Ohio State keeps handing out offers this week.
With the Buckeyes coaching staff on the road until next week’s dead period, Ohio State is making it a point to ensure prospects from various recruiting classes know they’re valued in Columbus. OSU has offered five more prospects in the past few days, and we break down each of them below.
Ryder Lyons
Lyons is definitely the headline-grabbing offer of the week, with Ryan Day and offensive analyst Billy Fessler offering the five-star quarterback from the 2026 class on Friday.
Blessed to say I have received an offer from Thee Ohio State University!! @CoachFess @ryandaytime @Passing_Academy @CoachDanny10 pic.twitter.com/zyrFj59Dcj
— Ryder Lyons (@ryderly0ns) January 31, 2025
Per 247Sports’ composite rankings, Lyons is considered the No. 9 prospect and No. 3 quarterback in the 2026 cycle. The 6-foot-3, 215-pound California prospect has picked up 34 Division I offers, including from the likes of USC, Ole Miss, Oregon, Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame and Texas A&M.
In his junior season, Lyons completed 211 of 310 passes for 3,011 yards and threw for 46 touchdowns compared to just six interceptions. He ran for 585 yards and scored 14 rushing touchdowns as well. In 2023, Lyons threw for 3,578 yards and 38 touchdowns to eight interceptions and ran for 929 yards and 23 touchdowns.
Lyons’ older brother, Walker, was recruited by Ohio State in the 2024 cycle and now is a tight end at USC.
Ohio State is still searching for a top quarterback in the 2026 class, which could prove challenging given the state of the current quarterback room and that five-star signal caller Brady Edmunds is already on board for the 2027 cycle. Still, that won’t halt the pursuit, as the Buckeyes are recruiting Lyons, Jared Curtis, Brady Smigiel and at least two other new names.
Bowe Bentley
Fessler also offered Texas 2026 signal caller Bowe Bentley on Thursday, with the 6-foot-2, 200-pound quarterback being rated the No. 291 player and No. 18 signal caller this cycle. Bentley has 27 Division I offers, including Arizona, Boston College, Florida State, Indiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Wisconsin.
#AGTG After a great conversation with @CoachFess, I am blessed to receive an offer from Ohio State!! @Nathaneelliott1 @DamianDevon @RecruitCelinaFB @dctf @247recruiting @Rivals @On3Recruits @OhioStateFB pic.twitter.com/iLAVZkmtLc
— Bowe Bentley (@bowebentley) January 30, 2025
Bentley was impressive at the Navy All-American Bowl in January and helped lead his team to a 16-0 season and state title last year while scoring 63 total touchdowns with 4,200 total yards. Bentley is a true dual-threat quarterback, especially considering his career started out as a skill player.
Thankful for an UNDEFEATED STATE CHAMPIONSHIP Junior season
— Bowe Bentley (@bowebentley) January 1, 2025
Passing: 3,330 yds (70%), 47 TD
Running: 933 yds, 16 TD
Highlights
Colossians 3:17@celina_football @Nathaneelliott1 @DamianDevon@dctf @247recruiting @Rivals @On3Recruits pic.twitter.com/jkIB9cbT4d
As a junior, he completed 171 of 245 passes for 3,211 yards with 47 touchdown passes to seven interceptions.
CJ Sanna
Sanna has been a frequent visitor to Columbus this past year. The in-state linebacker was at OSU for the Buckeyes’ championship celebration at Ohio Stadium earlier this month, and linebackers coach James Laurinaitis felt comfortable enough to offer the three-star prospect on Friday.
After a great conversation with Coach @JLaurinaitis55 Im blessed to receive an offer from THE Ohio State University! @ryandaytime @OhioStateFB @AllenTrieu @SWiltfong_ @MohrRecruiting @coachelichter @CoachSlater25 @CoachBart11 @OHSBravesFB pic.twitter.com/P928lqfF9B
— CJ (@Cjsanna07) January 31, 2025
Sanna is high school teammates with fellow Ohio State target Kaden Gebhardt at Olentangy High School, which is obviously a short drive away from campus.
In his junior season, the 6-foot-3, 225-pound Sanna recorded 97 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, seven sacks, eight quarterback hurries, two fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles.
Legend Bey
Bey is the third 2026 quarterback the Buckeyes have offered in a 48-hour period, with Carlos Locklyn offering the signal caller with a legendary first name (I’ll see myself out) on Friday.
Extremely blessed to receive an offer from the NATIONAL CHAMPIONS THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY #GoBuckeyes #BIA @Locklyn33 @CoachShavers @CoachHitchens @KoachMak pic.twitter.com/eAzByGlbUn
— Legend Bey (@LegendBey7) January 31, 2025
The 5-foot-10, 180-pound prospect is less heralded than the other two signal callers, but is considered the No. 599 prospect in the 2026 class.
The Texas prospect has earned 22 Division I offers, including Baylor, Arizona State, Arkansas, Colorado, Houston, Michigan State, Mississippi State, Mizzou, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Oregon, TCU and Texas Tech. He’s also a dual-sport athlete and competes in track and field.
Last season, Bey completed 79 of 156 passes for 1,424 yards and 13 touchdowns to eight interceptions. He’s far more advanced as a runner at this point, as he ran for 1,852 yards and 28 rushing touchdowns in 2024.
As a sophomore, Bey threw for 731 yards, nine touchdowns, five interceptions and ran for 673 yards and six touchdowns.
Wonderful “Champ” Monds
The quarterback offers continue, but Monds is a couple cycles away from reaching college as a 2028 prospect.
WOW! Blessed and honored to receive an offer from THE Ohio State University! #AGTG #gobuckeyes @ryandaytime @CoachFess @OhioStateFB @VBFootball @TomLoy247 @ChadSimmons_@adamgorney @Andy_Villamarzo @QwikCutSports @JonSantucci pic.twitter.com/7rHF75Fnuv
— Wonderful Champ Monds IV (@champmonds) January 30, 2025
The 6-foot-2, 224-pound prospect is the former high school teammate of OSU freshman linebacker Tarvos Alford and has 15 Division I offers so far. Some of those include Arkansas, Auburn, Baylor, Florida, Florida State, Illinois, Miami, Ole Miss, SMU, Tennessee, Texas A&M and West Virginia.
Monds started as a freshman and completed 67 percent of his passes while throwing for 2,234 yards with 23 passing touchdowns and five interceptions. He also ran for 502 yards and nine touchdowns.
Ryan Day continues making visits on recruiting trail
Ohio State’s head coach has hit the road for the first time this offseason this week and is making it a point to show top targets in the 2026 class how valued they are by the Buckeyes. With the dead period beginning next week, Day and the rest of the OSU staff are doing their best to close out the week strong.
Since Wednesday’s Hurry-Up published, other 2026 prospects Day has visited include defensive end Deuce Geralds, offensive tackle Micah “Champ” Smith, running back Derrek Cooper, defensive lineman Preston Carey, cornerback Justice Fitzpatrick and offensive lineman Pete Eglitis.
Great meeting with coach lock and Ryan day from @OhioState football today!
— Justice Fitzpatrick (@JusticeFitzpat1) January 31, 2025
Thank you @ryandaytime for stopping by today, cant wait to be down in the Spring!!! @N_Murph @CoachJFrye @etwill21 @OhioStateFB @BWHSFootball1 @Bill_Kurelic @Bucknuts247 pic.twitter.com/6ezkLEFIDJ
— Pete Eglitis (@pete_eglitis) January 31, 2025
It was great having @ryandaytime reigning National Champion Head Coach stop by to see me today at @IMGAcademy! It is always nice seeing Coach Day! I was offered by him at Ohio State on a visit in 9th grade! I always appreciate meeting with you Coach! @OhioStateFB @IMGAFootball pic.twitter.com/nQp0FfOoyK
— . (@PrestonJCareyPJ) January 31, 2025
Appreciate @ryandaytime @Locklyn33 for coming by my school today!! @TomLoy247 @adamgorney @JohnGarcia_Jr @RivalsFriedman @OhioState247 pic.twitter.com/H8xNfBwasm
— Derrek Cooper (@DerrekCooper80) January 30, 2025
Appreciate THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY National Champion Head Coach @ryandaytime for stopping by my school today to see me today. pic.twitter.com/TrBHVI0eRy
— Micah Champion Smith (@ChampSmith55) January 30, 2025
Thank you @OhioStateFB @R2X_Rushmen1 @ryandaytime @OGWalt_ for coming through and showing mad love. @jeffsentell @ChadSimmons_ @JeremyO_Johnson @RivalsFriedman @On3Recruits @Rivals @247recruiting @SWiltfong_ @samspiegs @adamgorney @CollinsHillFB @SwickONE8 pic.twitter.com/6ApnGm5n0K
— Daverin Deuce Geralds II (@DeuceGeralds) January 30, 2025
Zech Fort commits to Georgia
A safety with an Ohio State offer is off the board.
BREAKING: Four-Star Safety Zech Fort has Committed to Georgia, he tells me for @on3recruits
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) January 30, 2025
The 511 195 S from Long Beach, CA chose the Bulldogs over Ohio State, Notre Dame, & Alabama
Where Champions are made, Go Dawgs!https://t.co/8f5izuaDfG pic.twitter.com/VzeW4wIROC
Four-star Florida safety Zech Fort committed to Georgia on Thursday, choosing the Bulldogs over a handful of other top programs, including Ohio State. Fort, a top-105 prospect nationally, visited OSU several times throughout his recruitment, but picked the Bulldogs in the end.
Of course, a recruitment is never over until a prospect signs in this day and age, but for now, all signs point to Fort beginning his collegiate career in Athens.
