Elite five-star Ohio State football target may not end up taking two key official visits, and it could be great news for the Buckeyes
Ohio State’s chase of an elite five star defender looks to be between them and the Texas Longhorns at the top. The latest development could bode well for the Buckeyes’ growing chances of landing him.
The Ohio State football program has had quite a few key visitors on campus over the last couple of weeks. There’s been no shortage of five-star talent in Columbus with players the Buckeyes would love to add.
Ohio State’s top defensive target remaining in 2027 is Sierra Canyon (CA) DL Marcus Fakatou, who made his official visit during the first weekend of June. Fakatou is now fresh off a visit with the Texas Longhorns, and they appear to be near the top of his recruitment along with the Buckeyes.
Marcus Fakatou could be fading Notre Dame, Oregon, and it’s good news for the Buckeyes
The five-star defensive talent is still scheduled to take visits to Notre Dame and Oregon currently, but it sounds like there’s some belief that those visits may not take place.
“Fakatou has taken visits to Ohio State, Georgia, and Texas now. Oregon and Notre Dame are still on the visit list but it’s not a guarantee he closes out the visit schedule although that’s still being figured out,” Rivals’ Adam Gorney wrote recently.
Ohio State recently missed out on four-star DL Reinaldo Perez and much of it had to do with the fact that they’re all in on landing Fakatou. The 6-foot-6, 275-pound defender is rated the No. 2 defensive lineman in the class of 2027, per 247 Sports Composite. Fakatou’s relationship with Ohio State defensive line coach Larry Johnson is a major driver in the recruitment.
Notre Dame has been seen as a major force in this recruitment and there being some noise around the visit potentially not happening would be significant. The same could be said about Oregon, which always has a chance with a recruit in the NIL era.
We’ll have to wait and see what visits Fakatou officially takes following the trips to Ohio State and Texas. But right now, it doesn’t sound like the Buckeyes could be in a better place.