Taking Stock of Ohio State’s Class of 2027 Recruiting: Offense

By Andy Anders on February 17, 2026 at 3:28 pm
Jamier Brown
Lori Schmidt/Columbus Dispatch/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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The recruiting calendar moves ever faster for the class of 2027.

Early Signing Day, the chaos of NIL, a broken college football calendar, all these things have accelerated the process earlier and earlier for the high school teenagers with a lot of stars next to their prospect profiles. Even by those standards, however, it's early in the process.

Recruitments are really just heating up for a lot of players. The spring and summer are when a lot of 2027 recruits will take visits that could prove decisive. Even more will follow in the fall. But that's why it's all the more impressive that Ohio State holds the No. 3 class in 2027 with nine commitments already, including two five-star prospects and five four-stars.

Ryan Day and staff already have core pieces to build around on the offensive side of the football. But they're also in the mix for at least one uncommitted five-star prospect in each position group. Finishing the next 10 months off the right way could mean one of the great offensive hauls in Buckeye recruiting history. But that's the thing about potential, it has to be actualized. Similar things are often said about Ohio State recruiting classes at this time of year.

Let’s take a look at where things stand in the third week of February for Ohio State's 2027 offensive recruiting.

Quarterbacks

Commits: Brady Edmunds

Targets: Wonderful “Champ” Monds IV

Ohio State holds a commitment from a top-150 prospect and ace peer recruiter at quarterback in the four-star Brady Edmunds. But the Buckeyes are exploring whether to take a second QB in 2027 and letting the duo duel on the depth chart in the future. With Julian Sayin likely off to the NFL draft next year, it would also help keep Ohio State at the four-quarterback number Ryan Day wants the Buckeyes to be at.

The biggest target that’s emerged for Ohio State outside of Edmunds is the four-star Wonderful “Champ” Monds. A reclassification from the class of 2028, Monds is the No. 17 quarterback and No. 254 overall prospect in the class, per the 247Sports composite. He’s set to take visits to Florida, Florida State, Ohio State, Miami and Notre Dame this spring. 

Running Backs

Commits: None

Targets: David Gabriel Georges, Caden Waye, SaRod Baker, Wayne Shanks Jr., Lathan Whisenton, Landen Williams-Callis

Five-star David Gabriel Georges remains the top target for Carlos Locklyn as he builds his next running back class at Ohio State. He camped in Columbus last summer and visited for the 2025 season opener against Texas. In-state Tennessee remains the top competition for his services, with other powers like Georgia also lurking. The Buckeyes made his top eight in December alongside the Volunteers, Bulldogs, Longhorns, Alabama, Auburn, Miami and Ole Miss.

Four-star Caden Waye, the No. 140 overall prospect and No. 9 running back in the country, is another top name to watch after visiting Ohio State for the Minnesota game. He named the Buckeyes to his top 12 schools in December. Three-star Wayne Shanks Jr. has made multiple visits to Columbus, including for the Texas game in August.

Three-star SaRod Baker earned an offer from Ohio State in December after collecting 1,500 rushing yards in a breakout run of five Texas high school playoff games. Fellow three-star Lathan Whisenton is another recent offer whom Locklyn visited in-home in January.

That leaves five-star Landen Williams-Callis, a national recruit still early in his decision-making process. Ohio State visited his Randle High School in Richmond, Texas in January, as did a flood of other schools.

Wide Receivers

Commits: Jamier Brown

Targets: Monshun Sales, Eric McFarland III, Dakota Guerrant, Myles McAfee, Blake Wong, Miguel Whitley, Kesean Bowman, Benny Easter Jr., Iveon Lewis, Briceson Thrower

There were doubts expressed publicly about the recruiting chops of new Ohio State wide receivers coach Cortez Hankton, but he holds a brilliant opportunity to pick up where Brian Hartline left off and assemble an elite wide receiver class in his first year with the Buckeyes. The foundations are already laid with the commitment of five-star Buckeye State native Jamier Brown.

Ohio State is in hot pursuit of a slew of other blue-chippers. Five-star Monshun Sales tops the list of priorities, a towering 6-foot-5 figure with blazing speed, clocked at 4.43 seconds in the 40-yard dash. He placed the Buckeyes in his final four schools alongside his home state, Indiana, Alabama and Miami on Wednesday. But with three seniors and a likely NFL draft-bound Jeremiah Smith on its 2026 roster, OSU is expected to take at least three and perhaps four or five wide receivers in its class of 2027.

Five-star Eric McFarland III, a reclassification from 2028 to 2027, is one of the top slot receiving prospects in the country. He stands just 5-foot-8 but possesses explosive athleticism, with a reported 4.37-second time in the 40-yard dash. He’s known for making big plays after the catch, but has the ball skills for spectacular snags as well. Here he is leaping to secure a toe-tapper from RJ Day, Day’s son and a quarterback in the 2027 class. The duo plays together for the famed 7-on-7 squad South Florida Express, which has produced numerous Ohio State wideouts over the years. 

The Buckeyes are among the top contenders for McFarland, with Texas A&M and USC being the biggest threats for the Florida resident. Then there’s top-50 prospect Dakota Guerrant out of enemy territory in Michigan. Guerrant is close friends with Brown, who’s peer-recruiting him heavily. He’s another member of South Florida Express, too. He’s planning a return visit to Ohio State this spring.

Four-star Myles McAfee, the No. 113 prospect in the class, is another recruit the Buckeyes are in the mix for, with Indiana, Maryland and Virginia Tech being their top competition for the Washington D.C. resident. Fellow four-star Blake Wong visited for the Penn State game this past fall, and Hankton stopped by his Norco High School in Norco, California on Jan. 27.

There are yet more blue-chippers that Ohio State has a real shot with. Top-50 prospect Miguel Whitley trimmed his list to five schools recently and included the Buckeyes alongside Houston, LSU, Ole Miss and Tennessee.  

Hankton has also made an impression with five-star Kesean Bowman, a former Oregon commit who placed the Buckeyes in his top five alongside Miami, Oregon, Tennessee and Vanderbilt. Tennessee and Oregon are considered his leaders, but he canceled his planned commitment on February 10 following a late January visit to Nebraska.

Four-star Benny Easter Jr. is a Texas Tech commit but has made it known that his commitment is not solid, and Ohio State is a top contender to flip him alongside LSU, Ole Miss, Texas and Vanderbilt. Four-star Iveon Lewis and three-star Briceson Thrower are also getting attention from Hankton.

Tight Ends

Commits: None

Targets: Brock Williams, Ahmad Hudson, Jaxon Dollar, Seneca Driver, Sean Currie, Jordan Karhoff, Grant Haviland, Zac Fares

Tight ends coach Keenan Bailey’s No. 1 objective dating back months in this cycle is to land four-star Brock Williams, the No. 2 tight end in the country. He’s taken multiple visits to Ohio State, including two during the 2025 regular season, and welcomed Bailey for a home visit in late January. The Buckeyes are in his final three alongside Georgia and Texas as he nears a decision. The Bulldogs are the main threat to sway him away from the Scarlet and Gray, and might be the team with the most momentum at this point. They do have a great history with tight ends – see Brock Bowers.

Famed Rivals analyst Steve Wiltfong, in saying recently that he’s not loving his Ohio State prediction for Williams, named four-stars Jaxon Dollar and Seneca Driver – the No. 3 and 5 tight ends in the class, right behind Williams – as the next two names to watch for the Buckeyes at the position. Dollar visited for the Penn State game this past fall and included Ohio State in his recent top 10. Driver is a Notre Dame legacy and has ties to his in-state Kentucky, too, so there’s more work to do if the Buckeyes want him.

Five-star Ahmad Hudson is the only tight end ranked higher than Williams and included Ohio State in his recent top 12, but the Buckeyes are trailing Nebraska, LSU, Texas A&M and perhaps others at the moment. Four-star Jordan Karhoff, RJ Day’s high school teammate at St. Francis de Sales and the No. 13 tight end in the class, is a local option, but it seems OSU is slow-playing his recruitment for now.

The new name rising up Ohio State’s tight end board is three-star Virginia commit Sean Currie. Per current 247Sports and former Eleven Warriors reporter and friend of the program, Garrick Hodge, new Buckeye offensive coordinator Arthur Smith reached out to Currie before any other prospects following his hiring. He’s lining up a round of visits for the spring that is likely to include OSU, so a flip is definitely possible.

Four-star Grant Haviland visited for the Penn State game this past fall and Bailey has Ohio State in the mix for the Georgia native, too. Four-star Zac Fares visited last spring, but there hasn’t been much smoke around him and the Buckeyes since. 

Offensive Tackle

Commits: Kellen Wymer, Brody McNeel

Targets: Caden Moss, Mark Matthews, Qua Ford, Jimmy Kalis, Cameron Wagner, Jake Hildebrand, Kalel Johnson, Junior Saunders, Oluwasemilore Olubobola, Carter Jones

Ohio State is off to a solid start at offensive tackle in 2027 with four-star Kellen Wymer and four-star Brody McNeel, but the Buckeyes are still looking for more firepower at the position.

Atop Tyler Bowen’s list of priorities is five-star Mark Matthews, the No. 1 tackle in the country, who visited for the Penn State game this past fall. Ohio State is vying for his services with two NIL powerhouses and fellow 2025 College Football Playoff teams in Miami and Texas A&M, the trio considered the leaders in his recruitment per Rivals. 

Five-star Caden Moss, the No. 4 offensive tackle in the country, is also among the top targets on the board. He’s early in his process, but OSU is among his top group of schools, with other contenders including Alabama, Auburn, Florida, LSU, Ole Miss and Tennessee. 

Former offensive line coach Justin Frye, for all his successes in development, often drew criticism for not casting a wide enough net in recruiting. Bowen cannot be given the same charge. Ohio State has its hands in a lot more cookie jars when it comes to offensive tackle.

Bowen has the Buckeyes locked in a two-horse race with SMU for top-100 prospect Qua Ford. Four-star Jimmy Kalis placed the Buckeyes in his recent top six and scheduled an official visit to Columbus for later this year. Four-star Cameron Wagner will also visit Ohio State this spring. Four-star Jake Hildebrand told Hodge that OSU is a “force to be reckoned with” in his recruitment and could schedule an official visit soon. Kalel Johnson is a four-star in-state prospect some have projected to the Buckeyes, and he visited for the Penn State game. Even four-star Junior Saunders recently placed Ohio State in his top eight.

Bowen is also reportedly working to get top-70 prospect Oluwasemilore Olubobola on campus for a visit. Four-star Carter Jones is also on the table, but Ohio State is likely trailing Clemson and perhaps others.

Interior Offensive Line

Commits: Mason Wilt

Targets: Maxwell Hiller, Ismael Camara, Reed Ramsier, Davis Seaman, Luke Injaychock, Terrance Smith, Jackson Roper

Offensive linemen often have positional flexibility coming out of high school, but for now, Bowen’s targets are thinner on the interior after landing a three-star in-state project in Mason Wilt.

Five-star Maxwell Hiller is one of the most coveted prospects on the Buckeyes’ board. The No. 10 prospect in the country could play either interior offensive line or offensive tackle at the next level. Ohio State made the cut for his final four schools and will receive an official visit. Landing him will be another task altogether. Florida is considered his frontrunner after a recent surge, with Alabama trailing and Tennessee also making a strong push.

Five-star Ismael Camara is one of the most special physical specimens in the 2027 recruiting class. Originally from France and fairly new to football, he stands 6-foot-6 and 340 pounds with less than 20% body fat. Every program wants a piece as a result, but Ohio State has emerged from the pack as one of six schools receiving an official visit from Camara, joining LSU, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas and Texas A&M.

Ohio State made the recent top five for four-star Reed Ramsier, who visited for the Penn State victory (lots of important offensive recruits on hand for that one, as you can tell). Another name to watch is four-star Jackson Roper, who visited for the UCLA game in November and loved his time on campus. It was the last visit he took in the fall. Three-star Davis Seaman is an Ohio product who the Buckeyes will likely land if they want him.

Three-star Luke Injaychock earned an offer from Ohio State at a recruiting camp last summer and is set to visit this spring. Four-star Terrance Smith placed the Buckeyes in his top seven, but his recruitment is considered a battle between Florida, LSU, Penn State and Tennessee for now.

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