Buckeyes are in top 4 for 2026 QB, offer their last prospect on the field

Ohio State’s quarterback recruiting has been at the top of the college football landscape under Ryan Day, and being the most pivotal position, it leads to much of the Buckeyes’ success on the field. Knowing that there needs to be an elite talent in each class, the staff has often called upon one of those top signal-callers. In 2025, they certainly struck gold with a five-star from the state Tavien St. Clair.

The current roster is loaded with talent, and with St. Clair set to be the next in line to join Julian Sayin and Air Noland, it’s safe to say the future looks bright. That leads into the 2026 cycle, and while it’s still early, Ohio State is seeing a significant number of players they’ve been offered choose elsewhere.

With 12 players at the position at this point, nine of those 2026 QBs have already committed to their school of choice, leaving the Buckeyes with just a few more options before having to offer more. Yes, the transfer portal is certainly an area the staff can look into if they miss out on an opportunity, but the priority is developing a high school prospect, as the portal is never a guaranteed outlet.

All that being said, Thursday Jonas Williams He released his top four schools as one of the few remaining uncommitted quarterbacks, and Ohio State found its name in the mix.

A 6-foot-4, 185-pound athlete, Williams is the No. 96 player in the nation and the eighth-best quarterback in his class according to the 247Sports Composite. The top player in Illinois, Williams has nearly 30 offers, so having only four programs he’s considering shows he’s another prospect well on his way to making a decision.

In addition to Ohio State, Williams is keeping Alabama, LSU and Oregon in the mix, with the intention of seeing all four of his finalists this fall. Knowing that Ohio State wants to secure a quarterback of the class early on to be a leader in building the rest of this cycle, those visit plans will be a priority for the Buckeyes as they look to find their guy. Fortunately, Day has earned some confidence over the years, and it’s very rare that the roster isn’t without a top-tier talent under center. 2026 shouldn’t be any different when all is said and done.

Quick shots

• The Ohio State basketball team continues to recruit, and earlier this week it sent out its latest offer to in-state products, Kameron Mercer.

Cincinnati product Winton Woods, the Buckeyes were the third college to offer, joining Cincinnati and Xavier as the first. His recruiting interest continues to grow rapidly, as Missouri also offered yesterday.

At 6-foot-5, 185 pounds, Mercer has an impressive build for the next level, but when you factor in that he’s just a high school freshman, it becomes all the more exciting to see what he’ll be like with three more years of development and interest.

For the Buckeyes, attracting the best talent in the state is a recipe the staff will always use to its advantage, and hopefully it’s a name Jake Diebler can lock down early as he continues to recruit for future classes Ohio State brings in.