Another massive recruiting weekend is on tap for Ohio State, with over 40 visitors expected at Ohio Stadium on Saturday for the Buckeyes’ primetime contest against Michigan State.
Highly touted prospects from each of the 2024, 2025 and 2026 classes are expected to be in attendance, and with the game steadily approaching, we take a look at some of the biggest recruiting storylines entering the weekend.
Ohio State hopes a couple of flips are in order
Starting with the class closest to arriving on a college campus, Ohio State hopes to host several 2024 flip candidates this weekend, including Florida defensive lineman commitment Amaris Williams, Miami wide receiver commit Chance Robinson and Northwestern offensive lineman commit Gabe VanSickle.
Williams, Robinson and VanSickle will each make their second visit of the season to the Shoe, with Ohio State's coaching staff ready to put a full-court press on each. Depending on how each visit goes, there’s cautious optimism the Buckeyes could successfully flip those targets.
Two key 2024 prospects won’t be in attendance Saturday
Ohio State hoped to have a couple more 2024 targets on campus, but those visits will have to wait.
Five-star offensive tackle Jordan Seaton was supposed to be one of the marquee visitors of the weekend, but he will no longer visit on Saturday due to practice obligations for his high school team, IMG Academy. Ohio State hopes Seaton will visit for next week’s game against Minnesota, though that has yet to be confirmed.
Ohio State offered four-star Nebraska defensive tackle commit Carlon Jones on Oct. 30 and planned to have him in the Shoe on Saturday, but Jones’ team has a playoff game on Saturday. Jones has rescheduled his visit to next weekend, however.
Plenty of 2025 talent coming to campus
While Seaton may not make the trip this week, Ohio State will host a five-star tackle in the 2025 cycle in Georgia commit Micah DeBose. DeBose, who resides in Alabama but grew up in Ohio, received an offer from the Buckeyes in July after a visit and will make his first gameday trip to Ohio Stadium.
Top-30 prospect Faheem Delane was supposed to visit for the Penn State game but instead will make the trek to Columbus this weekend. Delane is one of the Buckeyes’ top safety targets in the 2025 class and there appears to be plenty of mutual interest.
I will be in Ohio this weekend ! #BIA pic.twitter.com/XdEpZlEhw2
— Faheem Delane (@faheemdelane) November 7, 2023
One of Ohio State’s top running back targets in 2025, Byron Louis, plans to visit Columbus for his second gameday visit this season, the first coming during the Penn State game. Other intriguing 2025 visitors include wide receiver Phillip Bell, linebacker Tarvos Alford and tight end Emaree Winston.
will be back @ Thee Ohio State this weekend ! #GoBucks #Zone6 pic.twitter.com/9dHZCxyuy8
— Phillip Bell III (@phillipbelliii) November 7, 2023
Ohio state this weekend!
— Tarvos Tj Alford II (@TarvosAlford_II) November 7, 2023
Back in the shoe this weekend @CoachKee @CoachBinckes pic.twitter.com/fPhjd7dk0J
— Emaree Winston (@e_wins2025) November 8, 2023
Pair of elite 2026 QB talents make their way to The Shoe
Both of the quarterbacks Ohio State has offered in the 2026 class that are currently uncommitted are expected to be in Ohio Stadium on Saturday: Five-star prospect Jared Curtis and four-star signal caller Will Griffin. Each of them is making their first gameday visit to Ohio State, with Griffin’s visit being his second to Columbus after he impressed the Buckeyes at a recruiting camp in June. With OSU set at quarterback for the 2024 and 2025 classes, quarterbacks coach Corey Dennis can devote a good chunk of time to growing the relationship with each player.
Looking forward to being back in Columbus this Saturday! THE Ohio State University! @ryandaytime @CoreyDennis_ @CoachTFitch @markpantoni @OhioStateFB @Bucknuts247 @Buckeye_Nation @Bucknuts247 @adamgorney @GregSmithRivals @ChadSimmons_ @SWiltfong247 @TomLuginbill @TheUCReport pic.twitter.com/qAEE0GYbRT
— Will Griffin 4 2026 QB (@w_griffin11) November 8, 2023
Other 2026 visitors of note include five-star safety Zelus Hicks, Miami wide receiver commit Malachi Toney, offensive lineman Tyler Merrill and running back Javian Mallory.
Excited to be in Columbus this weekend!!! @OhioStAthletics @OhioStateFB @Coach_Eliano @skrrtlab pic.twitter.com/iryALy8iWn
— Zelus Hicks (@Zelus_Hicks) November 9, 2023
I will be in COLUMBUS this weekend !
— Malachi Toney (@MALACHITONEY2) November 9, 2023
A full expected visitors list for this weekend has been compiled below. Ohio State commits are bolded.
2024
- Five-star wide receiver Mylan Graham
- Four-star tight end Max LeBlanc
- Four-star offensive tackle Ian Moore
- Four-star cornerback Aaron Scott
- Four-star cornerback Bryce West
- Four-star linebacker Garrett Stover
- Four-star wide receiver Chance Robinson
- Four-star defensive lineman Amaris Williams
- Four-star offensive tackle Deontae Armstrong
- Three-star offensive lineman Devontae Armstrong
- Three-star running back Sam Williams-Dixon
- Three-star offensive lineman Gabe VanSickle
- Three-star cornerback Cam Boone
- Long snapper Morrow Evans
2025
- Five-star offensive tackle Micah DeBose
- Four-star quarterback Tavien St. Clair
- Four-star safety Faheem Delane
- Four-star running back Byron Louis
- Four-star wide receiver Phillip Bell
- Four-star tight end Emaree Winston
- Four-star defensive end London Merritt
- Four-star linebacker Tarvos Alford
- Four-star linebacker Dante McClellan
- Four-star defensive back Trey McNutt
- Four-star defensive back Jai'mier Scott
- Three-star linebacker Eli Lee
- Three-star wide receiver Preston Bowman
- Three-star linebacker Grant Beerman
- Three-star offensive lineman Jayvon McFadden
- Three-star cornerback Terrance Edwards
- Running back Michael Taylor
2026
- Five-star quarterback Jared Curtis
- Five-star safety Zelus Hicks
- Four-star quarterback Will Griffin
- Four-star offensive lineman Tyler Merrill
- Wide receiver Malachi Toney
- Running back Javian Mallory
- Quarterback Briggs Cherry
- Offensive lineman Adam Guthrie
- Defensive back Cam Thomas
