In the Big 10, Ohio State and Michigan are often going head-to-head on the recruiting trail. Now the conference is expanding to 18 this year, the West Coast programs are set to compete. This year, some of the top 2025 recruits have a tough choice to make in regard to their future in one of college football’s superconferences.
When it comes to the services of Jordon Davison, the three are enthralled in a battle. He is 247Sports‘ 10th-best running back in the country. Davison, a five-foot-eleven, 205-pound back from Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, California, narrowed his choices down at the beginning of May. The four schools vying for his pledge are Alabama, Ohio State, Michigan, and Oregon.
NEWS: Elite 2025 RB Jordon Davison is down to 4️⃣ Schools, he tells me for @on3recruits
The 6’0 208 RB from Bay Area, CA is ranked as a Top 5 RB in the ‘25 Class (per On3 Industry)
Where Should He Go?👇🏽https://t.co/54wZQIRC6m pic.twitter.com/SHjmm2uzUI
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) May 4, 2024
Ohio State, Michigan, Oregon Courting Top 2025 RB Jordon Davison
Davison is considered a four-star recruit by 247Sports but is thought of more highly by Rivals. There, he’s a five-star back and is considered the top recruit out of California. He’s lauded for his vision on the field and can find extra yardage when it looks like there is none to be had. Davison has been turning heads throughout the process and was even the running back MVP at Rivals‘ Los Angeles camp.
Michigan is Undergoing Changes
The Wolverines are going to look different in 2024. With the loss of head coach Jim Harbaugh as well as dozens of players who left for the NFL, Michigan is entering a new era. However, they went the route of keeping things in-house with their hire and retained offensive coordinator/head coach during Harbaugh’s suspensions, Sherrone Moore.
The aspect of Davison’s recruitment that will benefit Michigan is the fact that Ohio State’s primary recruiter at the position defected north. Tony Alford, the long-time Ohio State running backs coach, elected to leave and take the same position at Michigan. Alford was a solid recruiter for the Buckeyes in his time and is likely working the same magic for the Wolverines here.
Michigan has a pair of seniors at the top of the position for 2024 and two incoming freshmen. As for their 2025 recruit haul, Michigan has not been quite as dominant. They’re ranked 36th in the nation and eighth in the Big 10 at this early junction. Securing a player like Davison would give them the momentum they need.
Oregon and Ohio State Are the Favorites
Both Oregon and Ohio State are heading into 2024 with guns-a-blazin’. For 2025 recruiting, Ohio State is sitting atop the Big 10 leaderboard with Oregon a few places behind. In terms of average recruit ranking, Ohio State still leads with Oregon in third. The Ducks only have six commitments to this point whereas the Buckeyes own 13.
Oregon’s running back room is veteran-laden and they only have one incoming freshman in 2024. As for 2025, Davison would be the first running back of the class. He could even battle for playing time right away.
As for Ohio State, the Buckeyes are crystal-balled by a pair of 247Sports recruiting experts to land not only one top 2025 recruit at running back but two. Davison is projected to commit to Ohio State and join a running back room that is expected to be quite inexperienced in 2025. The two top backs in the room are expected to be NFL-bound after this year.
In addition to Davison, Ohio State is expected to add to its recent run of signing NFL legacies. The Buckeyes are projected to earn the commitment of Bo Jackson, Jr. out of Cleveland. The Buckeyes already have a trio of top recruits at the cornerback position in the class. They could double-dip with a pair of potentially elite players at running back as well.
Davison has not yet set a date for his commitment.
