Ohio State Recruiting Strikes Out On Three Top Prospects in August
August is a hot time of the year, both in terms of the weather and in recruiting. Rising seniors at the high school level often make their decision before their season begins, allowing them to focus on football rather than being wooed by other programs. Obviously, anything can happen over the next three-plus months, but Ohio State recruiting took three straight losses on the trail over the last week.
The Buckeyes entered August with 21 commits to their 2026 class. As the month winds down, it remains the same. Now, there are concerns about how the program allocates NIL as Ohio State is headed for its lowest-ranked class in the Ryan Day era.
Ohio State Recruiting Strikes Out
The Crystal Ball Was Just Fog
Currently, the highest-rated Buckeye commit is Chris Henry Jr., the 39th-best player in the country, according to 247Sports. The best bet to join the cause was Bralan Womack, the top-rated safety in the nation. Crystal Balls are not the law of the land, but 247Sports‘ staff seemed to think Womack was headed to Columbus. As Lee Corso often puts it, “Not so fast, my friend!”
The recruiting service compares Womack to current superstar Caleb Downs, setting a high bar. He possesses every trait a coach would dream up when creating their ideal safety. He has size, athleticism, and a natural football IQ that would give him a legitimate chance to play right away. As a junior in 2024, Womack earned Mississippi Player of the Year honors over the likes of Caleb Cunningham and Deuce Knight, who were both seniors and will be playing in the SEC this fall.
The comparison to Downs fits. Womack has a knack for knowing what the offense is doing before the offense knows it themselves. He can cover the zone with ease, but can also play man coverage with the best of them. Just like Downs, Womack comes downhill as a run defender and is as sure a tackler as any in the 2026 class. His athleticism is on display as he is a three-phase star as a receiver, safety, kick/punt returner, and special teams coverage. He was all over the statsheet with 39 tackles and eight interceptions on defense, with 1,045 yards and 13 touchdowns on 54 receptions on offense. As a returner, he added both a kick and punt return for touchdowns.
Unfortunately for the Ohio State recruiting effort, Auburn swooped in and convinced the elite safety to stay south.
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Another OL Whiff
Ohio State has had a hard time convincing top-tier offensive line talent to commit as of late. The Buckeyes do have two four-star recruits committed to the class, but neither is a guard. At one point, it looked like Ohio State was the team to beat for Darius Gray, a six-foot-three, 285-pound blue-chip from Virginia.
The Buckeye recruiting efforts have not landed a five-star lineman since Donovan Jackson in 2021. Last year, the Buckeyes infamously struck out with David Sanders, and they missed out on a battle for the nation’s top guard. Gray was a star at the 2025 Navy All-American Bowl with bigger, older, more established defenders. He has the potential to be a first-round pick and is an impressive athlete. Gray is a two-way player, and he is a star on the basketball court.
He’s relentless as a run blocker and can anchor and recover in his pass sets. 247Sports compares Gray to Zion Johnson, an All-American and stalwart on the Los Angeles Chargers’ offensive line.
Gray committed to South Carolina on August 22nd.
TTUN Gets a Big-Hiter
Losing out on a five-star running back stings. Losing out to the hated rival and the position coach who defected to the dark side is even worse. Ohio State was a finalist for the top running back in the nation, Savion Hiter.
Recruiting running backs is an area the Buckeyes have had success in the past. Despite both running backs from last year being drafted as the third and fourth backs with the 36th and 38th picks, landing Hiter seemed to be a long shot.
One of those two running backs selected before either former Buckeye was Omarion Hampton from North Carolina. 247Sports likens Hiter’s game to Hampton’s. Earlier this summer, Ohio State brought Hiter to campus for two visits over a five-week window, showing how important he would be to the Buckeyes’ efforts.
He is a shade under six feet tall and is already 200 pounds of muscle. 247Sports projects him as a star with a Power 4 program and one who can develop into a true three-down back. If there is any aspect of his game that needs development, it’s in the passing game as a receiver. Considering Ohio State turned Quinshon Judkins into a top pick as a primary runner who just so happens to have hands, it can do the same for Hiter.
Michigan added Hiter to its class, catapulting it to 10th-best in the nation, according to 247Sports, right behind the Buckeyes.
Again, there is plenty of time between now and December 5. Ohio State can absolutely keep up the pressure and flip one or more top targets. It’s a true first-world problem to complain about a class that’s “only” ninth-best in the country.
Main Photo: Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Drew is the credentialed Ohio State writer for Last Word on College Football and Cincinnati Bengals writer and editor for Last Word on NFL. He is an FWAA Member and Outland Trophy, Lombardi, Maxwell, Nagurski, Lou Groza Award and CFB Hall of Fame voter.
