Fresh off an NFL Draft that saw both of Ohio State’s eligible tight ends taken, position coach Keenan Bailey has the perfect opportunity on the recruiting trail when it comes to pitching his room.
Players at the position taking notice of the development happening in Columbus, Bailey has the Buckeyes in prime position to only continue the successful track record. Needing commitments of his top targets though to reload the room, there’s one new name worth paying attention to after Wednesday’s latest
offer at the spot.
Making a stop in Illinois, Bailey was there to see Glenbard West product, Brady Johnson. A 6-foot-3, 220 pound athlete, Johnson is the No. 1252 player nationally and 64th best tight end in the 2027 class per the 247Sports Composite.
A three-star, Johnson may not be the highest ranked player Ohio State fans are used to seeing the staff recruit, but after both an in-person workout and home visit, Coach Kee clearly saw enough reason to have Ohio State in the mix here.
Offers from a handful of schools, the Buckeyes are certainly his largest offer to date, and the most interesting aspect in this recruitment is seeing his current status. Committed to Northwestern since February, Johnson does have an allegiance elsewhere, but his excitement in this offer shows Ohio State has a solid shot at flipping that commitment if they continue to push.
This late into the process, new names aren’t as common as the future cycles so keep an eye on this recruitment as the Buckeyes now put themselves in the fold.
2027 Pennsylvania receiver lands Ohio State offer
More efforts on the road Wednesday, Ohio State was also active in Pennsylvania and at the receiver position.
A state that’s been kind to the Buckeyes over the years at receiver, Cortez Hankton has Ohio State going back to familiar territory now for Cade Cooper. Taking to his social media to share the latest update in his recruitment, the Buckeyes join 20-plus schools to have their offer extended.
A 6-foot-3, 195 pound athlete, Cooper is the No. 297 player nationally and 37th best receiver in the 2027 class per the 247Sports Composite. Ohio State being later to the party, Notre Dame, Ole Miss, Penn State, and others have been in the mix longer, but the Buckeyes should never be counted out and especially at the receiver position for obvious reasons.
From here, Ohio State will look to get Cooper on campus to really have a shot at his commitment since his original top schools came back in April. If they can however, this recruitment can get real interesting and in a hurry.
Notre Dame having a very impressive class of 2027, Ohio State would have to battle the Irish who have seen plenty of success lately. But again, at this position and program, the Buckeyes always have a realistic chance.
Quick Hits
One more offer worth mentioning, Ohio State also sent one out to 2028 cornerback target Nasir Richardson on Wednesday. The No. eight player nationally and top cornerback in the cycle per the 247Sports Composite, this is one prospect that is obviously deserving of Ohio State’s attention considering his status.
Twenty-plus offers from the likes of Auburn, Florida, Oregon, Penn State, Tennessee, and now Ohio State, this New Jersey native will be highly sought after for the long haul and now that includes the Buckeyes.
The top running back on Ohio State’s board has long been David Gabriel Georges in the 2027 class. The No. 10 player nationally and second best running back per the 247Sports Composite, David is down to four schools, but now has a commitment date set.
Georgia, Ohio State, Ole Miss, and Tennessee the finalists, it’s really been the Buckeyes and in-state Volunteers to lead the way for the rumored favorites in his recruitment. Looking to make his call on July 22, Ohio State and Carlos Locklyn are in the home stretch of fighting for his services.
Just over two months to go, it’s crunch time to keep their name heavily in the mix and hopefully in the lead for the five-star priority.
