Chris Henry Jr.

Ohio State is gearing up for its season opener against Akron at Ohio Stadium this Saturday, and with it comes the first chance of the year to host recruits and their families on gameday visits. Although Akron may not be the most high-profile opponent on the Buckeyes’ home schedule, several elite prospects are still expected to make their way to Columbus, underscoring the importance of these early-season visits.

Among the notable recruits set to attend is five-star cornerback Elbert Hill, a familiar face at Ohio State over the past year. The Akron native, ranked as the No. 1 cornerback in the 2026 class, has developed a strong rapport with Ohio State’s secondary coach Tim Walton and safeties coach Matt Guerrieri. Hill is a top priority for the Buckeyes in the 2026 recruiting cycle.

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“My relationship with them is great,” Hill said of Walton and Guerrieri in June. “Every time I see them, it’s something new. The relationship just goes higher and higher every time I talk to those guys.”

Another key visitor for the weekend is five-star wide receiver commit Chris Henry Jr. Keeping Henry closely tied to the program is crucial, especially with other top programs like Oregon in pursuit of the No. 1 overall prospect in the 2026 class. Henry is expected to return to Ohio State for the Nov. 30 game against Michigan but will be in Columbus this weekend alongside his high school teammate and fellow wide receiver target, Kayden Dixon-Wyatt. Joining them will be two more wide receiver prospects from the 2026 class: four-star Donovan Murph and three-star in-state athlete Jaeden Ricketts. Ricketts, who earned an offer from Ohio State after an impressive camp performance this summer, and Murph, who is on offer watch this weekend, are both expected to catch the attention of OSU’s coaching staff.

Adding to the list of standout recruits is four-star defensive end Shaun Scott, another Mater Dei product, and four-star safety Nassir McCoy, who received an offer from Ohio State in May and returned to campus in June. These prospects, alongside Hill, highlight the caliber of defensive talent the Buckeyes are targeting.

Ohio State running back commit Bo Jackson will also be in attendance, bringing with him his high school teammate, 2027 tight end D’Angelo White. White, who received an offer from Ohio State in June, is poised to become a priority target in his class.

Five-star 2025 quarterback commit Tavien St. Clair has made it clear that he plans to attend every home game this season. “I’ll be at every single one,” St. Clair said last week. “I love being in The Shoe, there’s nothing like it.”

Four-star 2026 defensive lineman Aiden Harris, a top-50 prospect who has identified Ohio State as his leading school, was considered a potential visitor earlier this week, though his visit has not been confirmed as of Friday morning.

Below is a list of prospects expected to be on campus this weekend, with commits highlighted in bold provided by Eleven Warriors:

Class of 2025

  • Five-star quarterback Tavien St. Clair
  • Five-star linebacker Riley Pettijohn
  • Four-star offensive tackle Carter Lowe
  • Four-star running back Bo Jackson
  • Three-star wide receiver Bodpegn Miller
  • Three-star linebacker Eli Lee
  • Three-star offensive lineman Jake Cook

Class of 2026

  • Five-star wide receiver Chris Henry Jr.
  • Five-star cornerback Elbert Hill
  • Four-star wide receiver Kayden Dixon-Wyatt
  • Four-star wide receiver Donovan Murph
  • Four-star safety Nassir McCoy
  • Four-star defensive end Shaun Scott
  • Three-star wide receiver Jaeden Ricketts
  • Three-star linebacker Nathan Gersh
  • Three-star defensive lineman Jamarcus Whyce

Class of 2027

  • Tight end D’Angelo White
  • Running back Elijah Kimble

The Buckeyes are set to showcase their program to some of the nation’s top talent as they kick off the season, setting the stage for future recruiting success.