Ryan Day and the Ohio State Buckeyes are straight up cooking a full-blown recruiting feast with that 2026 class. The Buckeyes are low-key ranked No.3 in the recruiting class with 13 commits, bagging 5-stars like Chris Henry Jr. and Blaine Bradford. But on May 17th, the whole vibe shifted when insider NevadaBuck hit the ‘Scoop Buckeyes’ podcast with Kirk Barton and dropped some heavy intel that might just flip the B1G East on its head. Have you ever heard something so wild it makes you pause the podcast and rewind? Yeah, it was one of those.
Turns out, the Buckeyes are going full throttle after four-star edge rusher Luke Wafle, the No. 1 player in New Jersey and No. 55 overall in the nation. Now, don’t let that calm Jersey accent fool you—this one is a menace off the edge. 18 tackles for loss. 8 sacks. The EDGE lives in the backfield like it’s rent-free. But the real kicker? His brother Owen signed with Michigan… then dipped after a season and transferred to Penn State. So the whole football world has been assuming Luke is leaning Nittany Lions.
But NevadaBuck said, Hold up, on 17th May on the Scoop Buckeye podcast. “This would be a big get,” he told Barton. “He’s the number one player in New Jersey… I heard it’s wide open right now. He’s got an official visit scheduled to Ohio State, I believe, in a couple of weeks. So they going to have a chance to kind of get after it. And when you are down to the final five, down to the final four, you’ve got more than a chip and a share. Ohio State believes that they are in it. And this is a guy that’s really high in their list. Larry Johnson has been targeting him… this isn’t just a name for some guy in 2028. We’re in it to win it with this [one].”
The Buckeyes got Wafle pulling up to Columbus on May 30. That visit could be the play. Ohio State already has an NIL bag ready. DL coach Larry Johnson is in full recruiter mode, and Ryan Day is flexing his NFL contacts like Matt Patricia on speed dial. USC, Penn State, and Texas are all in the final four, but let’s keep it a buck: if Wafle walks out of that Columbus trip with Buckeye gloves in hand, it might be a wrap.
Wafle’s stats scream dominance. 53 total tackles, including 18 for loss? And that’s not even counting his offensive highlights. 99 yards rushing. A 41-yard reception. Big man moves like a tight end. That versatility is rare, and Johnson knows it. If OSU can keep the momentum and lock in Wafle, this already top-three class gets even filthier.
Let’s be real. Penn State Nittany Lions are not going to sit quiet and let this slide like that, especially with the Owen Wafle redemption arc in full swing. And Texas? Texas got oil money.
Oh, and let’s not forget what NevadaBuck emphasized: “Ohio State has got a very competitive NIL package put together for him. And we play the kind of defense that this guy wants to play. So this is the name I’ve been told to keep an eye on very carefully. So I would tell the fans to do it as well, because—really, really good. I mean, number one player in the State of New Jersey, and a really good player that Ohio State could very well end up with as a Buckeye.” That kind of tea coming from Ryan Day’s camp? You know they’re not just hoping—they’re planning.
Ryan Day and the 5-star Felix Ojo’s Tale
So here’s the real twist. While the Buckeyes are fighting tooth and nail for Luke Wafle, they’re also neck-deep in another recruiting war. This one’s got more plot twists than a Netflix crime doc. Enter: Felix Ojo. Five-star offensive tackle. 6’6, 275 pounds of trench warfare. Straight out of Texas.
This one stings a little, because Ohio State already missed out on Jackson Cantwell—Miami snatched him like it was a South Beach heist. So now, Felix Ojo has officially become number one on Ryan Day’s recruiting board. He’s that guy. Like, plug-and-play day one, anchor-the-line type of guy. And the craziest part?
Ojo actually been throwing love Ohio State’s way. He’s said all the right things, praised the program, and showed respect. But here’s where it gets dicey—Texas is the leader in the clubhouse. Ohio State will get their shot, though. Ojo’s scheduled to visit Columbus in a couple of weeks. But what makes this risky? After OSU, he’s hitting Michigan, Texas, and Oklahoma in back-to-back-to-back weekends. That’s not looking good.
Still, OSU’s cooking up the best visit weekend they can. Buckeye fans are praying it’s like that moment in recruiting where the vibe changes and all the smoke clears. Because if Day can convince Ojo to block for his future QB—whether it’s Tavien St. Clair or someone else—they might just have their first five-star O-lineman in five whole years.
The post Huge Intel From Ryan Day’s Camp as Insider Warns of Elite OSU Target in Intense B1G Recruiting Battle appeared first on EssentiallySports.
