Ohio State lost one of its top defensive end targets in the 2026 class to another school for the second straight day.
One day after Carter Meadows announced his commitment to Michigan, fellow four-star defensive end Landon Barnes announced his commitment to Ole Miss.
BREAKING: Four-Star EDGE Landon Barnes has Committed to Ole Miss, he tells me for @rivalsrecruits
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) June 30, 2025
The 64 245 EDGE from Duncanville, TX chose the Rebels over Ohio State & Washington
Felt like home. Cant wait to go work!https://t.co/cCVHXQnvSk pic.twitter.com/lnmWtfy8Xm
Ohio State made a push to land Barnes after hosting him alongside his Duncanville High School teammate KJ Ford for an official visit two weekends ago. Ultimately, Barnes chose the Rebels over the Buckeyes, leaving Ohio State with dwindling options to fill out its defensive end class for 2026.
The Buckeyes have one defensive end commit in Khary Wilder, a four-star prospect from California. But they’d like at least one other defensive end to join him in the 2026 class.
Among defensive ends who took official visits to Ohio State this summer, the only ones who remain uncommitted are Ford and Jake Kreul. Oklahoma is viewed as the frontrunner to land Kreul, leaving Ford as Ohio State’s likely top target, though the Buckeyes’ chances of landing him might have also taken a hit with Barnes going elsewhere.
Ohio State also missed out on another top defensive end target, Luke Wafle, who committed to USC on June 19 after the Trojans reportedly upped their NIL offer one day before his commitment.
The Buckeyes’ weekend got off to a successful start in defensive line recruiting as they landed a pair of defensive tackles, Damari Simeon and Cameron Brickle, on Friday and Saturday. Ohio State is also viewed as the frontrunner to land Glenville defensive tackle Jamir Perez, and it remains in the mix for Deuce Geralds and Emanuel Ruffin.
Barnes, Meadows and Wafle committing elsewhere, however, continues a trend of Ohio State missing out on top defensive end targets in recent recruiting cycles.
Ohio State landed one of its top targets in the 2025 class by signing Zion Grady and nabbed Epi Sitanilei in a signing-day flip from UCLA, but lost in-state standout Justin Hill to Alabama while London Merritt and Zahir Mathis flipped to Colorado and Maryland, respectively, after initially committing to the Buckeyes.
The Buckeyes successfully landed five-star defensive end Eddrick Houston – who’s since moved inside to defensive tackle – and flipped Dominic Kirks from Washington in 2024, but were unable to close the deal with several other top defensive end targets in that class, including South Carolina star Dylan Stewart.
Ohio State missed out on its top three defensive end targets in the 2023 class as Matayo Uiagalelei signed with Oregon, Damon Wilson II signed with Georgia and Keon Keeley signed with Alabama.
The Buckeyes still have a well-stocked defensive end roster for the upcoming season. 2022 signees Caden Curry and Kenyatta Jackson Jr. are back for their fourth season at Ohio State, 2022 linebacker signee C.J. Hicks moved to the edge this offseason and the Buckeyes added a pair of transfer DEs in Beau Atkinson (North Carolina) and Logan George (Idaho State).
With all of those players in their final two years of eligibility, however, Ohio State needs to restock its defensive end roster for the future. With only one defensive end committed and most of their other top targets now headed elsewhere, Larry Johnson and the Buckeyes may need to expand their board to find another edge rusher or two to pair with Wilder.
