2026 No. 1 QB Faizon Brandon lands Ohio State offer
Greensboro (N.C.) Grimsley four-star quarterback Faizon Brandon is currently the top-ranked signal-caller in the 2026 cycle.
He already has the offer sheet to match — and a big-time program was added to it on Tuesday. The 6-foot-3.5, 185-pounder announced an offer from Ohio State as the Buckeyes enter his recruitment.
It’s been a busy spring for Brandon. He’s taken visits to the likes of Alabama, LSU, Georgia, Penn State, Florida State and Tennessee. North Carolina and NC State are both working to keep him in-state, too. Last month, On3 Director of Recruiting Chad Simmons provided an update on Brandon’s recruitment.
“North Carolina is the home-state school, and the Tar Heels are in the mix, but some SEC schools are high on his list too,” Simmons wrote. “He was at Georgia Saturday and the Bulldogs offered. Brandon could be back in Athens to work with the staff in June. Alabama is high on his list…Tennessee has been in heavy pursuit for months. Florida State is another ACC program he’s taking a strong look at.”
Brandon debuted as the No. 1 QB and No. 12 overall prospect in the 2026 On300 in March. After impressing as a sophomore starter a season ago, the future five-star has already drawn his fair share of praise from On3 Director of Scouting and Rankings Charles Power.
“Brandon, who stars for Greensboro (N.C.) Grimsley, is a 6-foot-3.5, 190 pounder who accounted for over 3,500 yards and 45 touchdowns as a sophomore. He shows a live arm on film and in the camp setting and is one of the more gifted athletes among the top 2026 quarterbacks. Brandon is also younger for the class, turning 16 years-old in June,” Power wrote of the QB.
As Brandon continues to work through his recruitment, Ohio State will look to get properly involved. The Buckeyes already posses a commitment from Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei five-star wide receiver Chris Henry Jr., the top-ranked prospect in the 2026 cycle.
More on Ohio State recruiting
Taking a look at the 2025 cycle, Ohio State currently sits atop the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings with the top-ranked class in the nation.
In total, the Buckeyes have 13 commitments already on the board, seven of whom rank among the top 100 nationally and 11 who check in as blue-chip (four- and five-star) recruits.
Early in the 2025 cycle, defensive coordinator Jim Knowles and his staff have gotten busy. Of OSU’s 13 commitments, nine are on that side of the ball and four are in the secondary. Ohio State holds commitments from the nation’s top two cornerback recruits — Five-Star Plus+ CB Na’eem Offord and five-star corner Devin Sanchez. Their class also includes top-75 EDGE Zahir Mathis, top-70 cornerback Blake Woodby, four-star EDGE London Merritt, four-star linebacker Tarvos Alford, four-star cornerback DeShawn Stewart and in-state standout linebacker Eli Lee.
On the offensive side, OSU has already locked up its quarterback in the class with elite passer Tavien St. Clair, who ranks No. 4 nationally at the position. He’s joined by Toledo (Ohio) Whitmer four-star offensive tackle Carter Lowe, and four-star wide receiver De’zie Jones.
The Buckeyes picked up Washington (Okla.) four-star tight end Nate Roberts just ahead of kickoff for its 2024 spring game on April 13.