Eric Boggs
The Buckeyes continue to solidify their dominance on the recruiting trail, landing yet another key piece for their 2026 class with the commitment of in-state linebacker CJ Sanna. Hailing from Olentangy High School in Lewis Center, Ohio—just a short drive from Columbus—Sanna adds both talent and local pride to an already impressive group. His decision marks the third commitment of the week for Ohio State and the second in as many days, further fueling momentum as Ryan Day and his staff continue to shape one of the top recruiting classes in the nation.
Sanna, who is ranked No. 449 nationally, No. 35 among linebackers, and the No. 20 overall prospect in Ohio by 247Sports’ composite rankings, chose the Buckeyes from a lengthy list of 25 offers. That list included Power Five programs such as Michigan State, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, Miami, Iowa, and West Virginia. Wisconsin was seen as the primary competition for Sanna’s services, and he even had an official visit scheduled to Madison before ultimately committing to the Buckeyes—a major recruiting win for Ohio State.
He becomes the fifth in-state commitment in the Buckeyes’ 2026 class, joining offensive linemen Maxwell Riley and Sam Greer, cornerback Jakob Weatherspoon, and wide receiver Jaeden Ricketts. Sanna’s addition brings the total number of commits to 10 and helps Ohio State maintain its No. 3 overall class ranking nationally, trailing only USC and Clemson. According to On3, the class holds a composite score of 93.235, good enough to leapfrog the Oregon Ducks and stand second in the Big Ten behind only Michigan.
On the field, Sanna brings proven production and physicality. He’s coming off an outstanding junior campaign where he posted 97 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, and seven sacks playing middle linebacker. While the transfer portal continues to reshape modern roster-building, the Buckeyes remain firmly committed to securing elite talent through high school recruiting. Sanna’s commitment is further proof that Ryan Day and his staff are doing just that—building a foundation that ensures long-term competitiveness and championship potential.
Sanna is the first official linebacker commit for the 2026 class, although four-star safety Simeon Caldwell has been projected as a possible linebacker by some services. The Buckeyes are expected to pursue additional top-tier talent at the position, including five-star Georgia prospect Tyler Atkinson, in-state standout Cincere Johnson, and Missouri four-star Jacob Eberhart. For now, Sanna sets the tone at linebacker—a local talent with elite upside and a clear passion for representing the Scarlet and Gray.
