Inside the Lettermen Lounge: Setting the stage for Ohio State’s in-state recruiting efforts in the 2026 class
COLUMBUS – The No. 1 priority for Ohio State on the recruiting trail is landing the top prospects in the state of Ohio every cycle.
Ohio State has already offered nine in-state prospects in the 2026 class and there are several other prospects that they will be keeping an eye on this season.
In this edition of ‘Inside the Lettermen Lounge’ we break down each in-state prospect that the Buckeyes have offered in the 2026 class and the stage for Ohio State’s recruiting efforts in Ohio next cycle. We share some additional recruiting buzz from other Ohio State sports including men’s and women’s basketball.
WR Jaeden Ricketts
School: Pataskala (Ohio) Watkins Memorial
Measurables: 6-foot and 185 pounds
Top Offers: Ohio State, Bowling Green, Kent State, Ohio
On3 Industry Ranking: Not ranked
Lettermen Row’s take: Ohio State wide receivers coach Brian Hartline offered Pataskala (Ohio) Watkins Memorial wide receiver Jaeden Ricketts after a strong camp performance in June and the Buckeyes look like the team to beat in his recruitment. Ricketts told On3 Vice President of Recruiting and Transfer Portal Steve Wiltfong after earning his Ohio State offer that he wants to let his recruitment play out but Lettermen Row believes the Buckeyes could close things out in the next few months.
OL Max Riley
School: Avon Lake (Ohio)
Measurables: 6-foot-3.5 and 265 pounds
Top Offers: Ohio State, Alabama, Clemson, Michigan and Oklahoma
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 57 overall and No. 5 interior offensive lineman
Lettermen Row’s take: Ohio State offered four-star Avon Lake (Ohio) Max Riley in May of 2023 and he has been a frequent visitor in Columbus since. Riley returned to campus in June to work with offensive line coach Justin Frye in a camp setting and he recently spoke with Lettermen Row about that visit. Alabama, Clemson and Oklahoma are Ohio State’s biggest threats in this recruitment but the Buckeyes will be tough to beat because of his relationship with Justin Frye.
OL Will Conroy
School: Cleveland (Ohio) St. Ignatius
Measurables: 6-foot-3 and 275 pounds
Top Offers: Ohio State, Michigan, Oklahoma and Oregon
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 273 overall and No. 22 interior offensive lineman
Lettermen Row’s take: There has been some concern about four-star Cleveland (Ohio) St. Ignatius offensive lineman Will Conroy leaving Ohio after On3’s Steve Wiltfong recently put in an On3 RPM for him to Oregon but the Ohio State is still very much in this recruitment. Conroy did not camp at Ohio State in June but he did visit for a practice this spring and will likely be back in Columbus for a game-day visit this fall.Conroy has always been interested in Oregon but there is still a long way to go in this recruitment and plenty of time for Ohio State to land his commitment.
OT Sam Greer
School: Akron (Ohio) Archbishop Hoban
Measurables: 6-foot-8 and 290 pounds
Top Offers: Ohio State, Florida, Michigan, Missouri and Penn State
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 139 overall and No. 12 offensive tackle
Lettermen Row’s take: The recruitment of four-star Akron (Ohio) Archbishop Hoban offensive tackle Sam Greer has been a hard one to read. Greer does not do many interviews or talk about his recruitment often but it was encouraging to see him camp at Ohio State in June. Justin Frye has prioritized Greer but so have Florida, Michigan Missouri and Penn State.
LB Storm Miller
School: Strongsville (Ohio)
Measurables: 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds
Top Offers: Ohio State, Clemson, Notre Dame and Wisconsin
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 193 overall and No. 16 linebacker
Lettermen Row’s take: Four-star Strongsville (Ohio) linebacker Storm Miller earned his offer from Ohio State at camp in June. After being offered by Ohio State, Miller told On3’s Steve Wiltfong that the Buckeyes will ‘definitely be very high’ on his list going forward. Miller’s brother, Blake, is the starting right tackle at Clemson and Ohio State are battling the Tigers along with Notre Dame in this recruitment.
LB Kobe Clapper
School: Cincinnati (Ohio) St. Xavier
Measurables: 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds
Top Offers: Ohio State, Michigan, Notre Dame, Penn State and Tennessee
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 239 overall and No. 19 linebacker
Lettermen Row’s take: Ohio State linebackers coach James Laurinaitis offered four-star Cincinnati (Ohio) St. Xavier linebacker Kobe Clapper after watching him workout at St. Xavier’s spring showcase. The two have been in consistent communication since and Clapper recently told Lettermen Row that he trying to set up a visit to Ohio State. Notre Dame is the other school to watch in this recruitment. Head coach Marcus Freeman is recruiting Clapper and his high school teammate Gordy Sulfsted is committed to the Irish in the 2024 class.
CB Elbert Hill
School: Akron (Ohio) Archbishop Hoban
Measurables: 5-foot-10.5 and 170 pounds
Top Offers: Ohio State, Michigan and Penn State
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 16 overall and No. 1 cornerback
Lettermen Row’s take: Four-star Akron (Ohio) Archbishop Hoban cornerback Elbert Hill is the No. 1 prospect in the state of Ohio in the 2026 class and the top target for cornerbacks coach Tim Walton. Hill has a close relationship with Walton and has visited Ohio State almost a dozen times. Penn State has also gotten him on campus several times an he likes the Nittany Lions’ coaching staff but it would not be surprising to see Hill commit to Ohio State after his junior season or early next offseason.
CB Victor Singleton
School: Toledo (Ohio) Central Catholic
Measurables: 6-foot and 160 pounds
Top Offers: Ohio State, Kentucky, Pittsburgh and Wisconsin
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 130 overall and No. 10 cornerback
Lettermen Row’s take: Four-star Toledo (Ohio) Central Catholic Victor Singleton had been working to earn an offer from Ohio State and it finally came after a strong camp performance in June. Singleton is close with assistant cornerbacks coach Gerren DuHart, a fellow Toledo (Ohio) Central Catholic product, and their relationship could go a long way in him committing to Ohio State. Kentucky and Pittsburgh are two other schools to watch in this recruitment but the Buckeyes will be tough to beat.
CB Jakob Weatherspoon
School: Avon (Ohio)
Measurables: 5-foot-11 and 172 pounds
Top Offers: Ohio State, Michigan, Notre Dame and Penn State
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 279 overall and No. 26 athlete
Lettermen Row’s take: Another in-state cornerback who earned an offer from Ohio State at camp in June was four-star Jakob Weatherspoon out of Avon (Ohio). The 5-foot-11 and 172-pound speedster could play cornerback or safety at the next level but for now, Ohio State is recruiting him as a corner. Ohio State is battling Michigan, Notre Dame and Penn State for his commitment but he told Lettermen Row after earning his offer that he grew up watching the Buckeyes.
Recruiting around campus…
– On3 National Basketball Reporter Joe Tipton reported on Thursday that four-star Link Academy (Mo.) power forward A’mare Bynum is scheduled to take an official visit to Ohio State from October 4-6 and Bynum confirmed that to Lettermen Row. Ohio State offered Bynum, the No. 75 prospect in the On3 Top 150, on June 12 and he is being recruited by assistant Jamall Walker. He told Lettermen Row that he is excited to see Columbus.
“It seems to be a nice place and I wanted to check it out,” Bynum told Lettermen Row.
– Additionally, Western Reserve Academy (Ohio) head coach Matt Garvey told Lettermen Row earlier this week that four-star power forward Niko Bundalo will take an official visit to Ohio State from Sept. 20-22. Bundalo was originally expected to be in Rock Hill, South Carolina this week for the Adidas Boys 3SSB Palmetto Road Championship. Instead, he is playing with the Serbian National Team at the U18 World Championships.
– Tom Ryan and the Ohio State wrestling program are still awaiting a decision from Perrysburg standout Marcus Blaze, per a source. Blaze is one of the top high school wrestlers in the country and Ohio State is battling Penn State for his commitment.
– The Ohio State women’s basketball program had a top target come off the board earlier this week with Shakopee (Minn.) Minnetonka Senior guard Aaliyah Crump, the No. 8 overall prospect in the On3 HER rankings, committing to Texas. The focus for Kevin McGuff’s coaching staff is now on Springboro (Ohio) guard Bryn Martin in the 2025 class.
– Ohio State head baseball coach Justin Haire has been busy this summer trying put together a staff and build a roster for next season while also helping coach the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team. Per sources, Haire and his staff are expected to host a ZOOM meeting in the coming weeks with all of Ohio State’s commitments in the 2025 class.
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