Nation's Top Prospect Talks Ohio State Offer and Interest in the Buckeyes

Ohio State’s quarterback search in the 2026 class is going to be a broad one as the Buckeyes have put out a handful of offers this spring to some of the nation’s very best. On Tuesday, the Buckeyes offered a player ranked by 247Sports as the No. 1 prospect in the entire class in Greensboro (NC) Grimsley star Faizon Brandon.

The 6-foot-4, 195-pound dual-threat prospect is coming off a tremendous sophomore season that saw him throw for 3,026 yards and 36 touchdowns to go with just three interceptions. He also added 528 yards rushing and nine scores on the ground, making him one of the nation’s most dynamic offensive weapons.

Ohio State offensive coordinator Chip Kelly watched Brandon work out on Tuesday and offered. The offer from the Buckeyes joined a long list of blue bloods making Brandon a priority target.

We caught up with Brandon on Friday as our Southern Swing recruiting tour continued.

“It was definitely a meaningful offer,” Brandon said of the Buckeyes. “I was very grateful for it. It just makes me want to work harder. I definitely want to build a relationship with the coaches and get back up there and see how they work with the quarterbacks and their players.”

Brandon made a visit to Ohio State as a freshman for a spring practice but the next time he makes it to Columbus should be a more in-depth experience.

“I got to see some stuff with the QB room and see how they practice,” he recalled. “I had a really good time. (A return visit) will either be in June or July. Me and my parents have been talking to their coaching staff so I know that we’ll make it happen soon.”

Kelly has been one of the Ohio State coaches who has been in contact the most with Brandon. The two spoke on the phone after the Buckeyes offered this week.

“We just talked about how he liked the workout I did and that he wants me to get up there and spend time with him so he can show me what they do in the quarterbacks room, the scheme that they run and stuff like that,” he started.

“One of my coaches told me what (Kelly) did with Oregon,” he continued. “What he did on offense wasn’t really normal back then.”

Hear more from Brandon on what he has noticed about the Ohio State program so far, some of his other recruiting visits, and what will be important to him in evaluating his list of contenders in our interview below with the five-star talent.