When Ksani Jiles took his first-ever visit to Ohio State in late March, he left campus impressed with what the Buckeyes had to offer.
The 2026 cornerback also left Columbus with an offer in hand from secondary coach Tim Walton, a moment that touched the 5-foot-11, 175-pound defensive back.
“It was great since it’s BIA,” Jiles told Eleven Warriors of his offer. “Ohio State has put out the best DB products so it’s a blessing to get an offer from them.”
Walton and Jiles had a lengthy conversation during his visit. Walton let him know how much of a priority he is for the 2026 cycle. Jiles has long been a fan of five-star cornerbacks Devin Sanchez and Na’eem Offord and Ohio State’s cornerback recruiting has definitely caught his attention.
I am extremely blessed and humbled to say that I have received an offer from OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY @OhioStateFB @CoachTimWalton @LacedfactDreams @adamgorney @demetricDWarren @TheUCReport @ChadSimmons_ @Zack_poff_MP @GregBiggins @dzoloty @BrandonHuffman @CoachKiddIMG pic.twitter.com/TVPgpXQtaD
— Ksani Jiles (@iam_Ksanijiles) March 23, 2024
“He told me that I’m a high player on his board for the 2026 class,” Jiles said. “He told me to look at all the 2025 commits they have right now and he asked me if I wanted to be just like them. I love seeing a lot of top cornerbacks buying in under a great coach. I love competition so that’s definitely a top thing for me.”
The 5-foot-11, 175-pound Jiles used to be a Miami commit but decommitted from the Hurricanes in February. While he doesn’t yet hold a composite rank from 247Sports, he figures to be one of the top cornerbacks in his recruiting class. So far, he’s earned more than 20 Division I offers, including Miami, Arizona, Colorado, FIU, Florida, Kansas, LSU, Michigan State, Missouri, Nevada, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Pittsburgh, Texas A&M, USC, Utah, Washington and Washington State.
Jiles attends football powerhouse IMG Academy (Bradenton, Florida) but is originally from Inglewood, California. Walton and Jiles first became connected in December after Walton made a trip down to his school to have an introductory conversation with him.
“Coach Walton came down to my school a few months ago and got into contact with me. That’s when I’ve been in contact with him and we’ve been in contact since,” Jiles said. “We don’t talk as much since I’m part of the 2026 class (and he can’t contact me directly yet), but as much as I’m able to call him, we just talk and catch up with each other.”
While on campus, Walton and Jiles broke down film together, and the IMG Academy product couldn’t help but notice how loaded the Buckeyes are on defense this spring.
“I was in the film room really, and I got to see how good their defense is,” Jiles said. “Tim Walton showed me his resume and the biggest takeaway I got from that is how Jalen Ramsey talks so highly of him. He said he was the best DB coach he’s ever had so that was a big thing for me. The energy every player had in the meetings was amazing, you can see how much of a brotherhood they are.”
Jiles said he’s impressed with how often former Ohio State greats return to campus to interact with the program. That’s one of the main reasons he’s interested in the Buckeyes.
“As a player, I just know I’ll have a lot of role models to come back to teach me the game,” he said.
Jiles is primarily being recruited as a cornerback for Ohio State but says he also plans to play safety at times during his junior season to give him versatility on the field. Cornerback is his natural position, but he’s open to playing wherever the best fit is at the collegiate level.
“At IMG, I played more on the outside at corner, but I feel like I can play any position in the secondary,” Jiles said. “You’ll see this year on my film I’ll play safety and corner, all different places in the secondary. I really understand routes and techniques so I feel like the best part of my game is how much I understand the cornerback position. I practice very hard to understand the routes and yardage on the field.”
Jiles plans to be back on campus for another visit soon.
“I really don’t have a place for any school right now, but they’re very high (in my recruitment),” Jiles said of Ohio State.
Jiles hopes to make a commitment sometime next summer before the start of his senior season, but things could change if he feels it’s necessary.
“Just the communication with the school, what the school has to offer and the relationship they build with my parents and my family,” Jiles said of the most important factors in his recruitment.
