Deion Sanders steals a Buckeye State native for Colorado, but Ohio State football could still get the last laugh
Ohio State lost a local product to Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes, but Glenville EDGE Kaylon Bailey’s commitment feels more like an opening bid than a closing statement.
The Colorado Buffaloes and Deion Sanders have landed a local Cleveland, Ohio, product over the Ohio State Buckeyes in the class of 2027 recruiting cycle.
Edge rusher Kaylon Bailey, a Glenville High School standout listed at 6-foot-2 and 235 pounds, committed to Colorado, according to Rivals’ Hayes Fawcett. Bailey chose the Buffaloes over Ohio State, Louisville, USF, and others, continuing Sanders’ push to recruit nationally and pull talent from traditional powerhouse pipelines.
Bailey is a prospect with a bright future who attended the same high school as Ohio State products Arvell Reese and Ted Ginn Jr. He received 19 offers, including from Wisconsin, Syracuse, and Pittsburgh. According to the 247Sports composite, Bailey is the No. 63 linebacker in the country and the No. 743 recruit nationally in the 2027 class.
Why Ohio State didn’t push harder for Bailey
The Buckeyes had a specific number they were willing to spend on Bailey. With a couple of strong linebacker commits already in the fold, they opted to stand firm. Colorado came in considerably higher in terms of NIL dollar amount, which proved to be the difference.
Ohio State already has two linebacker commits locked in for the 2027 class. Four-star linebacker Quinton Cypher and four-star linebacker Prince Goldsby give the Buckeyes a strong foundation at the position. Each year, linebackers coach James Laurinaitis identifies multiple linebackers he sees as scheme fits for Ohio State. Bailey was considered a scheme fit, but not one worth exceeding their threshold.
Bailey took a visit to Ohio State early in June, so there was genuine interest on both sides. The Buckeyes simply chose not to engage in a bidding war when they already had their top targets committed.
Why Ohio State could still get the last laugh
Here’s the thing about college football recruiting in this era: Nothing seems to be final. There are no guarantees that players will stick with a single program throughout their entire college tenure. The transfer portal and the ever-shifting NIL landscape have made commitment announcements feel more like opening bids than closing statements.
It’s entirely possible that Colorado loses Bailey to Ohio State at some point. The Buckeyes could flip him before he ever enrolls if certain situations change. Bailey could also spend a season or two in Boulder before deciding to transfer back to a school closer to home. The portal has made those kinds of moves routine across the sport. Ryan Day, Coach Laurinitis, and the Buckeyes are far from finished with this recruit.