Eric Boggs
Ohio State saved its biggest recruiting weekend of the summer for last, and it could pay major dividends in the Buckeyes’ quest to build one of the nation’s best 2026 classes. Seventeen recruits are in Columbus this weekend for official visits, making this the largest visit group of the summer. Seven of those prospects are already committed to Ohio State, while the remaining ten include several of the Buckeyes’ top uncommitted targets, headlined by multiple five-stars.
The star power starts on defense, where five-star safety Bralan Womack of Mississippi is making his highly anticipated visit. Womack has named Ohio State a leader in his recruitment for some time now, and this weekend represents a chance for the Buckeyes to close the deal before his decision in August. Should OSU land Womack, it would solidify one of the best safety hauls in the country alongside Blaine Bradford and Simeon Caldwell. Though Caldwell may project more as a linebacker in college, the talent across the board at safety would be elite.
Also on defense, Larry Johnson and the Buckeye staff are working to rebound after losing top defensive end target Luke Wafle to USC earlier in the week. Enter Duncanville High School teammates KJ Ford and Landon Barnes, both four-star edge prospects who now have Ohio State’s full attention. Ford, in particular, wasn’t even scheduled to visit this weekend until Wafle’s decision changed the dynamic. Their visit could be a defining moment in this defensive end cycle.
Inside, four-star defensive tackles Deuce Geralds and Damari Simeon are on campus as well. Geralds, a longtime OSU target from Georgia, and Simeon, an emerging star from New Jersey, are both high on the Buckeyes’ board. A strong weekend could bring Ohio State closer to locking down both and reshaping the future of its interior defensive line.
On the offensive side, running backs coach Carlos Locklyn is going all in on five-star Florida running back Derrek Cooper. The former high school teammate of Jeremiah Smith has built momentum with Miami recently, but Locklyn is hoping a big visit flips the momentum back to Columbus. The dream scenario? A 2026 running back duo of Cooper and recent commit Favour Akih, which would be one of the most explosive combos in the country.
Quarterback recruiting also takes center stage this weekend. Four-star California quarterback Luke Fahey is in town for an official visit despite not yet having an offer from Ohio State. That alone speaks volumes. The expectation is that Fahey will leave Columbus with an offer, and the Buckeyes could push hard to make him their signal-caller for 2026. With competition from Indiana and Stanford, Ohio State is hoping to seize the momentum now.
Wide receiver recruiting is always in the spotlight at “Zone 6,” and Brian Hartline continues to build one of the deepest rooms in the nation. Indiana wideout Jerquaden Guilford is back in Columbus for his official visit after an impressive camp performance earlier this week. With a commitment date set for June 27, the Buckeyes have a great opportunity to close strong and land a gifted in-state receiver. As Guilford put it himself, “They say it’s Wide Receiver U for a reason. Stats don’t lie.”
The offensive line is also getting attention this weekend, with four-star tackle J.B. Shabazz and interior lineman Da’Ron Parks in town. Both are high on Ohio State’s board, and Tyler Bowen will be looking to capitalize on their familiarity with the program and lock down spots in the 2026 class.
Seven current Buckeye commits are also visiting officially this weekend, a chance to deepen bonds with the staff and each other. Among them are wide receivers Chris Henry Jr., Kayden Dixon-Wyatt, and Brock Boyd, defensive backs Jordan Thomas, Jakob Weatherspoon, and Simeon Caldwell, and safety Blaine Bradford. The presence of these top-tier commits adds serious peer pressure to the visit weekend and helps reinforce the strength of Ohio State’s 2026 class.
To top it all off, the weekend includes one major unofficial visitor: while not detailed, such visits often signal future movement or surprise momentum in recruiting circles. Combined with Ohio State hosting multiple summer camps this past week—including one-day camps and a 7-on-7 tournament—it’s been a non-stop stretch of talent evaluation and relationship building in Columbus.
This weekend wraps up four straight weeks of official visits for the Buckeyes and marks the end of the summer’s most critical phase in building the 2026 recruiting class. After hosting 12 recruits in the first weekend of June, three in the second, and ten last weekend, the 17-player group this week underscores the urgency and importance of ending the summer on a high note.
If the Buckeyes can secure commitments from even a handful of the uncommitted prospects visiting this weekend, the 2026 class—already among the nation’s best—could take another big step toward dominance. From Womack to Cooper to Fahey, this visit weekend could shape Ohio State’s roster for years to come. And as always, The OHIO Podcast will be here breaking down the moves, the visits, and the commitments with fan insight and our own recruiting rankings—because no one covers Buckeye football quite like we do.
