The top-rated player in Ohio in the 2026 recruiting class is leaving the state for his college career.
Four-star cornerback Elbert Hill committed to USC on Friday, a move that seemed inevitable for the last few months.
Hill was a frequent visitor to Columbus throughout most of his recruitment, but didn't visit OSU this spring and instead visited USC several times. He did schedule an official visit to Ohio State for this summer, but it's unclear whether that visit will still take place or not now that he's committed to the Trojans.
BREAKING: Elite 2026 CB Elbert Hill has Committed to USC, he tells me for @on3recruits
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) May 2, 2025
The 510 185 CB from Akron, OH chose the Trojans over Ohio State, Oregon, & Alabama
Hes ranked as the #1 Recruit in Ohio (#4 CB) per On3
Im home, Fight Onhttps://t.co/zAZwpcuwoO pic.twitter.com/E2tGOzJl4n
The 5-foot-10, 175-pound cornerback is considered the No. 40 prospect in the country and the No. 3 cornerback in the 2026 class per 247Sports' composite rankings.
Hill isn't the first high-profile Ohio defensive back to leave the state in recent recruiting cycles, as Trey McNutt and Dorian Brew both signed with Oregon last winter in the 2025 class.
With Hill seemingly no longer in the fold, Tim Walton and Ohio State will turn their attention elsewhere in the 2026 class. The highest-priority target to pair with Ohio State cornerback commit Jakob Weatherspoon is likely Jordan Thomas, who visited Columbus twice this spring.
