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With the Ohio State coaching staff finalized and spring quickly approaching, the Buckeyes will soon play host to some of the nation’s top prospects.
Coming off a national championship, Ohio State quickly saw multiple players announce they were going to the NFL. This was to be expected following the postseason success, but what was not as expected was the turnover the Buckeyes saw on the sidelines.
Ohio State lost both its offensive and defensive coordinators, and saw its offensive line coach leave as well. The Buckeyes spent the first couple weeks after the championship win filling up the coaching staff. With the offensive positions now filled and the defense likely soon to come, Ohio State can start planning on hosting some of the nation’s top recruits.
Spring is quickly approaching, and with that means spring practices with the upcoming roster of Buckeyes as well as spring recruiting camps. These recruiting camps will begin shortly, and some of the nation’s rising stars are already announcing upcoming visits, both official and unofficial with Ohio State.
Below are just some of the recruits to recently announce upcoming visits to Ohio State.
Four-star RB Favour Akih
Class: 2026
Hometown: Delaware, OH / Rutherford B Hayes
Size: 6-foot / 190 lbs.
Visit Update: Being from Ohio, Akih has long been familiar with the Buckeyes and their campus. He has visited with Ohio State before and will be coming back in a little over a month for a spring practice on March 17.
I will be at The Ohio State University March 17th for a spring practice @Montgomery_DHHS @Locklyn33 @mickdwalker @AllenTrieu @adamgorney pic.twitter.com/5JnMU4Kkbv
— Favour Akih 4⭐️ (@FavourAkih) February 10, 2025
Four-star OT Felix Ojo
Class: 2026
Hometown: Mansfield, TX / Lake Ridge
Size: 6-foot-6 / 275 lbs.
Visit Update: Ojo has long been identified as a priority target in the 2026 recruiting class. He is familiar with the Ohio State coaching staff and its campus, last visiting for the Buckeyes’ national championship celebration. He recently told On3 that he will be taking an official visit to Ohio State, but a date has not yet been decided on. What is for sure is his interest in the Buckeyes, as he also said Ohio State is one of his top two schools.
Elite 2026 OT Felix Ojo will take an Official Visit to Ohio State & says the Buckeyes are Top 2 in his recruitment
“What stands out about Ohio State is the culture and how much of a priority I am for them. Especially when Coach Frye left, the whole offensive staff called me… pic.twitter.com/wUPN25F04W
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) February 7, 2025
Three-star Edge Keysaun Eleazer
Class: 2026
Hometown: Raleigh, NC / Southeast Raleigh
Size: 6-foot-5 / 190 lbs.
Visit Update: Eleazer is another recruit the Buckeyes have been interested in for some time, having offered him in November of last year. He has shown the potential to become a real pass-rushing threat, and the interest appears to be mutual. Eleazer has scheduled four upcoming official visits and Ohio State made the cut alongside Georgia Tech, Penn State and Virginia Tech.
Rangy EDGE Keysaun Eleazer of Raleigh (N.C.) Southeast has set four official visits to #GaTech #PennState #OhioState #VaTech.
He talks about each destination and gives latest in recruitment: https://t.co/Hf6aZ6aTwD pic.twitter.com/OuM7nPkMJ2
— Anna Adams (@AnnaH247) February 10, 2025
Four-star S Kaden Gebhardt
Class: 2026
Hometown: Lewis Center, OH / Olentangy
Size: 6-foot-2 / 200 lbs.
Visit Update: Like Eleazer, Gebhardt was offered by Ohio State in late November of last year. Since then Ohio State has kept in contact with him and the interest appears to be mutual. Gebhardt scheduled an upcoming official visit with Ohio State on June 5. He will also take an official visit to Clemson and Penn State, but the Buckeyes have to like where they sit currently in his recruitment.
Buckeye safety target @kaden_gebhardt locks in an #OhioState official visit.
✍️ @Bill_Kurelic https://t.co/ISlmZiC96q pic.twitter.com/cepIRhfzUS
— Bucknuts (@Bucknuts247) February 9, 2025
Quick Hits
- Ohio State recently made the cut for a pair of 2026 prospects. The first was three-star linebacker Jamarion Phillips (Dallas, TX / South Oak Cliff) who listed the Buckeyes in his top 10 alongside Oklahoma, Colorado, Arizona State, SMU, Texas A&M, Baylor, Illinois, Missouri and Arkansas.
Top 10 pic.twitter.com/JtC5F3nlDs
— Jamarion Phillips (@JamarionP1) February 9, 2025
- 2026 defensive lineman Damari Simeon (Richland, NJ / St. Augestine Prep) also listed Ohio State inside his top 10 schools, alongside Notre Dame, Duke, Texas A&M, Syracuse, Michigan, Illinois, Penn State, Wisconsin and Texas.
After a lot of consideration I will be narrowing down my recruitment to these schools… #Top10 pic.twitter.com/ERS1ivhCyd
— Damari Simeon (@Damari_Simeon) February 9, 2025