Ohio State Buckeyes miss out on elite defensive target and it hurts more because of where he committed to play
Ohio State has gotten the better of the Oregon Ducks both on the field and in recruiting recently. The Buckeyes had Chris Henry Jr. shut down his recruitment, despite heavy interest from Oregon, and also landed four-star wide receiver Kayden Dixon-Wyatt, who chose Ohio State over the Ducks. However, Dan Lanning and his staff have […]
Ohio State has gotten the better of the Oregon Ducks both on the field and in recruiting recently. The Buckeyes had Chris Henry Jr. shut down his recruitment, despite heavy interest from Oregon, and also landed four-star wide receiver Kayden Dixon-Wyatt, who chose Ohio State over the Ducks.
However, Dan Lanning and his staff have now secured a major win on the recruiting trail — one that could have significantly benefited Ohio State’s defense.
Five-star EDGE Richard Wesley Commits to the Oregon Ducks Over Ohio State and Others
Ohio State was among the finalists for Sierra Canyon (CA) EDGE Richard Wesley, but the highly touted prospect ultimately chose Oregon over the Buckeyes, Texas, and Texas A&M. Wesley is ranked as the No. 20 overall prospect in the 2026 class and the No. 3 EDGE, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings.
Larry Johnson’s unit could have used a five-star pass rusher like Wesley. Losing him to Oregon — a team set to become a major force in the Big Ten — is a tough blow for the Buckeyes. While Ohio State has 12 commitments in their No. 3-ranked recruiting class, they have yet to add a pass rusher. The addition of Beau Atkinson via the transfer portal from North Carolina was significant, especially since he has two years of eligibility remaining.
Ohio State continues to recruit five-star EDGE Carter Meadows and several other pass-rushing prospects. After losing Jack Sawyer and J.T. Tuimoloau to the NFL, the Buckeyes could also see Caden Curry and Kenyatta Jackson depart after this season. Securing at least a couple of top-tier edge rushers in this class is crucial.
It won’t be Wesley — and judging by his commitment video, he looked thrilled to be heading to Oregon.
Major college football recruit calls off visit to Ohio State and it makes plenty of sense why
The Buckeyes have gotten their guys.
