Unlike a year ago when Ohio State hosted Notre Dame, the home opener for the 2023 season isn’t expected to be a massive recruiting event for the Buckeyes considering the opponent is Youngstown State.
But that doesn’t mean there won’t be at least a few marquee players in attendance. One of Ohio State’s top targets in the 2026 class, offensive tackle Maxwell Riley, has confirmed to Eleven Warriors he’ll be at the Buckeyes' season opener on Sept. 9.
The 6-foot-5, 265-pound Riley is considered the 14th-best prospect nationally and the third-ranked offensive tackle by 247Sports’ top-100 rankings for the 2026 class. The Buckeyes offered him in March and visited campus in April for Ohio State's spring game.
“That was a surreal experience," Riley said after receiving his offer. "I grew up an Ohio State fan and always watched them on Saturdays with my dad and grandpa. Finally getting to meet them in person and experience that was pretty cool. (Coach Ryan Day and Justin Frye) wanted to offer me because of my potential.”
Riley has 12 Division I offers including Florida State, Kentucky, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Tennessee, Toledo, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
Elijah Melendez picks up Ohio State offer
Ohio State has offered another talented linebacker in the 2025 class. The Buckeyes extended an offer to Florida four-star linebacker Elijah Melendez earlier this week, making him the 16th linebacker OSU has offered in the 2025 cycle thus far.
Im beyond blessed to be offered by THE Ohio State University @CoachFrancis15 @CoachBradLennox @Kowboy_Football @JLaurinaitis55 @CoachJimKnowles @ryandaytime @CoachMcGrath22 @CoachDuHart @MattParkerLR @ChadSimmons_ @adamgorney @Andrew_Ivins @OhioState247 @markpantoni @MarcVott pic.twitter.com/aYudmUIudk
— Elijah melendez (@Babyman3J) August 20, 2023
Per 247Sports’ composite rankings, the 6-foot-2, 223-pound linebacker is considered the 245th-ranked prospect and the 26th-rated linebacker. He’s picked up nearly 30 Division I offers, including from Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Cincinnati, Colorado, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisville, LSU, Miami, Michigan State, Mississippi State, Oklahoma, Pittsburgh, South Carolina, Texas A&M, UCF and USC.
Trenton Wilson puts Ohio State in top 12
One of Ohio State’s top defensive line targets in the 2025 class has narrowed his recruitment down to 12 schools. Four-star Maryland defensive lineman Trenton Wilson released a top 12 Wednesday consisting of Ohio State, Alabama, Georgia, Auburn, Michigan, Texas, Miami, USC, Maryland, Rutgers, Texas A&M and Penn State
1 2 pic.twitter.com/qT50KKd8aE
— Trenton Wilson (@iamtrentwilson) August 23, 2023
Wilson, ranked the 71st-best prospect and fifth-rated defensive lineman in 2025, visited Ohio State in late March and picked up an offer from Larry Johnson.
“I was really excited. They have an amazing history,” Wilson said after picking up the offer. “Coach Larry is arguably the best defensive line coach in college football. Playing for him would be a rare opportunity. Ohio State is high on my list.”
OSU staffers, commits react to Eddrick Houston's commitment
In case you missed it on Tuesday, Ohio State added its second five-star defensive lineman to the 2024 recruiting class with the commitment of Georgia prospect Eddrick Houston (with Justin Scott being the other).
Houston is considered the 23rd-ranked prospect nationally and is the eighth five-star defensive lineman Larry Johnson has secured in his OSU tenure.
Following the commitment, various Ohio State staffers and commits took to social media to celebrate Houston joining the 2024 class. We’ve compiled some of their reactions here.
BMMMM pic.twitter.com/LgVyuixYD6
— Mark Pantoni (@markpantoni) August 23, 2023
Boom pic.twitter.com/MH6S57oyKu
— Larry A. Johnson (@R2X_Rushmen1) August 22, 2023
Man we finna go crazy @HoustonEddrick0 #GoBucks
— Justin Scott (@juustinscott) August 22, 2023
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) August 22, 2023
BOOOOM!!!! pic.twitter.com/hwWlJdOOUD
— James Laurinaitis (@JLaurinaitis55) August 22, 2023
Ohh mann https://t.co/t1QOUBkyw3
— Aaron Scott JR (@AaronScottJr1) August 23, 2023
Welcome to the fam https://t.co/T7HA0Vi9aY
— Ian Moore (@IanMoore2024) August 22, 2023
The Buckeyes are Ready 2 Execute! @R2X_Rushmen1 #2The4The #BOOM
— urph (@N_Murph) August 22, 2023
B
— Gerren DuHart (@CoachDuHart) August 22, 2023
— Jeremiah Smith (@Jermiah_Smith1) August 22, 2023
BM#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/303nmvw3md
— Perry Eliano (@Coach_Eliano) August 23, 2023
— Max LeBlanc (@MaxenceLeblanc5) August 23, 2023
#Rushmen #SilverBullets pic.twitter.com/3VOLyVLpRC
— Sam McGrath (@CoachMcGrath22) August 22, 2023
By the way, a couple of Ohio State defensive back commitments have turned their attention to wooing four-star 2024 safety Zaquan Patterson, who has a commitment scheduled for Saturday.
@PattersonZaquan Come home theres nothing but endless opportunity for you here as a Buckeye and BIA is also waiting on you to be apart of this Class we are building Buckeye family go show him some love #GoBucks
— (@bryvonny) August 23, 2023
BIA here waiting here for ya jus sayinn!! @PattersonZaquan
— Aaron Scott JR (@AaronScottJr1) August 23, 2023
2026 targets Julian Lewis, Malachi Toney commit elsewhere
Ohio State saw two of its targets in the 2026 class head elsewhere the last few days. Quarterback Julian Lewis, the No. 1 ranked player in the class, committed to USC, while Toney, the former teammate of Ohio State wide receiver Brandon Inniss, committed to Miami.
COMMITTED #FightOn @Hayesfawcett3 @LincolnRiley @DaGman7 @CoachJoeyKing @TheCoach_Barge @rvfc10 @QuincyAvery @CoachBeas pic.twitter.com/oapUlmvLVO
— Julian "Ju Ju" Lewis 2026 QB (@JuJuLewis10) August 22, 2023
GO CANES AGTG https://t.co/2dIRfARhUM
— Malachi Toney (@MALACHITONEY2) August 23, 2023
There’s a long way to go between now and National Signing Day 2025, so it would be foolish to discount either recruitment being over entirely, but for now, Ohio State will look elsewhere at both positions.
