Ohio State is now 6-2 following a more-than disappointing loss to USC. Ohio State had a chance to win for most of the game, but it never quite felt like the Buckeyes were truly in it. Falling 30-18, head coach Ryan Day and the Buckeyes have a lot to figure out.
This weekend, Ohio State is set to host Oregon. Earlier in the season, this matchup against the Ducks was believed to be one of the biggest games of the College Football season. However, after injuries to both team’s starting quarterbacks,
the game has lost a lot of luster.
That being said, Ohio Stadium is set to be packed to the brim with Buckeye Faithful for the 3:30 p.m. ET game. Buckeye Nation will not be alone in the stadium, as the Buckeyes are also going to be playing host to a large group of the nation’s top recruits.
Recruiting never stops at Ohio State, and this hard work paid off Monday as the Buckeyes moved one step closer to securing another top talent in their 2028 class.
2028 four-star offensive tackle Lincoln Fa’alafi (San Juan Capistrano, CA / JSerra Catholic) narrowed down his list of scholarship offers to seven teams and Ohio State made the cut. In Fa’alafi’s top schools were Ohio State, Oklahoma, UCLA, BYU, Notre Dame, Oregon and USC.
As can be seen above, Ohio State has some tough competition for the blue-chip prospect. Especially as Fa’alafi visited with USC last weekend for a major recruiting weekend and witnessed first-hand the Trojans beating Ohio State handily.
That being said, this weekend’s game against Oregon will also be a big game for the Buckeyes and if Ohio State can use this week to tighten things up and beat the Ducks in impressive fashion, it may be just as impressive to the young offensive tackle.
Ohio State’s 2028 recruiting class is already off to a hot start. The Buckeyes hold five verbal commitments in the class and it is currently the top class according to 247Sports. Ohio State hasn’t added an offensive lineman to the class and Fa’alafi would make for an excellent first addition along the offensive front.
Fa’alafi is the No. 10 OT in the 247Sports Composite and he is the No. 92 national recruit. He is also the No. 5 recruit from the talent-rich state of Florida.
Ohio State 2027 RB recruiting update
Ohio State will be playing host to a large handful of recruits this weekend when it hosts Oregon. Of those expected to be on hand, two of the more important names to keep an eye on are running back flip-targets that will be on campus.
Four-star Alabama RB commit Nigel Newkirk (Gainesville, GA / Gainesville) and four-star Texas State RB commit Daylon Gordon (Wylie, TX / Wylie) are both reportedly scheduled to make the trip to Columbus this weekend.
Running back has been the thorn in Ohio State’s side for the 2027 recruiting cycle. The Buckeyes missed out on their top overall target at the position when five-star David Gabriel Georges committed to Tennessee over Ohio State.
The elite target was easily Ohio State’s top target in the class, despite position, and losing him to the Volunteers set the team back at recruiting the position late in the cycle.
Fast-forward to the middle of the season and Ohio State really started to recruit Ohio running back and former Maryland commit, Jordan Hall. The Buckeyes really increased their contact with him and made him feel like a priority and shortly after, he de-committed from the Terrapins.
Ohio State was not the only school courting Hall, and despite many believing the Buckeyes were the favorites to land him, Hall committed to Big Ten foe, Penn State, on Oct. 24. This once again set Ohio State back at recruiting the position even later in the cycle.
The Buckeyes seem determined to land a commitment at the position in this cycle, and they will likely look to add to the position group in the transfer portal as well. Both Newkirk and Gordon would make for a great grab for the Buckeyes in this year’s class.
Ohio State was in on Newkirk for a large part of his recruitment, until he began to focus on Alabama and the Buckeyes put all of their focus on Gabriel Georges. Newkirk has not mentioned swaying from his Alabama pledge, but if this weekend’s visit goes well, it will certainly help Ohio State in its chances in flipping him.
On the opposite side of things, Ohio State got in on Gordon late and just recently offered him. However, Ohio State is a much more marquee program compared to Texas State, and the Buckeyes have more tools in their recruiting arsenal.
If his reported visit to Ohio State goes well, the Buckeyes could become serious contenders to flip him. Ohio State has already pulled off one flip late in this recruiting cycle, and they will hope to do so again with one of Newkirk or Gordon.
Newkirk is the No. 16 RB in the 247Sports Composite and he is the No. 226 national recruit. Gordon is the No. 22 RB and is the No. 355 recruit, respectively.
