Eric Boggs
Ohio State’s recruiting momentum stretched into another class this week as the Buckeyes secured a major 2027 addition in four-star offensive tackle Brody McNeel, solidifying an already loaded group of offensive line talent. But the celebration came with a dose of disappointment, as 2026 Pennsylvania offensive tackle Kevin Brown opted for West Virginia over Ohio State.
For the Buckeyes, McNeel represents a recruiting victory that felt inevitable. The 6-foot-5, 285-pound lineman had already called Ohio State the clear leader in his recruitment before returning to Columbus for the UCLA game—a visit that only strengthened the connection he’d built with offensive line coach Tyler Bowen. That trip followed what McNeel described as a “perfect” first experience when he attended the season opener against Texas.
“It was amazing. Everything was perfect,” he told Rivals. “Seeing Ohio State win, meeting former players, going in the locker room after the game, getting back around the coaches—those were the biggest highlights.”
Five days before committing, McNeel publicly reaffirmed that the Buckeyes were “definitely leading the way.” On Tuesday, he made it official, becoming the fifth commitment in four days for a program that continues to recruit with unmatched energy.
Ranked as the No. 23 offensive tackle and No. 234 overall prospect in the 2027 class, McNeel slides between fellow offensive line commits Kellen Wymer and Mason Wilt in the early rankings. He becomes the fifth-highest-rated player in a class already headlined by five-star wide receiver Jamier Brown, safety Eli Johnson, quarterback Brady Edmunds, and Wymer.
McNeel joins a wave of commitments—spanning both 2026 and 2027—that followed Ohio State’s commanding 48-10 win over UCLA. Everyone in that group was in attendance, underscoring the magnetic pull a packed Ohio Stadium still has under the lights.
But while Ohio State locked down its future at tackle in 2027, the immediate picture at the position took a hit with news that Kevin Brown, a top 2026 offensive tackle target, would not be joining the Buckeyes.
The 6-foot-5, 265-pound Pennsylvania product had long been on Ohio State’s board and visited Columbus in the final month of his recruitment. But Brown—formerly committed to Penn State for over a year—ultimately chose to follow family ties, committing to West Virginia, where his father, Tim Brown, played under Rich Rodriguez in the early 2000s.
Brown’s announcement came on The Pat McAfee Show, where he pledged to the Mountaineers over West Virginia’s two primary challengers—Ohio State and North Carolina—before commemorating the moment with the program’s infamous couch-burning tradition.
Rated No. 78 in the SC Next 300 and ESPN’s No. 13 offensive tackle, Brown immediately becomes the highest-ranked Mountaineer pledge in more than 15 years. His father explained the decision simply: West Virginia’s vision aligned with his son’s. “They have a long-term plan there,” he said. “Kevin really feels that.”
Ohio State’s pursuit was genuine, and the Buckeyes made a strong push late, but Brown chose legacy over opportunity in Columbus. The loss stings, but it doesn’t derail the Buckeyes’ broader recruiting momentum.
With McNeel in the fold for 2027 and a host of commitments across both classes following the UCLA game, Ohio State remains firmly positioned as one of the nation’s hottest programs on the trail—landing its top targets early while continuing to battle for elite talent across the country.
