The country’s top rated defensive lineman in the 2026 class has scheduled a return visit to Ohio State.
Five-star Louisiana prospect Jahkeem Stewart told On3 he plans to visit OSU in November for the Buckeyes’ contest against Michigan and will also likely visit LSU, USC and Texas. Stewart, The No. 2 overall prospect in the 2026 class per 247Sports’ composite rankings, told Eleven Warriors after a recruiting camp in June he hoped to return to campus for the Buckeyes’ rivalry matchup and now has since confirmed the trip.
“I came up for the spring game, and it was mind-blowing,” Stewart told Eleven Warriors this summer. “So I can imagine the team up north game is going to be even more mind-blowing.”
His November visit to Ohio State could have massive implications, as Stewart is heavily considering reclassifying to the class of 2025, meaning his recruitment would be in the final stages at that point in the calendar.
While Ohio State will face stiff competition for Stewart, the Buckeyes have put themselves in a strong position to be a top contender for the 6-foot-6, 270-pound product.
“Coach Larry Johnson, he's a great coach. One of the best defensive line coaches in college football history. Just getting a chance to work with him, the drills he had me going through, it was my first time going through those drills. And he wanted me to mess up. He tried to push me to my limits. And he felt as though I did a great job doing what I needed to do and accepting his challenge. So it was all great,” Stewart told Eleven Warriors after his camp.
In Stewart’s sophomore season, he recorded 85 tackles, 33 tackles for loss, six forced fumbles and 20 sacks. While his prep numbers are certainly impressive, Stewart says he feels he could see the Buckeyes being a major scheme fit for him.
“I feel like I could fit perfectly in the defense,” Stewart said. “With the technique Coach Johnson’s teaching, and me being the person I am, my second effort, I want it more than a lot of these kids out here. The majority of these kids out here, majority of these men out here, no disrespect, it's going to be a lot of trying to just block me and compete with me for four quarters. And with Coach Johnson's mindset, we'll do great things together.”
Jackson Cantwell includes Buckeyes in top 14 schools
While Ohio State still eagerly awaits a decision from the No. 1 offensive tackle in the 2025 class (David Sanders Jr.), the top-rated tackle in 2026 has started to slightly narrow down his recruitment.
Five-star Missouri prospect Jackson Cantwell released a top 14 schools list last week consisting of Ohio State, LSU, Michigan, Florida, Nebraska, Missouri, Miami, Alabama, Texas A&M, USC, Georgia, Oregon, Arkansas and Ole Miss.
— Jackson Cantwell (@jcantwell2499) July 18, 2024
Cantwell is considered the No. 3 overall prospect and No. 1 offensive tackle in the 2026 class. He picked up his offer from Ohio State on Oct. 26.
“They’ve got one of the best programs in the country right now,” Cantwell told Eleven Warriors of OSU last fall. “They’re having success for sure. I know they have a huge rivalry with Michigan which I was probably going to watch regardless, but now I’m for sure going to watch that game now that I’m offered to see what they’re about. It’s definitely a highly-regarded school as far as football goes.”
Cantwell still hasn’t visited OSU in his recruitment as of yet, so changing that would be a good first step if the Buckeyes want to take another serious swing at landing another top-rated tackle. The 6-foot-7, 300-pound prospect has said in the past he’ll likely have a long recruitment process, so as of now, there’s still plenty of time for OSU to strengthen its relationship with Cantwell.
Kendre Harrison leaves Ohio State off top 6
In a move that was expected, the No. 1 tight end in the 2026 class, five-star prospect Kendre Harrison, has left Ohio State off his top six schools. Harrison released a list of finalists last week consisting of North Carolina, Tennessee, Penn State, Oregon, Florida State and Miami.
NEWS: Five-Star TE Kendre Harrison is down to 6 Schools, he tells me for @on3recruits
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) July 16, 2024
The 67 250 TE from Reidsville, NC is ranked as the No. 1 TE in 2026 on all recruiting websites
Will play basketball at the next level as well
Where Should He Go?https://t.co/mYH9mjwTnz pic.twitter.com/euc6hJH6WJ
Nine of the 10 tight ends offered by Ohio State in the 2026 class remain uncommitted, so there is still plenty of time for Keenan Bailey to zero in on another top prospect for the next cycle, similar to what he did with Nate Roberts for 2025.
