The Ohio State Buckeyes have already locked in much of their 2027 recruiting class and shifted significant attention to the 2028 cycle. Among the priority targets for Ohio State football in 2028 is four-star safety Gage Weddle, a top-100 recruit out of Rancho Bernardo High School in California and the son of former NFL safety Eric Weddle. The Buckeyes are in a battle with Georgia and another rising program for the 6-foot-2, 175-pound defensive back.

Weddle’s recruitment is shifting

Ohio State and Georgia sit at the top of Weddle’s recruitment, and the landscape behind them is changing. Oklahoma had been considered the third team in the mix, but the Sooners are fading. Utah is the program on the rise, according to Rivals’ Adam Gorney. The connection is obvious. Eric Weddle played his college football at Utah before becoming a second-round pick and going on to a long NFL career. That family tie gives the Utes a built-in advantage few programs can replicate.

Another factor working against Oklahoma is that the Sooners recently accepted a commitment from a 2028 safety. Whether Utah’s rise helps or hurts Ohio State remains to be seen, but the Buckeyes are doing their part to stay atop the conversation.

Fall visits will be critical for Ohio State

Weddle has two game-day visits planned this fall. One will be to a Utah game. The other will be to Columbus when Ohio State hosts Michigan. Getting Weddle back on campus is a priority for the Buckeyes, who hosted him and his father earlier this summer. That visit laid important groundwork, and a return trip for the biggest home game on the schedule could go a long way.

According to 247Sports composite rankings, Weddle is the No. 5 athlete and No. 95 overall player in the class of 2028. He holds 22 offers from programs including Ohio State, Georgia, Miami, Michigan, Tennessee, Texas A&M, and Washington.

Ohio State views Weddle as a safety for the future

While Weddle plays on both sides of the ball at the high school level, the Buckeyes view him as a safety. He’s a player Ohio State would love to add for Matt Patricia’s defense going forward. His combination of size, athleticism, and football bloodlines make him a coveted piece for the Buckeyes’ secondary in the years ahead.

The coming months will be telling. Ohio State has done the work to make itself a top contender, but the Utah connection adds a wrinkle that could make this recruitment a long fight.