State Insider Bill Kurelic. Ohio State is also viewed as the leader in his recruitment by On3 as well.
Ohio State visited with Dean last month, and the visit culminated in former Buckeye offensive line coach Justin Frye presenting him with an official scholarship offer. The coaching staff has remained in contact with Dean, and he returned the favor by visiting Ohio State for the spring game. He also has an official visit scheduled with the Buckeyes for June 13.
While the Buckeyes should certainly be viewed as the current favorites in his recruitment, they are not alone. Dean also has official visits scheduled with South Carolina and Georgia, who at one point was thought to be the leaders in his recruitment.
Dean has not yet scheduled a commitment date and has not mentioned anything about announcing one anytime soon. He likely also goes through with his upcoming official visits in order to ensure he picks the school best for him. However, that isn’t to say he won’t make up his mind before then either.
Ohio State currently holds commitments from three recruits along the offensive line in four-star offensive tackles Maxwell Riley and Sam Greer and three-star interior lineman Tucker Smith. The Buckeyes want to add to this haul, and Dean would be an excellent fit.
Dean is the No. 4 IOL in the 247Sports Composite Rankings and he is the No. 59 overall recruit. He is also the No. 5 recruit from the talent-rich state of North Carolina.
The Ohio State coaching staff hit the recruiting trail head first on Monday as Ohio State running backs coach Carlos Locklyn visited with one of Ohio’s top running back recruits Favour Akih (Delaware, OH / Rutherford B Hayes). Akih is one of the top recruits in the state and the Buckeyes have done a great job at making him feel like a priority in his recruitment.
The work has paid off as the Buckeyes are viewed as the favorites in his recruitment, but they also know better than to rest on their Laurels. Akih is the No. 14 RB and the No. 167 overall recruit in the 247Sports Composite Rankings. He is also the No. 8 recruit from Ohio.
Continue reading...
Dan Hessler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
2026 four-star offensive lineman Pierre Dean | via @deanpj56 on X
The Buckeyes are beginning to trend for one of the nation’s top interior offensive line prospects in the 2026 class.
Ohio State has reached the end of the spring practice schedule, but that doesn’t mean anything has slowed down for the football team. Ryan Day and the Buckeyes’ coaching staff will be hard at work with the football team in preparation to follow up on a season where Ohio State won the newly-expanded College Football Playoff Championship.
Recruiting will also continue to be a top priority for the Buckeyes as well. Currently, the hot-button topic with college football recruiting is the transfer portal. Players have been able to officially enter their names into the portal for the offseason, and once again we are seeing crazy numbers.
So far, the portal has been kind to Ohio State, as many of the returning Buckeyes from the previous season are moving on from their college football careers or staying in Columbus. Ohio State is active on the other side though, as they have shown interest in numerous entrants. The Buckeyes will soon be playing host to transfer prospects as well as recruits still in high school.
Traditional recruiting is obviously a top priority for the Ohio State coaching staff, and the Buckeyes played host to dozens of recruits during the spring practice sessions — and that work seems to already be paying off. Ohio State’s 2026 recruiting class currently ranks at No. 3 in the 247Sports Class Rankings with 11 verbal commitments.
The Buckeyes will continue to add to the class, and are now trending for one of the nation’s top offensive line prospects in Pierre Dean (Clemmons, NC / West Forsyth). Ohio State was recently the recipient of a 247Sports Crystal Ball prediction for Dean from 247Sports Ohio State Insider Bill Kurelic. Ohio State is also viewed as the leader in his recruitment by On3 as well.
Ohio State visited with Dean last month, and the visit culminated in former Buckeye offensive line coach Justin Frye presenting him with an official scholarship offer. The coaching staff has remained in contact with Dean, and he returned the favor by visiting Ohio State for the spring game. He also has an official visit scheduled with the Buckeyes for June 13.
While the Buckeyes should certainly be viewed as the current favorites in his recruitment, they are not alone. Dean also has official visits scheduled with South Carolina and Georgia, who at one point was thought to be the leaders in his recruitment.
Dean has not yet scheduled a commitment date and has not mentioned anything about announcing one anytime soon. He likely also goes through with his upcoming official visits in order to ensure he picks the school best for him. However, that isn’t to say he won’t make up his mind before then either.
Ohio State currently holds commitments from three recruits along the offensive line in four-star offensive tackles Maxwell Riley and Sam Greer and three-star interior lineman Tucker Smith. The Buckeyes want to add to this haul, and Dean would be an excellent fit.
Dean is the No. 4 IOL in the 247Sports Composite Rankings and he is the No. 59 overall recruit. He is also the No. 5 recruit from the talent-rich state of North Carolina.
Quick Hits
The Ohio State coaching staff hit the recruiting trail head first on Monday as Ohio State running backs coach Carlos Locklyn visited with one of Ohio’s top running back recruits Favour Akih (Delaware, OH / Rutherford B Hayes). Akih is one of the top recruits in the state and the Buckeyes have done a great job at making him feel like a priority in his recruitment.
The work has paid off as the Buckeyes are viewed as the favorites in his recruitment, but they also know better than to rest on their Laurels. Akih is the No. 14 RB and the No. 167 overall recruit in the 247Sports Composite Rankings. He is also the No. 8 recruit from Ohio.
Continue reading...