Ohio State moves up to No. 8 in Rivals Team Recruiting Rankings following Timmons commitment

COLUMBUS – Ohio State is looking to have a strong close to the 2026 class with National Signing Day less than a month away.

The Buckeyes filled a major need on Thursday by flipping four-star Pittsburgh (Pa.) Pine-Richland cornerback Jay Timmons from Florida State. Timmons is the son of former Florida State standout and NFL player Lawrence Timmons but decided to turn down his father’s alma mater to become a Buckeye.

With Timmons’ commitment, Ohio State moved up one spot in the Rivals Team Recruiting Rankings to No. 8 overall. The Buckeyes passed Tennessee in the rankings.

Timmons joins four-star Oradell (N.J.) Bergen Catholic athlete Jordan Thomas in Ohio State’s cornerback class this cycle. The Buckeyes also have four-star Baton Rouge (La.) Catholic safety Blaine Bradford, four-star Jacksonville (Fla.) The Bolles School safety Simeon Caldwell and three-star Baltimore (Md.) St. Frances Academy safety Khmari Bing committed at safety.

At linebacker, James Laurinaitis has a pair of in-state standouts committed. Four-star Cleveland (Ohio) Glenville linebacker Cincere Johnson and four-star Lewis Center (Ohio) Olentangy linebacker CJ Sanna make up the class for Laurinatis.

The Buckeyes are slated to sign big defensive line class. The headliner is four-star Gardena (Calif.) Junipero Serra defensive lineman Khary Wilder who Rivals has ranked as a five-star. Four-star Richland (N.J.) St. Augustine Prep defensive lineman Damari Simeon, three-star Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy defensive lineman Cameron Brickle and three-star Cleveland (Ohio) Glenville defensive lineman Jamir Perez makeup the rest of the class for defensive line coach Larry Johnson.

First-year offensive line coach Tyler Bowen has also recruited in bulk this cycle, with an emphasis on in-state talent. Bowen has four-star Akron (Ohio) Archbishop Hoban offensive lineman Sam Greer, four-star Avon Lake (Ohio) interior offensive lineman Max Riley three-star Phoenix (Ariz.) Sandra Day O’Conner offensive lineman Tucker Smith and Three-star Mentor (Ohio) offensive lineman Landry Brede committed.

Ohio State has five wide receiver commits this cycle. Five-star Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei wide receiver Chris Henry Jr. is the headliner for offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach Brian Hartline. The Buckeyes also have Four-star Inglewood (Calif) Mater Dei wide receiver Kayden Dixon-Wyatt, four-star Pataskala (Ohio) Watkins Memorial wide receiver Jaeden Ricketts, four-star Fort Wayne (Ind.) Northrop wide receiver Jerquaden Guilford and four-star Southlake Carroll (Texas) wide receiver Brock Boyd in the fold.

In the backfield, Four-star Mission Viejo (Calif.) standout Luke Fahey is committed at quarterback and Four-star Delaware (Ohio) Hayes standout Favour Akih is the lone running back the Buckeyes currently have committed. Running backs coach Carlos Locklyn is working a few flips, however.

The only position that the Ohio State doesnt currently have a player committed at is tight end. Keenan Bailey is evaluating several in-state options as we approach National Signing Day.