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Bill Kurelic
Ryan Day, Mark Pantoni and the Ohio State staff assembled a very talented 2026 recruiting class that features a number of recruits from Ohio. The Buckeyes have been and are continuing to work on that class.
From the 2026 class, the staff currently has seven commitments from Ohioans: offensive linemen Sam Greer and Maxwell Riley, linebackers Cincere Johnson and CJ Sanna, wide receiver Jaeden Ricketts, running back Favour Akih and defensive lineman Jamir Perez.
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With the prep football season in Ohionearing the halfway point this season, I count down my current Top 10 class of 2026 Ohioans.
No. 10: OL Landry Brede (6-foot-5, 280 pounds), Mentor, Ohio/Mentor
Brede is a bit similar to Ohio State offensive line commitMaxwell Riley in size and the possibility of playing either guard or tackle in college. He committed to NC State in late June, but was offered a scholarship by the Buckeyes earlier this month and attended the Ohio State win over Ohio University and Tyler Bowen was at his game last night.
No. 9: DB Kaden Gebhardt (6-foot-2, 200 pounds), Lewis Center, Ohio/Olentangy
Gebhardt committed to Clemson on March 11. His impressive list of scholarship offers also included Ohio State, USC, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Notre Dame, Penn State, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Wisconsin and Kentucky. His final four were Clemson, Ohio State, Penn State and Wisconsin.
No. 8: LB CJ Sanna (6-foot-3, 225 pounds), Lewis Center, Ohio/Olentangy
In previous editions of this feature, I did not have Sanna in my Top 10. But after seeing him in action the third weekend of this season, I have bumped him up. I was impressed with how active he was, how well he ran to the ball and how forceful he was tackling. Sanna also looked great physically.
No. 7: DB Jakob Weatherspoon (5-foot-10, 170 pounds), Avon, Ohio/Avon
Weatherspoon, who originally committed to Ohio State before flipping to North Carolina, could play cornerback or safety at the next level. But I like him first as an inside or nickel corner.
No. 6: OL Adam Guthrie (6-foot-7, 285 pounds), Washington Court House, Ohio/Miami Trace
Guthrie committed toClemsonearly, and at least so far, the Tigers are holding on with him.But the Buckeyes are continuing with their interest.
No. 5: LB Cincere Johnson (6-foot-3, 225), Cleveland, Ohio/Glenville
I saw Johnson in action the second weekend of the season and came away very impressed. He is a little different type of player than Arvell Reese, but he has the ability to have the same type of impact for the Buckeyes.
No. 4: DB Victor Singleton (5-foot-11, 160 pounds), Toledo, Ohio/Central Catholic
Singleton, a Texas A&M commit, has the ability to be a multi-year starter for the Aggies with a high ceiling. The good news is that had he stayed with his Illinois commitment, he would be someone the Buckeyes could be playing against.
No. 3: DB Elbert Hill (5-foot-10, 175 pounds), Avon, Ohio/Hoban
Elbert Hill, a USC commit, checks all of the boxes for me and I see him as one of the country's top cover cornerback prospects. Hill is also very good as a receiver and special teams player.
No. 2: OL Maxwell Riley (6-foot-5 280 pounds), Avon Lake, Ohio/Avon Lake
To me, the biggest question surrounding Riley is whether he ends up being a guard or tackle at Ohio State, not whether or not he is going to be a very good one for the Buckeyes. Riley is an ultra-talented player who I think will eventually be a pillar on the Ohio State offensive line.
No. 1: OL Sam Greer (6-foot-8, 315 pounds), Avon, Ohio/Hoban
Greer has progressively improved each season to the point that for a while now I have considered him to be the No. 1 class of 2026 prospect in the Buckeye State. Greer is the prototype offensive tackle prospect and someone I think is going to have a great career for the Buckeyes and likely star in the NFL as well.
