Ohio State’s guest list continues to grow with more talent on hand to see the Buckeyes host Nebraska

The Buckeyes have quite the impressive guest list ready to go for Saturday’s game.

Just over 24 hours until kickoff, Ohio State has said all of the right things over the last several days, and now it’s time to see those words put into action. The first of six straight challenges the Buckeyes need to face, Saturday’s game against Nebraska has seen it’s importance increase now that the margin for error is so thin.

Ohio State does control its own destiny, which is where they want to be. With a loaded slate of recruits ready to take it all in, this weekend has shaped up to be a big one to say the least. New names continue to pop up with visit plans, and Thursday was no different as the guest list kept growing with plenty of top-tier level talent.

2026 Alabama native running back in town for Saturday

Alabama has never really been a state the Buckeyes have recruited well in, but it’s also not been an effort issue. A state that hasn’t produced the amount of talent that a Florida or Texas does for example, the coaching staff has made their hay in other areas and has been plenty successful.

That said though, the Buckeyes do currently have a major commit thanks to Na’eem Offord in the 2025 class from Alabama, and if they can hold on to his commitment, maybe that’s their “in” to really forcing their way into an area that has long been dedicated to it’s in-state programs and the rest of SEC country.

This weekend, the Buckeyes are hosting another Alabama native by way of 2026 running back, Ja’Michael Jones. A 6-foot, 185 pound athlete, Jones checks out as the No. 289 player nationally and the 22nd best running back in the class per the 247Sports Composite. At nearly 20 offers to his name from the likes of Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Michigan, Penn State, Texas, and USC, it’s easy to see why Ohio State is also on his list and also why they’re thrilled to have him on campus.

Watching the dynamic duo of Henderson and Judkins will certainly be a ploy position coach Carlos Lockyln uses on Jones this weekend and it definitely doesn’t hurt to know where Judkins comes from as another running back who chose to leave the SEC ranks for Ohio State. A name that will be watched closely as the Buckeyes look to land at least two running backs in the next cycle, Jones is certainly fitting that mold as a guy this staff likes enough to take.

Quick Hits

• In addition to several others, the Buckeyes will also play host to 2027 athlete Max Brown (Jefferson, Georgia/Jefferson), who may sound familiar. The younger brother to linebacker Sammy Brown, who Ohio State recruited heavily, the Buckeyes among other schools are hoping they’ll fair better with the next in line of the family to play big time college football.

A 6-foot, 175 pound athlete, Brown is just a high school sophomore, but has early offers from Auburn, Arkansas, and Ohio State. The Buckeyes offering back in May of this past year gives them the advantage as one of the first programs to enter his recruitment with an offer and they’ll hope that has a lasting impression on him.

A return trip for Max, seeing him on campus a second time in the same year is a great and telling sign for how he sees Ohio State. This is still very early on in his process, but at any rate it is a win for a staff that continues to recruit Georgia very hard. Surely this won’t be the last trip for Brown as he gets even more familiar with this program.