All in all, recruiting has gradually slowed down for the most part around the country as the calendar approaches August.
Most of the top 100 prospects in the composite rankings for the 2026 class have already made a commitment this summer, and some who haven’t have scheduled commitment dates for next month. Ohio State is waiting on answers from only a handful of remaining targets, one of which will come on Saturday.
I will be committing july 26th at 4:30
— Da'Ron Parks (@DaRon__Parks) July 2, 2025
DM me if you want to stream it
Four-star offensive lineman Da’Ron Parks will commit around 4:30 p.m. on Saturday and choose from a final group of Ohio State, Auburn, Florida State and Kentucky. One day ahead of the announcement, most of the chatter surrounding this recruitment has centered on the trio of OSU, Auburn, and FSU, and there doesn’t seem to be a clear indicator of him leaning one way or the other yet. Though as of now, we'd predict the field over Ohio State.
If OSU landed Parks, he’d be the fifth and potentially final offensive line commit in the 2026 class for the Buckeyes. Should Parks head elsewhere, OSU could evaluate other prospects this fall and do its best to flip another team’s commit.
OSU offers five-star DE Zyron Forstall
Larry Johnson has officially entered the recruitment of a top-five prospect in the 2027 recruiting class.
Ohio State offered Florida five-star defensive end Zyron Forstall on Thursday. The 6-foot-4, 235-pound standout has considerable billing as a prospect. Per 247Sports’ composite rankings, Forstall is considered the No. 3 overall player in his class and the No. 2 edge rusher. He plays for IMG Academy, a high school powerhouse in Florida, for former OSU offensive line coach Greg Studrawa. Forestall is from New Orleans originally.
Blessed to receive an offer from Ohio State ! #ohiostatebuckeyes pic.twitter.com/68QVP8roz0
— Zyron Forstall (@ZyronForstall) July 24, 2025
He has 22 Division I offers, including Alabama, Boston College, Florida, Florida State, LSU, Mizzou, Ole Miss, Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, USC, Baylor, Mississippi State and Nebraska.
Savion Hiter to commit on Aug. 19
Ohio State’s top remaining running back target in the 2026 class has set a commitment date. Five-star Virginia prospect Savion Hiter will commit on Aug. 19 and choose from a final four of Ohio State, Tennessee, Michigan and Georgia.
BREAKING: Savion Hiter will announce his college commitment on August 19th, he tells ESPN @5starsavi
— Billy Tucker (@TheUCReport) July 25, 2025
The No. 24 overall prospect in the ESPN 300 and No. 2 RB in the nation will choose between Georgia, Michigan, Ohio State, and Tennessee.
Stay tuned pic.twitter.com/QNYF2hYywv
Hiter took an official visit to OSU this summer and has been to Columbus several times throughout his recruitment. Less than a month out, though, Michigan and Tennessee are the two programs that have the most momentum with Hiter.
Assuming he heads elsewhere, Carlos Locklyn and Ohio State may be content to roll with just Favour Akih as the lone running back commit for the current 2026 class. There’s always the possibility Locklyn tries to flip a late riser in the fall or OSU goes after a transfer portal running back, but barring something unexpected, it may be a one-running back class.
Teddy Jarrard commits to Notre Dame
As expected, four-star Georgia signal caller Teddy Jarrard did not choose Ohio State when he made his college decision on Thursday. The 2027 standout committed to Notre Dame, picking the Fighting Irish over Michigan, Ohio State, Georgia and Penn State.
Every moment has led me here.
— Teddy Jarrard (@JarrardTeddy) July 24, 2025
I am excited to announce my commitment to @NDFootball! pic.twitter.com/IzGebGbR7i
OSU already has a standout quarterback committed to its class for the 2027 cycle in Brady Edmunds, but Ryan Day and the Buckeyes are exploring taking a second signal-caller. They hosted many standout quarterback prospects at their recruiting camps in June and now they’ll take those evaluations into the fall and monitor how prospects’ junior seasons go.
