One day after landing the commitment of transfer defensive tackle Tywone Malone, Ohio State was back to work Wednesday on the recruiting trail.
The Buckeyes dished out three new offers to prospects from differing classes, with two coming from the 2025 cycle and one from the 2026 class. We’ll delve into each below.
Elijah Barnes
The 6-foot-2, 215-pound Texas linebacker is the most highly-touted of the three prospects per 247Sports’ composite rankings. Barnes, a four-star recruit, is currently considered the 84th-ranked prospect and 11th-best linebacker in the 2025 class and was offered by defensive coordinator Jim Knowles and graduate assistant linebackers coach James Laurinaitis.
Blessed to receive a offer from @OhioStateFB @JLaurinaitis55 @CoachJimKnowles @JColemanFB @BHoward_11 @MohrRecruiting @SKYLINEfb pic.twitter.com/bEpB4L6Qpx
— Elijah Bo barnes (@ElijahBobarnes1) May 10, 2023
Barnes has nearly 20 Division I offers including Alabama, Arizona State, Baylor, Colorado, Florida State, Kansas, Michigan State, Missouri, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Oklahoma State, Purdue and Texas Tech.
Barnes also participates in track and field and was named the Texas District 11-6A Defensive Newcomer of the Year last season while also occasionally playing running back.
Jayden Shelton
Barnes wasn’t the only Texas linebacker to get an offer from Ohio State Wednesday, as Knowles and Laurinaitis also extended an offer to four-star prospect Jayden Shelton.
Blessed to be offered by @OhioStateFB @CoachJimKnowles #GoBucks @JLaurinaitis55 @SOCGoldenBearFB @coach_traylor @domenic_spencer @MikeRoach247 @GHamilton_On3 @SportsDayHS @Perroni247 @RivalsCole @Jason_Howell pic.twitter.com/923jq2zUrT
— Jayden JJ Shelton (@JaydenShe7) May 10, 2023
Shelton is ranked as the 320th overall player and the 34th-best linebacker in the 2025 class. The 6-foot, 200-pound prospect has earned 16 Division I offers, including Arizona State, Auburn, Michigan, Nebraska, North Texas, Notre Dame, SMU, Stanford, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, USC and Washington.
In 13 games for South Oak Cliff (Dallas, Texas), Shelton racked up 56 tackles (three for loss), two sacks and an interception he returned for 50 yards.
Kendre Harrison
Entering only his sophomore season, Harrison already has a noticeable build to him at 6-foot-8, 230 pounds. The North Carolina tight end was offered by Ohio State tight ends coach Keenan Bailey on Wednesday.
BLESSED to receive an offer from THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY #AGTG @CoachKee @N_Murph @RivalsFriedman @On3sports pic.twitter.com/rLyXXsYhof
— kendre harrison (@SupremeDre8) May 10, 2023
247Sports does not have rankings for 2026 prospects as of yet, but Harrison looks to be a potential five-star player and already holds 13 Division I offers. Schools that have offered include Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida State, Louisville, NC State, North Carolina, Oregon, Penn State, Tennessee and Virginia Tech.
Last season, Harrison caught 17 passes for 263 yards with five touchdown receptions. Harrison also played defensive end, racking up 92 tackles (24 for loss), nine sacks, 16 quarterback hurries, three pass deflections and two blocked punts.
