Ohio State Football Recruiting: Buckeyes in position to sign standout 2026 class

Ohio State has now signed a top-five recruiting class — per the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings — in six consecutive cycles. The Buckeyes are in position to make it seven in a row.

Head coach Ryan Day and the OSU staff picked up some steam on the trail this spring, carried it into the summer and now have 21 commits in their 2026 class, as of July 28. That group, which includes a five-stars and 13 four-stars, ranks No. 9 nationally.

Since July 28, 2023, Ohio State has held a commitment from Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei five-star wide receiver Chris Henry Jr. Now the No. 20 overall prospect, the son of the late Cincinnati Bengals WR Chris Henry has since shut down his recruitment, fully locking in with vaunted receivers coach Brian Hartline and Co.

Henry is one of five receivers in the Buckeyes’ class to date. Back in November, Pataskala (Ohio) Watkins Memorial four-star WR Jaeden Ricketts committed. In April, Southlake (Texas) Carroll three-star WR Brock Boyd flipped to OSU from TCU. On May 4, Henry’s Mater Dei teammate, four-star WR Kayden Dixon-Wyatt, chose the Buckeyes over Oregon. Four-star Jerquaden Gilford is the latest pass-catcher to join the fold.

The end of March brought a surprise commitment from Baton Rouge (La.) Catholic five-star safety Blaine Bradford. The nation’s No. 5 safety spurned hometown LSU and is now solid with the Big Ten program.

The offensive line is also well-represented in this class. Akron (Ohio) Archbishop Hoban four-star offensive tackle Sam Greer also committed in March and is one of four O-linemen in the class thus far.

Four-star linebacker Cincere Johnson, four-star defensive lineman Damari Simeon and four-star quarterback Luke Fahey highlight some of the other new additions to the OSU class.

Ohio State commitments by position

Quarterback
Four-star Luke Fahey, No. 562 NATL. (No. 33 QB)

Running Back
Four-star Favour Akih, No. 212 NATL. (No. 18 RB)

Wide Receiver
Five-star Chris Henry Jr., No. 20 NATL. (No. 2 WR)
Four-star Kayden Dixon-Wyatt, No. 111 NATL. (No. 13 WR)
Four-star Jaeden Ricketts, No. 249 NATL. (No. 43 WR)
Four-star Jerquaden Gilford, No. 331 NATL. (No. 53 WR)
Three-star Brock Boyd, No. 515 NATL. (No. 79 WR)

Tight End
Three-star Corbyn Fordham, No. 537 NATL. (No. 32 TE)

Offensive Tackle
Four-star Sam Greer, No. 53 NATL. (No. 7 OT)
Three-star Aaron Thomas, No. 503 NATL. (No. 39 OT)

Interior Offensive Lineman
Four-star Max Riley, No. 148 NATL. (No. 8 IOL)
Three-star Tucker Smith, No. 669 NATL. (No. 63 IOL)

Defensive Lineman
Four-star Khary Wilder, No. 116 NATL. (No. 13 DL)
Four-star Damari Simeon, No. 220 NATL. (No. 24 DL)
Three-star Cameron Brickle, No. 519 NATL. (No. 53 DL)
Three-star Jamir Perez, No. 718 NATL. (No. 75 DL)

Linebacker
Four-star Cincere Johnson, No. 65 NATL. (No. 4 LB)
Four-star CJ Sanna, No. 278 NATL. (No. 17 LB)

Cornerback
Four-star Jordan Thomas, No. 158 NATL. (No. 20 CB)

Safety
Four-star Blaine Bradford, No. 47 NATL. (No. 5 S)
Four-star Simeon Caldwell, No. 109 NATL. (No. 9 S)