Eric Boggs
Ohio State’s second summer recruiting camp on Thursday had nearly 100 fewer campers than the previous day, but the talent level remained high.
The spotlight was on five-star 2026 defensive tackle Jahkeem Stewart, the most highly regarded uncommitted prospect on campus. Stewart arrived Wednesday evening and spent Thursday with defensive line coach Larry Johnson. The Louisiana native observed team workouts in the morning before participating in his own session, guided by Johnson. Ranked as the No. 2 overall prospect for 2026 by 247Sports, Stewart is considering reclassifying to the 2025 class, adding urgency to his recruitment. Recently, he has frequently visited USC, LSU, and OSU, all strong contenders for his commitment.
On the field, Stewart’s 6-foot-6, 270-pound frame was hard to miss. Many offensive linemen struggled against him, but Darius Gray, a four-star offensive lineman from Virginia, held his ground. Gray won several reps against Stewart, drawing cheers from Ohio State offensive linemen watching the camp. Eventually, Stewart bounced back and won a few reps. Gray’s performance earned him a scholarship offer from Ohio State, one of seven prospects to receive offers that day.
Gray, who stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 290 pounds, is projected to play as an interior offensive lineman at the next level. Despite a three-inch height disadvantage, he proved his skill against Stewart. Gray is ranked No. 56 overall and No. 3 among interior offensive linemen for the 2026 class. He has 35 Division I offers from top programs including Alabama, Clemson, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, and Notre Dame.
Another standout offensive lineman at Thursday’s camp was four-star 2026 prospect Grant Wise from Florida. The 6-foot-3, 300-pound Wise, ranked No. 165 overall and No. 11 among interior offensive linemen, also received an offer from Ohio State. Wise has 33 Division I offers, including from Alabama, Clemson, Florida, Georgia, and Oklahoma.
In addition to Stewart, four-star Georgia defensive lineman Carter Luckie impressed at the camp, earning an offer from Ohio State. Luckie, who is the brother of Georgia tight end Lawson Luckie, is rated No. 224 overall and No. 25 among defensive linemen for 2026. He holds 10 Division I offers, including from Georgia, Tennessee, and West Virginia.
Thursday also featured a talented group of tight ends, headlined by Ohio State commit Nate Roberts from Oklahoma. Other notable tight ends included 2026 prospects Brock Harris, Mack Sutter, Corbyn Fordham, and Ryder Mix. Four-star Iowa prospect Evan Jacobson and Michigan prospect Lincoln Keyes received offers from Ohio State after the camp. Both stand over 6-foot-6 and have strong frames for the position.
Five-star quarterback commit Tavien St. Clair was back on campus, working with Ryan Day and Chip Kelly. He connected with his future teammate Roberts on several passes. Another quarterback, 2027 prospect Brady Edmunds from California, also impressed and received an offer from Ohio State. Edmunds holds 20 Division I offers from schools like Oregon, Michigan, and Texas.
Ohio State wide receiver coach Brian Hartline extended an offer to three-star 2026 Ohio wideout Jaeden Ricketts, who impressed coaches with his speed and performance. Ricketts now has eight offers, with Ohio State being the first Power Five school to offer him.
Three athletes from The Bolles School in Jacksonville, Florida, who already held OSU offers, participated in the camp. This included Corbyn Fordham and top-100 2026 prospects Simeon Caldwell and Naeem Burroughs. Burroughs enjoyed working with Hartline, while Caldwell was excited to work with his uncle, Ohio State secondary coach Tim Walton.
