Ryan Day and Billy Fessler have their quarterback for the 2026 class.
Four-star California signal caller Luke Fahey committed to Ohio State on Thursday, bringing a years-long search for a quarterback in the class to an end.
The Fahey File
- Class: 2026
- Size: 6-1/185
- Pos: QB
- School: Mission Viejo (Mission Viejo, California)
- Composite Rating: ★★★★
- Composite Rank: #356 (#24 QB)
It's unusual for a prospect to take an official visit to Ohio State without having been offered by the Buckeyes, but that was how Fahey's recruitment unfolded. When he arrived on campus on June 20, Fessler and Day were evaluating Fahey just as much as he was examining them. Both parties felt good about the other, and Fahey officially received his offer from the Buckeyes.
From there, Ohio State quickly emerged as the frontrunner in Fahey’s recruitment, leading to his commitment less than two weeks later. He chose the scarlet and gray over Stanford and Indiana, his other finalists.
Fahey was the only quarterback Ohio State hosted for an official visit this summer as all of the Buckeyes’ other quarterback targets in the 2026 class had already committed elsewhere. The Buckeyes pursued many of the class’ top-ranked quarterbacks, including five-stars Jared Curtis (who committed to Georgia), Faizon Brandon (Tennessee), Dia Bell (Texas) and Ryder Lyons (BYU), but ultimately set their sights on Fahey after falling out of those recruitments.
Fahey will reunite with current Ohio State freshman wide receiver Phillip Bell, who he played with at Mission Viejo High School. He becomes the 20th overall commit in Ohio State’s 2026 class.
| Pos | Name | Rating | Rank | Size | School |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WR | CHRIS HENRY JR. | ★★★★★ | #15 NATL | #3 WR | 6-5 | 205 | Mater Dei (Santa Ana, California) |
| S | BLAINE BRADFORD | ★★★★★ | #26 NATL | #3 S | 6-1 | 207 | Catholic (Baton Rouge, Louisiana) |
| LB | CINCERE JOHNSON | ★★★★ | #71 NATL | #8 ED | 6-3 | 225 | Glenville (Cleveland, Ohio) |
| S | SIMEON CALDWELL | ★★★★ | #106 NATL | #6 LB | 6-3 | 185 | The Bolles School (Jacksonville, Florida) |
| WR | KAYDEN DIXON-WYATT | ★★★★ | #108 NATL | #13 WR | 6-2 | 180 | Mater Dei (Santa Ana, California) |
| OT | SAM GREER | ★★★★ | #109 NATL | #7 OT | 6-6 | 310 | Archbishop Hoban (Akron, Ohio) |
| OT | MAXWELL RILEY | ★★★★ | #127 NATL | #8 OT | 6-5 | 280 | Avon Lake (Avon Lake, Ohio) |
| RB | FAVOUR AKIH | ★★★★ | #167 NATL | #14 RB | 6-0 | 190 | Rutherford B Hayes (Delaware, Ohio) |
| CB | JAKOB WEATHERSPOON | ★★★★ | #173 NATL | #15 S | 5-10 | 172 | Avon (Avon, Ohio) |
| CB | JORDAN THOMAS | ★★★★ | #176 NATL | #16 CB | 6-1 | 185 | Bergen Catholic (Oradell, New Jersey) |
| DT | DAMARI SIMEON | ★★★★ | #201 NATL | #26 DL | 6-3 | 275 | St. Augustine Prep (Richland, New Jersey) |
| DE | KHARY WILDER | ★★★★ | #241 NATL | #23 ED | 6-4 | 260 | Junipero Serra (Gardena, California) |
| WR | JAEDEN RICKETTS | ★★★★ | #269 NATL | #45 WR | 6-0 | 187 | Watkins Memorial (Pataskala, Ohio) |
| LB | CJ SANNA | ★★★★ | #296 NATL| #19 LB | 6-3| 225 | Olentangy (Lewis Center, Ohio) |
| QB | LUKE FAHEY | ★★★★ | #356 NATL | #24 QB | 6-1 | 185 | Mission Viejo (Mission Viejo, California) |
| WR | BROCK BOYD | ★★★★ | #381 NATL | #58 WR | 6-2 | 183 | Southlake Carroll (Southlake, Texas) |
| OT | AARON THOMAS | ★★★ | #439 NATL | #36 OT | 6-7 | 300 | Mountain Pointe (Phoenix, Arizona) |
| TE | CORBYN FORDHAM | ★★★ | #480 NATL | #25 TE | 6-3 | 215 | The Bolles School (Jacksonville, Florida) |
| DT | CAMERON BRICKLE | ★★★ | #537 NATL | #62 DT | 6-2 | 305 | IMG Academy (Bradenton, Florida) |
| OL | TUCKER SMITH | ★★★ | #662 NATL | #57 IOL | 6-5 | 280 | Sandra Day O'Connor (Phoenix, Arizona) |
| Prospect Rating Data: 247Sports Composite | |||||
Fahey gives Ohio State another accurate QB from California
Per 247Sports' composite rankings, Fahey is the No. 355 overall prospect and the No. 23 quarterback in the 2026 class. He’s been a prospect on the rise of late, though, recently earning Alpha Dog honors from 247Sports at the South County Classic 7-on-7 tournament for a performance that was described as “absolutely surgical.”
In his junior season, Fahey completed 76 percent of his passes for 1,638 yards with 17 touchdowns and no interceptions while running 28 times for 183 yards and three touchdowns. As a sophomore, he recorded 2,184 yards passing and 26 touchdowns. He put up those numbers despite splitting snaps with Draiden Trudeau, a three-star quarterback in the 2025 class, but will be the Diablos’ full-time starter as a senior.
A dual-sport athlete who also plays basketball and lacrosse, Fahey is considered to be one of the most accurate passers in the 2026 class. While he’s on the small side for a Big Ten quarterback at 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds, he’s demonstrated the ability to throw the ball downfield with excellent precision and zip, along with the athleticism to make plays with his feet when needed.
Fahey becomes the fourth quarterback from Southern California to commit to Ohio State during the Ryan Day era, joining former Buckeye star C.J. Stroud, projected 2025 starter Julian Sayin and 2027 commit Brady Edmunds.
If Sayin beats out Lincoln Kienholz for this year’s starting job and remains Ohio State’s quarterback for the next two years, Fahey will likely find himself in a three-way competition with current freshman Tavien St. Clair and Edmunds to be Ohio State’s next starting quarterback after Sayin.
