Buckeyes After Another Elite South Florida Receiver

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. — Ohio State has continued to dip into South Florida for elite wide receiver prospects and the Buckeyes will be attempting to do that once again in the 2026 class with Chaminade-Madonna receiver Jabari Brady. The early Top 100 prospect has already made a couple of visits to Ohio State and likes what he sees from the Buckeyes so far.

Brady’s most recent visit to Ohio State came for the Student Appreciation Day during the spring. We caught up with Brady on our Southern Swing to recap that trip.

“The biggest thing was Brian Hartline showing me love,” Brady recalled. “He introduced me to Marvin Harrison (Jr.), Chris Olave, Jaxon (Smith-Njigba), just the receivers that were there. It just showed me that he’s not a selfish person, he’s going to (introduce you to) people and stuff like that.”

Hartline has been one of Brady’s top connections so far in the recruiting world.

“I like how he’s family first,” Brady said. “He puts his family first and makes sure your family is OK. He’s a trustworthy person. He keeps it real with you. If you’re not doing or if you are doing good, he’s going to let you know. He’s going to make sure he gets the best out of you.”

Ohio State’s run at the wide receiver position doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon. Brady has kept close tabs on a pair of Buckeye receivers over the past few years.

“Once Marvin Harrison was a freshman, I started watching him,” Brady said. “Just watching his journey. I’ve been watching JJ (Jeremiah Smith), just a couple of his films.”

A big decision for Brady will ultimately be whether or not to stay closer to home in the south or take a leap and go somewhere out of the region.

“I would say location is a big factor,” he explained. “I’m really a momma’s boy. I grew up with my mom and she’s like the father figure in my life and she’s really important to me. But at the end of the day, she says she’ll travel with me anywhere.”

But the good news for Ohio State is that the Buckeyes already have the blessing of one very important person close to Brady.

“She thinks (Ohio State)is an amazing place,” Brady said. “She wants me to commit there actually. Because of coach Hartline, coach Ryan Day, they had a conversation.”

Hear more from Brady from our one-on-one interview as part of our Southern Swing recruiting tour.