This weekend’s visitor list just got more interesting.
Five-star 2025 defensive tackle Jahkeem Stewart confirmed he’ll attend Ohio State’s matchup against Nebraska on Friday, making the weekend pivotal for defensive line coach Larry Johnson.
Go bucks https://t.co/ZXszrBTMgg
— Jahkeem THANOS Stewart (@Jahkeem2026) October 23, 2024
Stewart recently reclassified from the 2026 class to the 2025 cycle, so a decision is on the horizon within the next few months for the Louisiana prospect. Per 247Sports’ composite rankings, Stewart is considered the No. 16 prospect and No. 3 defensive lineman in the 2025 class.
Stewart visited Oregon earlier this month for the Ducks’ win over the Buckeyes and is also heavily pursued by the likes of USC and LSU. The 6-foot-6, 270-pound prospect will take visits to LSU and USC this fall and also plans to return to Oregon in November for another visit, per On3. This weekend is the first of two planned trips to Columbus for Stewart, who will return in November for an official visit for the Michigan game.
Stewart has long been linked to Johnson and Ohio State, as he’s visited Columbus various times over the past year, most recently in June to work out with Johnson and graduate assistant coach LaAllan Clark at a recruiting camp.
“I feel like I could fit perfectly in the defense,” Stewart told Eleven Warriors of OSU in June. “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.”
This is Johnson’s first opportunity this fall to make a strong impression on the Louisiana prospect, and the fact he’s visiting twice in five weeks indicates strong interest in the Buckeyes on Stewart’s end. Still, this figures to be a prominent recruitment that goes down to the wire.
Trae Taylor confirms Nebraska visit
Stewart won’t be the only notable prospect on campus. Though he’s a few classes out, 2027 quarterback Trae Taylor figures to be one of the top signal callers in the 2027 class and is making his way to Columbus for the second time within the last few months.
Look forward to being @OhioStateFB this weekend. Never been in the horseshoe during a game @ryandaytime @PlayBookAthlete @QBHitList @netsportsmgmt @CoachSemaj @TomLoy247 @LemmingReport @AllenTrieu @SWiltfong_ @PrepRedzoneIL @OJW_Scouting @GregSmithRivals @MohrRecruiting @EDGYTIM pic.twitter.com/uHLoX9HRpI
— Trae Taylor (@Qb6Trae) October 22, 2024
Taylor camped at OSU in June and earned an offer from Ryan Day and Chip Kelly. The 6-foot-2, 175-pound prospect holds nearly 30 Division I offers, including from the likes of Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, South Carolina and Tennessee.
Na’eem Offord switches visit plans
For the second time this fall, five-star OSU cornerback commit Na’eem Offord has moved around his visit plans. Per 247Sports, Offord will no longer visit for the Buckeyes’ game against Nebraska this weekend and will instead return to campus for the Nov. 30 contest against Michigan.
Offord had originally planned to visit Columbus for the Iowa game before moving the visit to the Nebraska contest, then moved that trip to late November. Assuming Offord shows up for the Michigan game this all may be much ado about nothing, but it’s hard not to raise at least a slight eyebrow considering Offord has been heavily pursued by Oregon and Auburn and has yet to make a gameday visit to OSU this season.
The Buckeyes will be in a battle until National Signing Day to retain Offord’s commitment, and OSU won’t stop trying to convince him Columbus is the best place for his development until the end.
