There’s truly never a down time in college football. With the news coming yesterday of Michigan’s program now needing a new leader, the coaching carousel is more wild than ever before.
Without throwing shade and going into the details in Ann Arbor, it does make you thankful for the current leadership at Ohio State. Nobody is perfect, but Ryan Day has done his very best to surround the program with a culture that speaks for itself.
That said, Ohio State having a couple weeks off from on-field opponents
is still hard at work trying to defend their title, and it starts with fixing the shortcomings that came against Indiana. If history is any tell, the Buckeyes are well on their way to righting those wrongs as they prepare for the winner of Texas A&M and Miami.
Sure, the Indiana loss in the Big Ten Championship game takes much of the attention right now, but there’s still plenty of positives surrounding the state of the program. Julian Sayin being a Heisman finalist certainly leads the way, and tons of other players are seeing their fair share of accolades as well helps keep the good vibes rolling and that never hurts when it comes to recruiting.
Sights set to 2027’s class, this current roster and coaching staff have a ton to win both on and off the field.
One final award for class of 2026 Ohio State signee
It’s no secret how important Cleveland Glenville’s football program has been and is right now to Ohio State. Producing some elite players over the years, the Buckeyes have benefitted mightily from the in-state pipeline, and that can be seen presently thanks to Arvell Reese, who has been a menace for Ohio State this season.
One of the premier defenders in all of college football this season, Reese is already predicted to be one of the first players off the board in this year’s NFL Draft. While the staff would love to have him for another season after this one, there’s more Glenville talent on the way to fill the shoes of those who are on to the next level.
The next great Tarblooder to suit up for Ohio State looks to be Cincere Johnson and his 6-foot-3, 225 pound frame is drawing early similarities to Arvell’s. The No. 50 player nationally and third best linebacker per the 247Sports Composite, Ohio State signing him just a week ago was a major win, and Johnson landed one more final win for his prep career.
Fresh off another state championship victory, Johnson was also named the MaxPreps Ohio Player of the Year on Wednesday and it’s a fitting end to an incredible career. The Buckeyes know what they are getting in Johnson when he gets to Columbus and though prep awards aren’t everything, it does once again shed light and serve as confirmation as to why his recruitment was not only so successful as an in-state player, but also why he was so important to land.
It won’t be long before Buckeye fans will get to see Johnson all over the field. If he continues on the trajectory he has been on, it could come early on in his career. Position coach James Laurinaitis has to be thrilled with what he has coming next, and rightfully so.
Quick Hits
If there’s one player in Ohio State’s 2026 class that deserved more recognition, it’s defensive lineman Khary Wilder. A recruitment that gained more attention near the end, the Buckeyes firmly believe they landed one of the best at the position in the country in Wilder, and he’s another signee this staff has some major high hopes for.
The No. 42 player nationally and second best at his position per the 247Sports Composite, Wilder released his senior highlight film via his social media on Wednesday, and it’s well worth a watch. A first-hand look at what this Ohio State coaching staff is excited for, it’s easy to see why he was one of the more critical pieces to this class as a whole once he was signed.
