Ryan Day could be setting up for an epic transfer portal and recruitment feat for Ohio State amidst LSU chaos

The Ohio State Buckeyes are chasing several big-time prospects on the recruiting trail, and it's not hard to see how smart head coach Ryan Day is operating. Not only is he hosting top 2027 running back Kemon Spell against the team he was once committed to, Penn State, but Day is looking to take advantage of the chaos. LSU is also in turmoil and at risk of losing key talent.

LSU beat out the Buckeyes and many other schools for local five-star defensive tackle Dominick McKinley last offseason, but Brian Kelly's firing has everything up in the air for the program. Several other LSU Tigers were already named as potential fits. Now, Ohio State is actively chasing McKinley's brother, Darryus McKinley.

Ohio State offered Darryus a scholarship this week, and the stage is set for the Buckeyes to go after the brothers and infuse two great talents into the trenches.

Ohio State could be the perfect landing spot for LSU legacy recruits

The McKinley family is considering everything at this point.

“Just processing,” McKinley’s mother, Angie, said. “That’s our favorite word. This is our second time going through this.” She added, “We’re just processing and taking it all in...We haven’t made any definite plans. We haven’t said we’re going to visit or not. We’re just keeping his options open.”

Clearly, the situation at LSU is difficult to parse. Kelly wasn't necessarily well-liked, but he was stable and pulled the elder McKinley in amid a ton of external interest. Most programs will take three-star Darryus if it means pulling the older brother as well, though it's not as if the younger McKinley is some slouch.

He's not as refined or as explosive, but there's a good reason why Texas A&M, Texas, and the rest of the country are putting in effort on his recruitment process.

“The continuity of everything and trying to keep everything consistent and the same and they’re searching for a head coach,” Angie said. “Not much more than that but trying to keep everything pretty much the same.”

The Buckeyes are in this race and must add as much firepower to it as they can if they wish to swing the McKinleys out from Baton Rouge and into the North. It'd be a fantastic achievement, even for Day and defensive line coach Larry Johnson, if they decide it's worth the NIL and energy investment to make it happen.

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