Elite five-star recruit and son of former NFL great makes major statement about where Ohio State stands in his recruitment

While the Ohio State Buckeyes remain focused primarily on building out their 2026 recruiting class, they’re also off to a strong start in 2027. The Buckeyes already have two commitments, including wide receiver Jamier Brown, the No. 8 overall player in the class.

June is a critical month for Ohio State, both in finalizing the current class and laying the groundwork for future classes. The Buckeyes recently hosted several top 2027 prospects, including a highly touted five-star recruit who continues to grow closer to the program.

Son of NFL legend high on Buckeyes after latest visit to Columbus 

Five-star linebacker Cooper Witten, the No. 1 LB in the 2027 class and son of former Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten, visited Columbus this past weekend. Following the trip, Witten placed Ohio State firmly in his top five.

“It’s definitely in the top five right now, for sure,” Witten told Eleven Warriors. “Just with all the experience Coach Laurinaitis has playing at the level, and then [defensive coordinator] Matt Patricia winning Super Bowls in New England. There’s no one who has been at a higher level than those two.”

Since becoming the Buckeyes’ full-time linebackers coach a couple of years ago, James Laurinaitis has proven to be a strong recruiter and developer of talent. The former Buckeye and NFL standout has already landed major commitments in the 2025 class, including Riley Pettijohn and Tarvos Alford.