Just two days away now, the long wait for the Ohio State-Texas game is nearly over, and it’s about time. The stakes for a Week 1 matchup are at an all time high, and all eyes will be watching. On the recruiting front as well, this guest list for the home opening contest couldn’t be larger and it’s impressive to say the least.
2028 QB makes plans to see Ohio State
Quarterback recruiting a focal point of every class, the Buckeyes have both 2026 and 2027 squared away already, allowing for additional time and efforts being placed in 2028.
With offers already dished out to multiple players, the coaching staff is on the hunt, and this weekend one target from rival territory is making his trek to Columbus to see the big game.
A 6-foot-3, 180 pound athlete, Donald Tabron is a product of Detroit’s Cass Tech High School, and is putting together quite the impressive resume just one full year into prep football. The No. 39 player nationally and the fifth quarterback per the 247Sports Composite, Tabron making this visit to see Ohio State has not only him excited, but the staff too.
Showing his interest in the Buckeyes multiple times as of late, Tabron has been vocal about he impressed he is with the program and this visit should only increase that fact. Offers from over 20 schools to his name, the Buckeyes have yet to pull the trigger, but seeing him on their sideline as soon as this Saturday could very well change that.
A top player not only at a position of major importance, but also in Michigan’s back yard, it won’t be a surprise to see Ryan Day and his crew get in the mix officially.
Five-star liking what he sees from Ohio State
If there’s a position on Ohio State’s roster that has more recruiting positivity than anywhere else, certainly that could be said of the receiver position. A spot that has given the Buckeyes top players every year under Hartline, this specific group is constantly atop of the college landscape and that doesn’t change with this upcoming season.
A trend of appealing to the top players the country has to offer in each cycle, the Buckeyes are at it again, and will have the chance to further that streak of success as soon as Saturday.
Set to be in town for the Texas game, North Carolina product, Braylon Clark is making the campus visit this weekend and looking forward to doing so. A 2028 five-star, Clark is the No. 19th best player nationally and the sixth best at his position per the 247Sports Composite. An offer from the Buckeyes already earned, Clark has been quoted as saying Ohio State is, “super high up” on his list and that matters.
Recruiting North Carolina more and more recently, the Buckeyes have solid roots all over the state, and the success thanks to Brian Hartline is at least making a pretty solid first impression. A first-hand experience to watch this weekend, Clark will get to see what playing at Ohio State is really like. If the receivers do what they typically do, that has to help carry some weight and momentum.
Quick Hits
Though he’s already committed, one of the more important guests this weekend certainly includes safety commit, Blaine Bradford. The No. 36 player nationally and the fifth best safety per the 247Sports Composite, Bradford is one of the crown jewels to this class. In a time where the recruiting wins in terms of commitments has decreased, Bradford’s pledge means that much more.
Considering too that LSU is making a real push for the nearby Baton Rouge prep star, Ohio State needs to hold on to this one and win out. His sixth visit to campus, this one will serve as a reminder that the made the right choice initially, leading to zero reason for looking elsewhere.
A staff addition, the Buckeyes have hired former SMU player personnel specialist Dallas Dudley to serve in a similar role at Ohio State. Typically calculated types of moves, Ohio State must see something in Dudley to bring him to Columbus.
