Goodnews: Buckeyes recruites two athletes for the 2026 class and makes top three of the offensive target in 2025.

Once more, the Buckeyes were actively recruiting athletes for the 2026 class.

James Laurinaitis is in charge of the linebacker room, so there are many reasons to be happy. This was the perfect fit all along, and it’s already paying off handsomely because to his background as a player and his aptitude for player development and recruitment. Tarvos Alford and Eli Lee, two guys who are presently committed, position the Buckeyes for success in the 2025 class and allow them to concentrate on upcoming cycles.

Remaining committed to their work, the Buckeyes extended one of their most recent offers to in-state prospect Jakobe Clapper yesterday. The native of Cincinnati currently has about 20 offers under his belt. With two full seasons left to play, 6-foot-2, 195-pound Clapper already has a great build, but it’s fascinating to see what he can develop into as a finished player.

Clapper, ranked No. 225 in the country and the 17th best at his position by 247Sports Composite grades, is attracting interest from a number of schools, including Notre Dame, Oregon, Penn State, Tennessee, and now his home-state Buckeyes. Of course, there is still a lot of work to be done, but you have to think that Laurinaitis will be heavily involved in this recruiting process given that he is not only a talented in-state player but also seems to suit the profile that OSU is seeking for in the position.

Ohio State grants the 2026 running back a scholarship.
It is understandable that the running back position is still a frequently discussed topic at Ohio State. The new position coach for the Buckeyes is the subject of much excitement, and the 2025 class appears to be destined to be one for the ages given their chances of success with their top targets.

Not to get ahead of ourselves, but Ohio State is already looking at potential targets for the future. Yesterday, Georgia native Jonaz Walton received the 2026 class’s top running back offer.

Walton is a smallish back who weighs 200 pounds at 5 feet 9 inches, but he runs much larger than his size. It’s understandable why Ohio State is interested in the No. 83 player in the country and the eighth-best running back in the class according to 247Sports Composite rankings.

Programs from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Notre Dame, USC, Tennessee, Texas, and a few more have added their names to the hat, and although the Buckeyes are a little late to the game, they should be able to make up for it with their enthusiasm for this position group. As Locklyn continues to settle into his new position, more names will probably surface, but this is the most recent one that is noteworthy.

Nearing completion of the transactionohio
Bo Jackson, an in-state running back, has been a recurring theme lately, and Thursday was no exception. Jackson is one of the two running backs that the Ohio State coaching staff is totally sold on; it’s just a matter of closing the deal and adding him to this class. Jackson is ranked No. 72 in the country and the fifth best player at his position by the 247Sports Composite grades.

Jackson declared on Thursday that he is now only considering three institutions. If we limit it to Ohio State, Alabama, and Georgia, the Buckeyes have a tremendous opportunity here, but they still have a lot of work ahead of them to gain his commitment.

Jackson’s second journey will take him to Ohio State from May 31 to June 2 and Alabama from June 7-9. Jackson is scheduled to visit Georgia on May 17. Although the Buckeyes aren’t guaranteed the final scheduled visit, Bo can still meet the team whenever he wants and may even make a second trip if necessary because it’s only a short drive from Cleveland.

According to Jackson, they are currently speaking every other day, and that should only continue if their conversations don’t quickly become regular ones. You have to believe that the Buckeyes will be able to keep him at home if they keep up their good work and make sure he understands that he is a priority in this class. Again, Ohio State isn’t out of the woods because the other two schools aren’t just there for show.

Quick Hits: Ohio State welcomed Nate Riegel, a resident of Findlay, Ohio, as a preferred walk-on to their 2024 class yesterday. The 6-foot-3, 210-pound Riegel is an athlete who projects to play linebacker in college and is welcomed by the Buckeyes as a depth addition. Riegel, who was not ranked in the 2024 cycle, took a chance on himself and showed that the Buckeyes were interested in him.

Riegel is likely of the same caliber as current Buckeye Luke Montgomery, with whom he was a teammate. He will undoubtedly put in a lot of effort to establish his value on campus.