The Buckeyes are making real progress with the 2028 recruiting class. Following the 45-16 win over Maryland last Saturday, Ohio State looks like a top destination for the nation’s best talent. The win at the homecoming game helped the team build momentum with several high-profile visitors.
The biggest news involves 2028 four-star running back Jayshawn Mitchell. Getting a player like that is huge. He is the number 113 recruit overall and holds nearly 40 scholarship offers.
The defensive impact on recruiting momentum
A strong defense makes it much easier to sell a program to new players. During the Maryland game, the unit was dominant. Eleven Warriors via Yahoo Sports reported that the defense limited the Terrapins to only 146 total yards. This kind of performance shows recruits that they can thrive in Columbus. The secondary also played a massive role in stopping Maryland’s passing attack.
Ryan Day even gave corner Devin Sanchez a specific goal during the week. Per Yahoo Sports, Day challenged Sanchez to become “that lockdown corner that we all know he can be.” Sanchez and Jermaine Mathews Jr. responded by making sure Maryland’s receivers had no space. It is hard for a recruit to look elsewhere when the defense is playing this well.
Building the 2028 backfield
Ohio State cannot afford to miss out on talent like Mitchell. The team already missed out on David Gabriel-Georges for the 2027 cycle. While the Buckeyes have a commitment from four-star Elijah Newman-Hall, they still need more depth. Adding Mitchell would create a powerful pairing with Newman-Hall.
The competition is stiff, though. Mitchell has also visited schools like Georgia, SMU, and Texas this year. The Buckeyes have to keep working to keep him away from the SEC. If they can keep this momentum from the Maryland win, the 2028 class could be special.
Eyes on the Indiana matchup
The focus now shifts to a massive game against and at No. 5 Indiana. ESPN FPI projects this could be a very close battle. According to the model, Ohio State has a 52.2% probability of winning the matchup. This game is a huge test for the offense and the defense alike. The Buckeyes must maintain their high scoring average of 42.7 points per game to stay on top.
