Ohio State is in strong position for top targets as recruiting begins to shift to 2028
Ohio State is fighting for another top 2028 wide receiver
Off to a fantastic start in the 2028 class, wide receivers coach Cortez Hankton has already locked up a major piece in Jett Harrison. Keeping the Harrison name in Columbus is a significant win for the program, and adding the No. 4 player nationally and second-ranked receiver in the 247Sports Composite only strengthens Ohio State’s claim as Wide Receiver U.
Harrison is only one piece of the puzzle, though. The Buckeyes will look to add multiple elite players at the position, and there are already several names worth monitoring closely.
One prospect Ohio State has made an early impression on is Texas native Carson LaCombe. A 6-foot-3, 200-pound athlete out of Pieper High School in San Antonio, LaCombe is among the more highly regarded receivers in the 2028 class. He checks in as the No. 198 player nationally and the 30th-best wideout according to the 247Sports Composite rankings.
With double-digit offers already to his name, LaCombe appears to be entering the stage of his recruitment where a smaller group of programs is beginning to separate itself from the pack. Ohio State looks to be firmly in that group.
Programs such as Baylor, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, LSU, Texas, and Ohio State are all working to position themselves near the front of the race. Hankton and the Buckeyes have liked what they have seen from LaCombe in person, and a busy summer camp schedule has only helped his stock continue to rise.
LaCombe has competed at several major programs throughout the summer, including a June 18 stop in Columbus. His performance in front of the Ohio State staff was enough to earn an offer before he left campus. Other visits, including a trip to Oklahoma, have produced similar results.
For a player with LaCombe’s size, the ability to consistently perform against top competition on the camp circuit is another indication of the caliber of prospect he can become. Ohio State has taken notice and appears to be making him an early priority in the cycle.
With the Buckeyes potentially taking only two receivers in the 2027 class, there could be an even greater emphasis on the perimeter skill positions in 2028. LaCombe is certainly a name worth keeping close tabs on moving forward.
Could Ohio State already have its top 2028 quarterback set?
With Ryan Day at the helm, Ohio State’s quarterback position has consistently been in a strong spot on the recruiting trail. Whether it has come through landing elite high school prospects or adding proven talent from the transfer portal, the Buckeyes have rarely lacked options under center.
That standard is carrying over into the 2028 class. A talented cycle at quarterback, Ohio State is already standing out to multiple top prospects, but it appears the coaching staff has identified one particular target as its top priority.
Checking in as the No. 7 player nationally and the top signal caller in the 247Sports Composite, Christopher Vargas has quickly become one of the biggest names to know when it comes to Ohio State’s 2028 efforts.
A 6-foot-4, 175-pound five-star prospect out of Massachusetts, Vargas made his way to Columbus this summer and showed exactly why every major recruiting outlet views him as one of the best players in the country.
Not long after his time on campus, multiple recruiting insiders began taking notice of the momentum Ohio State was building. That confidence eventually resulted in both RPM and Crystal Ball predictions favoring the Buckeyes.
Already holding a commitment from elite receiver Jett Harrison, Ohio State has an early building block in place for what could become another loaded offensive class. For a quarterback considering the Buckeyes, seeing the amount of talent Day and his staff continue to surround the position with certainly does not hurt.
There is still plenty of time remaining in the 2028 cycle, but so far, so good for Ohio State. With several home-run hitters near the top of the class and Vargas looking like the staff’s preferred option at quarterback, the Buckeyes once again have the pieces in place to put together something special.
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With most of Ohio State’s recent wins at tight end coming through the transfer portal, Keenan Bailey and the rest of the staff are still keeping a close eye on the prep ranks. One name worth monitoring in the 2028 class is Illinois native Grant Bowen.
Checking in as the No. 52 player nationally and third-best athlete in the 247Sports Composite, Bowen is already establishing himself as one of the more intriguing prospects in the cycle. Wasting little time getting out on the road, he is beginning to plan additional visits, and Ohio State will certainly look to make sure Columbus is among his stops.
A player with Bowen’s ranking and athletic profile is sure to command plenty of attention, both on the recruiting trail and in the NIL space. That makes his recruitment an interesting one to follow for the Buckeyes.
Ohio State has shown a willingness in recent years to prioritize proven college players at tight end, but Bowen is the type of high-upside prospect who could force the staff to make a stronger push at the prep level. Whether the Buckeyes are willing to pony up for a player of his caliber or continue leaning more heavily on the transfer portal remains to be seen, but Bowen is a name Bailey and the staff will keep close to the vest moving forward.
