Ohio State faces an important test on the field Saturday against Nebraska.
But the Buckeyes are also equally tasked with having a home run recruiting weekend with a few dozen highly touted prospects from various classes expected to be at Ohio Stadium.
Arguably the two most important visitors of the trip are four-star 2025 offensive tackle Damola Ajidahun and five-star 2025 defensive tackle Jahkeem Stewart.
Go bucks https://t.co/ZXszrBTMgg
— Jahkeem THANOS Stewart (@Jahkeem2026) October 23, 2024
Ajidahun is making his first visit to Ohio State since being offered by Justin Frye, so making a strong impression on the Georgia Tech commit is of strong importance. Offensive tackle is still a glaring need for the Buckeyes in the 2025 class and OSU faces tough competition from the likes of South Carolina and Georgia in trying to flip Ajidahun from his commitment to the Yellow Jackets.
Stewart is making his first of two visits to OSU this fall, so it’s on Larry Johnson to make sure the opening trip to Ohio Stadium is a success. The Louisiana standout who recently reclassified from 2026 will also visit OSU for the Michigan game in November and is being pursued by Oregon, LSU and USC.
Several commits will also be on hand, but none more important than four-star defensive end Zahir Mathis. Mathis is taking his long-awaited official visit to Columbus, which will give Johnson much-needed time to further recruit the Philadelphia product. Ohio State is fighting hard to keep Mathis as Penn State continues to try and keep the talented pass rusher in-state.
I'll be back in Columbus this weekend #Gobucks
— Zahir Mathis (@ZahirMathis5) October 22, 2024
A few intriguing visitors from the 2026 class will also be on campus. Ohio four-star linebacker Storm Miller is a top priority for OSU linebackers coach James Laurinaitis and will be making his first gameday visit of the fall. North Carolina offensive lineman J.B. Shabazz picked up an offer from Frye in September and now will make his first visit to Columbus this weekend.
Tight ends coach Keenan Bailey will also have his fill, as both Corbyn Fordham and Lincoln Keyes plan on making the trek to OSU. Both were offered by Bailey within the past year.
Top-300 running back Ja'Michael Jones is the most highly touted tailback expected to make the trip this weekend. Carlos Locklyn offered Jones in April and since then he and OSU have been in frequent contact. Jones has bonded with Locklyn over their Alabama roots and will be making his first visit to Columbus.
I will be at Ohio State this weekend @Locklyn33 @GrangerShook @ChadSimmons_ @adamgorney @cpetagna247 @SWiltfong247 @MattParkerLR @mickdwalker pic.twitter.com/34ZjrVZNu1
— JaMichael Jones C/O 26 (@MikeJones__21) October 24, 2024
Two five-star talents in the 2027 class will be at the Nebraska game.
Ohio State fans never hate hearing about big-time offensive tackle visits and Maxwell Hiller fits that billing. Hiller is considered the No. 29 prospect and No. 4 offensive tackle in the 2027 class per 247Sports’ composite rankings. He was offered by Frye in September and now can begin building a strong bond with the Buckeyes.
Ill be at hio State on Oct 26th vs Nebraska @CoachJFrye @CoachSollenne @adamgorney pic.twitter.com/epOuBND9gu
— Maxwell Hiller 5OT (@HillerMaxwell) October 20, 2024
Five-star wide receiver/defensive back Dakota Guerrant is making his second gameday visit of the fall for OSU, which is always a positive sign considering he’s turning into a frequent visitor early in his recruitment. Guerrant also visited Ohio State for the Marshall game and was offered by both Tim Walton and Brian Hartline in June.
Three 2027 linebackers with Ohio State offers all plan on being at Ohio Stadium, including Max Brown, Quinton Cypher and Antwoine Higgins. Five-star 2027 quarterback Brady Edmunds appears to be the top priority at the position for that cycle, but OSU is going to explore other options until he makes his commitment, hosting signal callers Trae Taylor and Caden Jones this weekend. Both Taylor and Jones are expected to be top-ranked prospects in the cycle eventually and have OSU offers.
Finally, defensive end/tight end Asher Ghioto was the fourth player Ohio State offered in the 2028 class and he’ll make his first gameday visit to Columbus on Saturday. Ghioto is the high school teammate of Fordham.
“I’ve heard a lot of great things,” Ghioto told Eleven Warriors in late August about what he’s heard about OSU from Fordham. “Just about the program, the way they coach, the way they treat their players and the recruits. I’ve heard a lot of great things and I’m really excited to get up there and see what they’re all about.”
The expected recruiting visitors list for Saturday’s game can be found below (commits are bolded):
Class of 2025
- Five-star quarterback Tavien St. Clair
- Five-star defensive tackle Jahkeem Stewart
- Four-star defensive end Zahir Mathis
- Four-star running back Isaiah West
- Four-star offensive tackle Carter Lowe
- Four-star offensive tackle Damola Ajidahun
- Three-star wide receiver Bodpegn Miller
- Three-star offensive lineman Jake Cook
Class of 2026
- Four-star tight end Corbyn Fordham
- Four-star linebacker Storm Miller
- Four-star offensive lineman J.B. Shabazz
- Four-star running back Ja’Michael Jones
- Three-star tight end Lincoln Keyes
- Running back Favour Akih
Class of 2027
- Five-star wide receiver/defensive back Dakota Guerrant
- Five-star offensive tackle Maxwell Hiller
- Four-star linebacker Antwoine Higgins
- Quarterback Trae Taylor
- Quarterback Caden Jones
- Linebacker Max Brown
- Linebacker Quinton Cypher
Class of 2028
- Defensive end/tight end Asher Ghioto
