Ohio State is ready for a four-week crucial recruiting stretch, starting with welcoming 10 official visitors to campus this weekend.
OSU’s expected official visitors this weekend from the 2025 class are as follows:
- Five-star wide receiver Dakorien Moore
- Four-star wide receiver Vernell Brown III
- Four-star wide receiver Daylan McCutcheon
- Four-star running back Bo Jackson
- Four-star edge rusher Justin Hill
- Four-star linebacker Riley Pettijohn
- Four-star safety DeShawn Stewart (commit)
- Four-star linebacker Tarvos Alford (commit)
- Three-star offensive lineman Henry Fenuku
- Three-star offensive lineman Kaden Strayhorn
Starting on the offensive side, Moore is making his third visit to campus within the past few months, which is always a good sign as the Buckeyes battle Oregon and Texas for the commitment of the No. 1 wideout in the 2025 class. Moore is at the top of Brian Hartline’s wish list for the cycle, so a productive visit this weekend would go a long way in continuing what’s been a ridiculous run of adding premier wideouts to the Buckeyes’ roster.
Brown is another wideout Ohio State has been high on for a long time, and while the flirtation with Florida schools is very real, especially with the Gators, OSU is right in the thick of things for the talented Sunshine State prospect.
McCutcheon has visited Columbus numerous times over the past year and has significant interest in the Buckeyes, especially since his former high school teammate Payton Pierce is on OSU’s roster. But it’s uncertain what exactly Hartline’s pecking order is for wide receivers in the 2025 class after Moore, Brown and Jaime Ffrench Jr.
Five-star OSU quarterback commit Tavien St. Clair is expected to be on campus this weekend as an unofficial visitor (and probably will be at OSU the next three weekends, too), and his peer recruiting talents could aid the Buckeyes in landing coveted wideouts or other players.
In-state running back Bo Jackson returns to campus for a crucial visit. All eyes will be on new Ohio State running backs coach Carlos Locklyn as he attempts to convince the Cleveland product that the Buckeyes are the best fit for his talents. Georgia has picked up a ton of momentum in Jackson’s recruitment as of late. Still, he left his visit in Athens without committing to the Bulldogs, so OSU has a real chance to recapture momentum in his recruitment this weekend.
A couple days Away #OV @OhioStateFB OH- pic.twitter.com/ZSSo87Dn9m
— Bo Jackson (@BoJackson2025) May 29, 2024
As for the offensive line, the Buckeyes have surged with Fenuku recently. It wouldn’t be surprising to see the interior offensive lineman end up in OSU’s class sooner rather than later. Strayhorn is also an intriguing prospect, but his best collegiate fit is at center, and the Buckeyes may prefer Georgia product Andrew Stargel for that position. But perhaps things will play out differently over the next month if the visit goes well with Strayhorn this weekend.
The Strayhorns are here Buckeye Nation! @OhioStateFB @CoachJFrye @CoachSollenne pic.twitter.com/8fIIrPa9J7
— Kaden Strayhorn (@kaden_strayhorn) May 31, 2024
Three-star offensive lineman Jayvon McFadden was originally expected to also visit OSU this weekend, but that visit is being rescheduled, likely for next week.
Defensively, Alford and Stewart will both be back on campus as commits enjoying their weekend and doing their part to help grow the Buckeyes’ class, particularly with Hill and Pettijohn as the Buckeyes put the full-court press on two of their top defensive targets.
Hill is a must-get considering he’s a premier in-state prospect with endless versatility. Still, his recruitment is a bit tricky considering his best fit in Jim Knowles’ defensive scheme is at the Jack position, which hasn’t been utilized much in Columbus. Laurinaitis, Knowles and Larry Johnson will all be heavily involved in recruiting Hill this weekend, as the trio hopes to show the hybrid linebacker/defensive end he’s a priority target for OSU and win him over with their developmental plan for him.
Touching down in Columbus in less than 24hrs#GoBucks #The25 #OSU pic.twitter.com/ZwDy8jaDon
— Justin J-Hill Hill (@justinnn10k) May 30, 2024
Texas is the main thorn in the Buckeyes’ side for Pettijohn, but he’s developed a strong relationship with James Laurinaitis and OSU has at least a puncher’s chance there.
2026 QB Brodie McWhorter to visit OSU
In other news, a 2026 Ohio State quarterback target has scheduled an unofficial visit to Ohio State. Four-star 2026 Georgia prospect Brodie McWhorter will camp at OSU on June 17. He will also visit Clemson, North Carolina, Auburn, Alabama and Georgia this summer. His visit schedule could be a crucial time in McWhorter’s commitment, as he could commit sometime this summer, per Rivals.
McWhorter picked up his OSU offer in March and has visited campus three times.
Zion Elee appearing on campus in June
McWhorter won’t be the only 2026 prospect of note to visit OSU on June 17. Four-star 2026 defensive end Zion Elee also announced he’ll be in Columbus on that date, making his way to campus for the first time since picking up an offer on May 8. He’ll have an opportunity to be coached by Johnson at OSU’s high school football camp that day.
I will be at ohio state June 17th @OhioStateFB pic.twitter.com/Dr85Oqpg3T
— Zion Ry Elee (@D1zion26) May 30, 2024
“It was great, man,” Elee told Eleven Warriors of getting an OSU offer. “(Coach Johnson) offered me because he says he sees potential in me and that I remind him of Nick Bosa from my play style. He really hopes to develop me in the future.”
