Ohio State’s 2026 recruiting class has hit a bit of a rough patch over the last month or so.
The Buckeyes’ current group still ranks good for No. 7 in the country, which would be incredible for almost any other school in the country. That being said, Ohio State has missed out on a number of its top targets recently, most specifically along the defensive line, and it feels like the national title win is not reflecting on the trail right now.
However, the program was able to get back in the win column
over the weekend when four-star wide receiver Jerquaden Guilford announced his commitment to Ohio State. Choosing the Buckeyes over Ole Miss, who reportedly had a far greater NIL offer on the table, it is yet another recruiting victory for Brian Hartline — but what else is new?
BREAKING: Four-Star WR Jerquaden Guilford has Committed to Ohio State, he tells me for @rivals
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) July 18, 2025
The 6’2 195 WR from Fort Wayne, IN chose the Buckeyes over Ole Miss, Michigan, & Indiana
“Fast life, fast livin”https://t.co/URZH5djHOl pic.twitter.com/GRx0jqpSS7
Guilford comes in as a four-star prospect and the No. 50 WR in the class, ranking as the No. 315 overall player in the class, per the 247Sports Composite. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound pass-catcher is also the No. 1 player out of his home state of Indiana. Guilford had been previously committed to Penn State since last December, but re-opened his recruitment in February before eventually landing with the Buckeyes.
“I want to be special so I got to join a special program. An elite program. I want to be an elite receiver. Elite receivers go to Ohio State.” Guilford told On3. “The people. The development. Coach Hartline’s process don’t lie. He develops guys the best way. Always has first rounders. The receiver room is excellent. You’re going to be around that environment every day competing.”
Here is some of 247Sports national analyst Hudson Standish had to say of Guilford’s abilities:
“Well-rounded outside receiver who can create separation at all three levels of the defense and stretch the field vertically. [...] Earned top performer honors after a stellar showing at the 2025 Under Armour Ohio regional camp and has been a consistent playmaker on the club 7-on-7 scene. [...] Possesses the physical tools and position-specific skill to potentially see a massive leap in production as a senior. Should be viewed as a traits-heavy outside receiver with the ability to contort his body and make acrobatic snags at the catch point.”
Guilford becomes the fifth and most likely final receiver commit for Ohio State in this 2026 class, joining five-star Chris Henry Jr., a top-100 overall player in Kayden Dixon-Wyatt and another pair of four-stars in Jaeden Ricketts and Brock Boyd. Guilford will become the second Fort Wayne-area wideout on the roster, joining former New Haven standout Mylan Graham.
Another job well done for Hartline, college football’s No. 1 recruiter and talent developer can now shift his focus fully onto the 2027 class, where he already holds a commitment from the nation’s No. 1 wide receiver in five-star Jamier Brown.
Quick Hits
- Guilford wasn’t the only BOOOM for Buckeyes’ athletic programs over the weekend, as Kevin McGuff’s squad added their first member of the 2026 class with the commitment of four-star guard Atlee Vanesko. The No. 5 combo guard and No. 57 overall player in the cycle per the 247Sports Composite, Vanesko helped Westtown School win its fourth-straight PAISAA championship during the 2024-25 season.
Four-star PG Atlee Vanesko has committed to Ohio State women's basketball
— Mick Walker (@mickdwalker) July 19, 2025
The 5-foot-11 Vanesko chose the Buckeyes over Stanford, Miami, and Virginia Tech
READ: https://t.co/gZGqq0BPWa pic.twitter.com/UFb6mt3OFn
- Staying on the hardwood, the men’s team learned on Sunday that they would be receiving a visit from 2027 guard LJ Smith. The 6-foot-4, 180-pound North Carolina native currently ranks as the No. 2 CG and No. 27 overall player in the class as a five-star prospect. Smith does not yet hold an Ohio State offer, but does have offers from more than a dozen schools, including Georgia, Kansas, Texas A&M, Virginia Tech and others.
NEWS: Top-30 SG LJ Smith has scheduled first visit to Ohio State, he tells @LettermenRow
— Mick Walker (@mickdwalker) July 20, 2025
The North Carolina native will make the trip to Columbus in the coming weeks ️
READ: https://t.co/UC8FK21UqJ pic.twitter.com/yLYGxGpH0A
- Ohio State missed out on one of its few remaining running back targets on Sunday when five-star RB Derrek Cooper announced his commitment to Texas. The nation’s No. 2 RB and No. 29 player overall chose the Longhorns out of a top five schools that also included the Buckeyes alongside Florida State, Georgia and Miami.
Top-100 running back Derrek Cooper commits to #Texas over #OhioState and others.https://t.co/4UmFkSTiKm pic.twitter.com/ls8EJtH21E
— Bucknuts (@Bucknuts247) July 20, 2025
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