In-state prospects making up early 2026 Ohio State linebacker push

COLUMBUS — Ohio State has two linebackers committed to its top-ranked 2025 class already.

Four-star Port St. Lucie (Fla) Vero Beach linebacker Tarvos Alford and three-star Akron (Ohio) Archbishop Hoban linebacker Eli Lee are both locked in with the Buckeyes. Linebackers coach James Laurinaitis is trying to get a third in the class, but it’s going to be tough.

Where it might not be as tough to find three linebackers is in the 2026 cycle and in the Buckeye State.

Lettermen Row looks at three names to keep an eye on heading into the summer camp season.

Kobe Clapper

Four-star Cincinnati (Ohio) St. Xavier linebacker Kobe Clapper was the first of this trio to announce an offer from the Buckeyes.

The 6-foot-2, 195-pound backer is the No. 213 overall prospect and the No. 20 linebacker according to On3. He checks in as the No. 242 overall prospect and the No. 20 linebacker in the On3 Industry Rankings. Both rankings have Clapper as the No. 10 Ohio prospect.

Clapper announced his Ohio State offer on May 2. St. Xavier had its showcase that day and Laurinaitis was in town to watch Clapper work out. He offered the 2026 prospect in the aftermath of that workout. I’d expect Clapper, even with the Ohio State offer, to head up on Interstate 71 North to camp at Ohio State.

Storm Miller

Four-star Strongsville (Ohio) linebacker Storm Miller turned in an impressive workout at the Under Armour Next Series camp a few weeks back in Canton. Lettermen Row will have more notes on that later, but Miller has been in steady contact with the Buckeyes.

Both Laurinaitis and defensive coordinator Jim Knowles have visited Miller at school. He will return the favor and camp at Ohio State this summer with the hopes of earning his offer from the Buckeyes.

Miller is the No. 160 overall prospect and the No. 14 linebacker according to the On3 Industry Rankings. On3 has Miller as the No. 179 overall prospect and the No. 19 linebacker.

Cincere Johnson

If there’s anyone on this list who wants the Ohio State offer the most, it’s four-star Cleveland (Ohio) Glenville linebacker Cincere Johnson.

The 6-foot-3, 225-pound Clevelander is the No. 79 overall prospect and the No. 8 linebacker according to On3. Those change to the No. 114 overall prospect and the No. 12 linebacker when looking at the On3 Industry Rankings

Laurinaitis watched Johnson workout last week and still didn’t pull the trigger on the offer. That doesn’t mean it won’t happen, however. Ohio State and Glenville are in a revival of the historic pipeline. Johnson will certainly camp at Ohio State this summer and from there, things could change for him and the Buckeyes.

The post In-state prospects making up early 2026 Ohio State linebacker push appeared first on On3.