Ohio State’s Early Signing Day was both lively and calm, depending on perspective. On the one hand, 25 future Buckeyes officially committed to the program, with 23 of 24 existing commitments signing on Wednesday and one more on Thursday. On the other hand, the day brought a mix of gains and losses, as the Buckeyes secured one player via a flip but also lost another to a flip. This year’s signing period lacked the nail-biting tension of last year, which saw the recruitments of Jeremiah Smith and Eddrick Houston come down to the wire. However, Na’eem Offord and Tarvos Alford kept fans speculating, as there were questions about whether they would flip. Ultimately, Offord switched his commitment to Oregon, while Alford remained loyal to Ohio State.
One of the highlights of the day was the addition of running back Anthony “Turbo” Rogers, who pledged to Ohio State after de-committing from Alabama in November. Another significant gain came in the form of four-star EDGE rusher Epi Sitanilei, who had been committed to UCLA but chose to sign with the Buckeyes instead.
A strong emphasis on recruiting local talent was evident, with eight signees hailing from Ohio. Head coach Ryan Day emphasized the importance of securing top in-state players, and the results reflected that focus: according to 247Sports, Ohio State signed three of the top five athletes from within the state.
Looking ahead, Day faces the dual challenge of preparing the team for a likely College Football Playoff showdown—possibly against Tennessee—while continuing to bolster Ohio State’s recruiting efforts. The Early Signing Day achievements mark an important step, but the work to maintain the program’s competitive edge is far from over.
