Buckeyes hope to get recruiting answers on both lines this weekend

Ohio State is hosting another big recruiting weekend as the Buckeyes are still searching for an answer or two along the offensive and defensive lines. This weekend has the chance to provide at least some of those answers with a key visitor on each side of the line of scrimmage.

But those won’t be the only storylines to follow this weekend, as we take a look at some of the big things to watch this weekend in the world of Ohio State recruiting.

O-Line and D-Line visits shuffling around

The class of 2024 visitor list along the offensive and defensive lines looks drastically different than it did a few days ago. Still in for the weekend is Clinton (NC) four-star defensive end Amaris Williams who is scheduled to return for an unofficial visit after making his official visit the weekend of the Penn State game.

Just the idea that Williams would return so quickly on his own dime is a good sign for the Buckeyes who continue to try to flip the Top 100 prospect from his commitment to the University of Florida.

Out are four-star Kansas defensive end commit Deshawn Warner and three-star Nebraska defensive tackle commit Carlon Jones. Warner’s status in terms of making it to Columbus for an official visit is up in the air as of the moment of this story being published. Jones’ status is a bit more straight-forward, Bay City (TX) standout has a playoff game on Saturday and has to push things until next weekend.

What happens with Williams this weekend could potentially impact what happens with Warner moving forward.

On the offensive line, long-pursued five-star tackle Jordan Seaton will not be able to make his scheduled official visit this weekend with IMG having practice on Saturday. This is certainly a bit concerning for Ohio State’s pursuit of Seaton, which now seems to be coming down to whether or not the Buckeyes can get him on campus next weekend for the Minnesota game. IMG plays its final game of the season next Friday so Seaton’s schedule should be free moving forward.

While Seaton is out for this weekend, Northwestern pledge Gabe VanSickle is in. VanSickle committed to the Wildcats back in May and things have changed a bit in Evanston since that time, notably Pat Fitzgerald’s firing in July. VanSickle is considered a “swing” prospect for the Buckeyes, capable of playing guard or tackle in the Josh Fryar type of mold.

The Buckeyes would make room for both VanSickle and Seaton if they can get them so there is plenty of intrigue down the stretch on how this offensive line class will shape up.

Prediction: Doubling down on Ohio State ultimately landing Williams and believe the Buckeyes will emerge from the weekend as the favorite to sign VanSickle.

Now or Never for Chance Robinson?

As of the time of publishing this story, the expectation is that four-star Fort Lauderdale (FL) St. Thomas Aquinas wide receiver Chance Robinson will make his long anticipated official visit to Ohio State after rescheduling it a few weeks ago.

Robinson has emerged in recent months as THE target for Ohio State offensive coordinator Brian Hartline to round out this wide receiver class, but Robinson has remained committed to Miami (FL) and has been publicly recruiting for the Hurricanes.

Will Robinson make it or will there be another last-minute cancellation? That seems to be the million dollar question. The season that Marvin Harrison Jr. is having and the early returns from fellow former South Florida Express guys like Carnell Tate and Brandon Inniss are factors working in Ohio State’s favor here, but the opportunity to play and make an early impact at the hometown school are also a strong pull for Robinson.

Prediction: If Robinson sets foot in Columbus this weekend, the Buckeyes ultimately make the flip.

Class of 2026 QB recruiting takes center stage

Ohio State has a lot of time to figure out its class of 2026 pecking order and has the luxury of being able to really focus on it with the classes of 2024 and 2025 already having its guy with Air Noland and Tavien St. Clair respectively.

Two big-time quarterback prospects will be on campus this weekend in Nashville (TN) Christian School’s Jared Curtis and Tampa (FL) Jesuit’s Will Griffin.

Griffin earned his offer after a tremendous camp performance back in June and is considered an early Top 100 prospect. Curtis is the consensus No. 2 QB nationally in the 2026 class and an early five-star. Simply put, these are two of the best sophomore quarterbacks in America who have both shown an early interest in the Buckeyes and now Corey Dennis and Ryan Day will have another opportunity to continue to build relationships there.

Prediction: Nothing earth shattering here, but the Buckeyes emerge from this weekend very much in contention for both prospects.

Malachi Toney returns to Columbus

While he’s only a 2026 prospect, Plantation (FL) American Heritage star receiver Malachi Toney has been a favorite of Ohio State’s and of Buckeye fans for over a year now. Toney burst onto the national scene as just a freshman a year ago and is one of the most electric playmakers in high school football.

An early commitment to Miami (FL) was given back in August but that hasn’t deterred Brian Hartline from continuing to recruit and build a relationship with Toney and now he’ll be back in Columbus this weekend for a return unofficial visit.

Even when Toney committed early to Miami, we made it clear that the Buckeyes weren’t out of this and that this wouldn’t be the last we’d see of Toney in Columbus. Toney is close with freshman receiver Brandon Inniss as well as class of 2025 running back Byron Louis who just wrapped up yet another visit to Ohio State a few weeks ago for the Penn State game.

Prediction: You probably don’t really want Toney to flip this weekend, and I don’t think he will, but Ohio State is going to have a serious chance to win this battle as it plays out over the next two years.

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