Ohio State Buckeyes mascot Brutus leads the marching band onto the field prior to the NCAA football game against the Michigan Wolverines at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024. Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Ohio State Buckeyes Lose Key 2026 Defensive Target to Michigan

Originally posted on Ohio State Buckeyes on SI
By Dylan Feltovich | Last updated Jun 29, 2025 4:35 PM ET

After an aggressive recruiting month for head coach Ryan Day and the Ohio State Buckeyes, the program was unable to land an elite defensive prospect to end the month of June.

On3Sports' Hayes Fawcett reported on Sunday that 2026 four-star EDGE Carter Meadows has committed to the Michigan Wolverines over the Day and the Buckeyes.

BREAKING: Five-Star EDGE Carter Meadows has Committed to Michigan, he tells me for @on3recruits

The 6’6 235 EDGE chose the Wolverines over Ohio State, Penn State, & South Carolina

“I thank God for guiding me through it all. I’M HOME. Go Blue!!〽️〽️”https://t.co/vP9hIvX9sb pic.twitter.com/TaK4mGP9J6
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) June 29, 2025

As the No. 1 player in his state, Meadows took official visits to both Michigan and Ohio State earlier this summer, along with trips to Penn State and South Carolina. His combination of impressive 6-foot-6, 235 lbs. frame and solid production in six games at Gonzaga High School quickly made him a top pass rusher in the 2026 class. And despite Day's late efforts for the highly-touted recruit, Meadows ultimately decided on the Wolverines.

Luckily for the Buckeyes, the program's 2026 recruiting class features four-star EDGE Khary Wilder, who was recently named On3Sports' MVP of the Rivals Five-Star Challenge. The California native is currently the No. 23 EDGE in the 2026 recruiting cycle, according to 247Sports' Composite Ratings.

Ohio State 4-star DL commit Khary Wilder wins the On3 MVP award at Rivals Five-Star Challenge

More via @CharlesPower: https://t.co/OBArxEB6D6 pic.twitter.com/NIKntiPD1N
— On3 Recruits (@On3Recruits) June 24, 2025

In addition to Wilder, Ohio State landed two defensive lineman commits this weekend in four-star Damari Simeon and three-star Cameron Brickle. The three recruits are the core front-four players in Day's 2026 class, however, the Buckeyes remain in the running for both four-star EDGE rushers Jake Kreul and KJ Ford.

This article first appeared on Ohio State Buckeyes on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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