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Ohio State Buckeyes take what could be a gut punch with a major target due to a weekend move from a Big Ten opponent

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Brandon Little | Last updated Jun 16, 2025 3:14 PM ET

The Ohio State Buckeyes have had a strong month of June, adding two new commitments to bring their total to 15 for the class of 2026.

According to 247Sports, the Buckeyes currently hold the No. 2 recruiting class in the country, trailing only the USC Trojans.

Ohio State recently secured its first defensive line commitment of the cycle when four-star defensive end Khary Wilder pledged to the Buckeyes. However, coming out of this past weekend, there’s some less encouraging news regarding another top defensive line target.

Four-Star DE Luke Wafle could be leaning USC after visit

Ohio State is firmly in the mix for four-star defensive end Luke Wafle out of The Hun School (NJ), along with Penn State and USC. But following a recent official visit to Southern California, On3’s Steve Wiltfong believes USC is now the leader for Wafle’s commitment.

“Wafle and his family returned this weekend for an official visit. A terrific weekend included time spent with Trojan greats Ronnie Lott and Marcus Allen. USC has On3’s No. 1 class, and Wafle would be a massive addition. I like the way it’s trending.” — Steve Wiltfong, On3

Whiparound: Texas, LSU and USC trend for coveted targets, Georgia hosts 5-star LB Tyler Atkinson, Auburn and Oregon bring in top QB target and more here: https://t.co/meWWdx8qRW pic.twitter.com/cHghzWTLMm
— Steve Wiltfong (@SWiltfong_) June 16, 2025

Wafle is ranked as the No. 6 edge rusher and No. 55 overall player in the 2026 class, per the 247Sports Composite. The 6-foot-5, 245-pound pass rusher holds 30 offers, and his brother, Owen Wafle, currently plays defensive line at Penn State.

Larry Johnson prioritized Wilder as a key commitment, making him the first defensive lineman in Ohio State’s 2026 haul. But losing out on Wafle—one of the Buckeyes’ top remaining defensive line targets—especially to another Big Ten program, would sting.

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

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