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Ohio State Buckeyes missing on yet another key recruiting target may show they have a problem on their hands

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Brandon Little | Last updated Jul 14, 2025 1:56 PM ET

The Ohio State Buckeyes were hot on the recruiting trail throughout the month of June, landing a number of commitments. Ohio State is now up to 21 commitments in the class of 2026 and holds the No. 6 class in the country, according to 247Sports.

However, it hasn’t been all positive for the Buckeyes on the trail—they’ve had several key misses on players they were targeting. Ohio State currently has just one true pass rusher committed in the class: four-star EDGE Khary Wilder.

Ohio State misses on another top recruiting target

Over the weekend, the Buckeyes came up short in the race for four-star EDGE KJ Ford out of Duncanville, Texas. Ford was down to Florida, Ohio State, and Texas A&M, ultimately committing to the Gators—another notable miss for the Buckeyes.

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To their credit, Ohio State has done a solid job recruiting the interior of the defensive line, already landing three commitments at that position. However, defensive line coach Larry Johnson still has work to do on the edge. The Buckeyes have now missed out on several key targets, including Luke Wafle (USC) and Carter Meadows (Michigan). Those losses sting even more as both players committed to fellow Big Ten programs.

After losing J.T. Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer to the NFL, Ohio State is set to start Kenyatta Jackson and Caden Curry at defensive end this season, with Beau Atkinson, Logan George, and C.J. Hicks providing depth.

The Buckeyes still have time to improve their 2026 recruiting class, but edge rusher remains a clear area of need. Several key targets have slipped away, and the staff will need to regroup and push hard to close the gap.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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