Ohio State makes top schools for newly reclassified corner, pair of offensive linemen

The Buckeyes continue to be among the leaders for the nation’s top prospects.

We are one weekend closer to Ohio State kicking off its spring practice schedule, as the Buckeyes will soon begin their chase for a second-straight national title. Ryan Day is tasked with replacing the majority of his championship roster, but between a College Football Playoff National Championship Trophy and a stellar showing of Buckeyes at the NFL Combine, the recruiting pitch in Columbus has never been easier.

As a result, Ohio State continues to find itself listed among the top schools for virtually all of the country’s most elite talent. This past weekend was no different, as another trio of blue chip prospects have the Buckeyes under heavy consideration.

Offensive line is obviously a massive area of focus for Ohio State in the current cycle. Position coach Tyler Bowen will have little time to stretch his legs in his new role, as the Buckeyes need to really restock the cupboard in an important 2026 class. Luckily, there seems to be no shortage of opportunities to land some big fish in this loaded group.

On Friday, Ohio State made the cut for yet another top-tier offensive lineman in four-star IOL Tommy Tofi. The 6-foot-7, 335-pound California native cut his list from 30 offers down to a top eight, with the Buckeyes among that small collection of programs alongside Miami, Oregon, Tennessee, USC and others.

Tofi ranks as the No. 7 IOL and the No. 92 player overall in the 2026 class, per 247Sports’ rankings. Drawing some comparisons to former Outland Trophy winner and current Detroit Lion Penei Sewell, Tofi has played both guard and tackle at a high level. Despite his large stature, the Archbishop Riordan product moves incredibly well, also showcasing his athleticism on the basketball court as well as in the shot-put.

Keeping with the theme of offensive line, Ohio State also made the cut for four-star OT Deacon Schmitt. With more than two dozen offers to his name, the Colorado native trimmed his list down to a final eight, with the Buckeyes among that group alongside Alabama, Georgia, Oklahoma, USC and others.

Schmitt ranks as the No. 30 IOL in the country and the No. 2 player in his home state, per the 247Sports Composite. Standing at 6-foot-5, 320 pounds, the Windsor High School product was recently offered by Bowen on Feb. 25. Clearly his initial conversations with the offensive line coach as well as Ohio State’s reputation as a program have impressed Schmitt, as the Buckeyes made his short list less than a week after their official offer.

Elsewhere, it has been a busy recruitment for cornerback Havon Finney Jr. The elite defensive back announced on Saturday that he is reclassifying from the 2027 class to 2026, and dropped a list of 16 schools he is still considering out of his nearly 30 offers. Included in that group was Ohio State, in addition to Georgia, Michigan, Oregon, Penn State, Texas and others.

Standing at 6-foot, 170 pounds, Finney Jr. becomes a top-150 player overall and the No. 15 corner in the 2026 class per On3’s rankings. The California native tallied 37 tackles, four picks and a forced fumble for Sierra Canyon in his sophomore season, while also making an impact on special teams with a pair of punt return touchdowns. Finney Jr. was named the All-American National Combine Defensive MVP by 247Sports last January.

Looking beyond the current cycle, Ohio State does as good a job as any at advance scouting. The Buckeyes are already well underway in evaluating players in both the 2027 and 2028 classes, and on Friday running backs coach Carlos Locklyn extended an offer to a current freshman in Anthony Howard Jr.

The 5-foot-10, 175-pound running back hails out of Auburndale, Florida, and is already garnering the attention of some of the nation’s top programs, including now Ohio State as well as holding prior offers from Florida, Florida State and Miami. Howard Jr. participated in December’s FBU Freshman All-American Bowl, where he was named a top performer by 247Sports. He is only the second running back that Locklyn has offered in 2028.

Quick Hits

Ohio State’s spring guest list and future official visit schedule seems to grow daily. Below is a small handful of newly announced upcoming visitors to Columbus. All rankings are 247Sports Composite.

• 2026 four-star OL Sam Greer – No. 15 OT, No. 7 OH, No. 172 Natl.
  Unofficial OSU Visit: March 17

• 2026 three-star DL Keysaun Eleazer – No. 39 EDGE, No. 23 NC
  Official OSU visit: June 13-15

• 2027 OT Lual Aleu
  Unofficial OSU visit: March 25