Ohio State is now 1-0 following an impressive season opener against Ball State last Saturday.
The Buckeyes finished their first game of the season with a rousing 56-3 victory. The dominant win was witnessed by more than just the 100,000-plus fans that filled Ohio Stadium, as Ohio State was also playing host to multiple recruits Saturday as well.
Ryan Day and the coaching staff may already be reaping the rewards of the first win, as the Buckeyes opened up the week being included in multiple top schools
lists for some of the nation’s top talents.
2028 five-star wide receiver Braylon Clark (Charlotte, NC / Providence Day School) released his top 12 schools Monday, and Ohio State made the cut.
However, as a top 12 implies, Ohio State still has competition in recruiting Clark. LSU, Alabama, Oregon, Tennessee, Miami, Clemson, Texas A&M, Indiana, Texas, South Carolina and USC all also made his top schools.
Clark isn’t just one of the top WR prospects in the 2028 recruiting cycle, he is one of the top overall recruits despite position. He is the No. 4 WR in the 247Sports Composite and he is the No. 12 national recruit. He is also the No. 2 recruit out of North Carolina.
Ohio State has long been recruiting Clark, and he has found his way to Columbus for unofficial recruiting visits on numerous occasions. The Buckeyes have also been doing their due diligence in making him a priority target in next year’s cycle.
This long-standing and strong relationship has helped Ohio State separate themselves from his other finalists. Recently speaking to Anna Adams of 247Sports, Clark said he, “has the best relationship” with Ohio State out of all of his finalists.
Ohio State is already off to a strong start in its 2028 recruiting class, especially on the offensive side of the ball.
The Buckeyes hold commitments from elite WR Jett Harrison, quarterback Christopher Vargas and running back Elijah Newman-Hall. If the Buckeyes are able to add Clark to this haul, Ohio State’s future offense would be very enticing.
While it was mentioned above that Ohio State is off to a hot start on the offensive side in the 2028 recruiting class, defense is just getting started. The Buckeyes do have a commitment from four-star edge Jameer Whyce, and are looking to add more.
One of the Buckeyes top defensive targets also included the team in his top schools list when four-star safety Jalen Flowers (Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA / Palos Verdes) listed Ohio State in his top 10 schools.
Alongside Ohio State, Flowers included Texas, USC, UCLA, Notre Dame, Oregon, LSU, Oklahoma, Miami and Washington in his top schools.
Flowers is one of the nation’s top safety prospects. He is the No. 8 safety in the 247Sports Composite and he is the No. 84 national recruit. He is also the No. 3 recruit out of the talent-rich state of California.
It is harder to identify a leader of the pack in Flowers’ recruitment as opposed to Clark’s, but Oregon and Texas seem to be the biggest competition for Ohio State early in his recruitment. Oregon was one of his most-recent offers but he was reportedly very excited to receive the offer. Meanwhile, he has already taken an unofficial visit to Texas.
Flowers will likely schedule multiple visits with his finalists in the coming weeks and months, as game day visits go a long way in helping a recruit make a final decision. Look for the Buckeyes to try and get him on campus this season and he may get an early look at the team for their marquee game this Saturday at Texas.
