Ohio State football sent a firm reminder to their most important 5-star commit over the weekend as Tennessee, Miami continue to lurk
Ohio State’s season opener against Ball State was also an important day for their relationship with 5-star 2027 EDGE DJ Jacobs.
Ohio State football kicked off the 2026 season with a 56-3 demolition of Ball State, but what happened off the field in Columbus may prove just as significant down the road.
The Buckeyes hosted several recruits and commitments for the home opener, and none carried more weight than 2027 5-star pass rusher DJ Jacobs, the crown jewel of Ohio State’s 2027 recruiting class.
Jacobs has been committed to Ohio State since Dec. 2025, and keeping him locked in is a critical piece of what projects to be a strong recruiting haul for the Buckeyes.
According to 247 Sports composite rankings, Jacobs is the No. 3 overall player and the No. 1 edge in the country. The 6-foot-5, 240-pound defender from Roswell, Georgia, getting back on campus was important with programs like Tennessee and Miami still working to make their pitch and potentially flip the talented pass rusher.
DJ Jacobs appears solid to Ohio State
Jacobs seems solid to the Buckeyes at this point, and he doesn’t have any game visits scheduled elsewhere. That could change, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if other programs continue pushing, but Ohio State wanted to make sure Jacobs saw every reason he picked Columbus in the first place.
His father, David Jacobs, made it clear the visit reinforced everything the family has felt about the program, via Rivals.
“Honestly, it really comes down to the whole vibe. The whole coaching staff is top-notch,” DJ’s father said. “The environment is electric, and overall atmosphere just keeps us hooked. It’s tough to match the coaches and the kids in the building, just overall humanity.”
That is exactly what Ohio State needed to show Jacobs, and it sounds like they delivered. The Buckeyes know the program they’ve built, the stability they have, and everything they do operates within a championship model. That’s not something a lot of programs can compete with.
Ohio State knocked it out of the park against Ball State, which is what you would expect with Texas looming next week. The 56-3 blowout was routine, but it also provided the perfect backdrop for a successful visit from their most important commitment in the class of 2027.
The coming months will be telling for Ohio State’s ability to hold this class together. Getting Jacobs back on campus and reinforcing his commitment was a big recruiting win to start the season.
