Ohio State loses prized playmaking commit out of nowhere, spurring recent efforts

Ohio State has seen another shift in its 2026 recruiting class as long-time commit Corbyn Fordham has flipped his verbal pledge to Florida State.

Fordham, ranked No. 34 nationally among tight ends, is a legacy recruit for the Seminoles. He originally committed to the Buckeyes in November 2024 and had made multiple visits to Columbus since then. Until recently, there were no signs of wavering in his commitment.

However, the landscape began to shift as discussions around NIL—previously a secondary factor in his recruitment—gained momentum. Florida State’s increasing involvement in those conversations appears to have played a pivotal role in Fordham’s decision.

This development sheds light on Ohio State’s recent efforts to explore adding a second tight end to its 2026 class.

Ohio State loses prized tight end prospect to Florida State

That strategy wasn’t in play until the last few weeks, highlighted by the visit of Nick Lautar, a 6-foot-5, 230-pound prospect from Lebanon, Ohio. Lautar, currently committed to Louisville, visited Columbus the weekend of September 13—a trip that now carries added significance.

In addition to Lautar, Ohio State has been actively pursuing Alabama commit Mack Sutter, a four-star tight end from Illinois. Sutter was the only other tight end besides Fordham to make an official visit to Ohio State this summer. He maintains a strong relationship with tight ends coach Keenan Bailey, and with Fordham’s departure, those conversations are expected to intensify.