Eric Boggs
The Buckeyes have wasted no time making a splash in the 2028 recruiting cycle. On Friday morning, Ohio State secured its first commitment in the class when Florida running back Elijah Newman-Hall gave his verbal pledge following a midweek visit to Columbus. Though it’s uncommon to see commitments this early—especially at running back—Newman-Hall’s recruitment moved quickly after he attended an Ohio State recruiting camp on Tuesday. The moment he stepped on campus, he felt something different, and it didn’t take long for him to decide where he wanted to be.
At just a freshman, Newman-Hall has already shown flashes of dominance on both sides of the ball. He rushed for 829 yards on just 80 carries across 10 games—an impressive mark for a player so early in his high school career. Defensively, he was just as disruptive, finishing the year with 28 tackles, eight sacks, seven quarterback hits, three forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. His physicality and versatility immediately caught the eye of Ohio State running backs coach Carlos Locklyn, who prioritized him as the Buckeyes’ top target in the 2028 cycle.
Standing at 6-foot and 205 pounds, Newman-Hall has a frame and running style that already fits the Big Ten mold. He’s a physical back who isn’t afraid of contact, and that bruising mentality pairs well with the kind of identity Ohio State fans expect from their ground game. The Buckeyes beat out offers from Miami, Florida State, UCF, and Wake Forest, among others, with Newman-Hall opting to shut down his recruitment early and go all in with Ohio State.
As Buckeye fans, it’s always exciting to land top-tier talent, but what makes this even more encouraging is the fact that Newman-Hall is now positioned to help build this class from the inside. He becomes the foundation for what could become another elite recruiting haul. It’s early, yes—but momentum matters. And if this is the tone the 2028 class is setting from the start, we’re in for another exciting ride.
