Ohio State finds itself in the midst of the offseason, with the chilly Ohio weather still lingering and things moving at a slower pace than usual. The college football world is also in the middle of a recruiting dead period, meaning coaches can’t make in-person contact with recruits until it ends. However, the dead period doesn’t halt recruiting entirely. It gives recruits a chance to reflect on their past visits and relationships with the schools pursuing them, leading many to narrow down their options and release updated lists of top schools. Recruits also stay busy scheduling official and unofficial visits to evaluate which program might be the best fit for them.
Despite the quiet period, Ohio State continues to make waves in recruiting by maintaining strong relationships with key recruits early in the process. As a result, the Buckeyes are still making headlines, landing spots on top schools lists, and gearing up for upcoming visits.
This trend continued on Monday, when Ohio State learned that one of the state’s top prospects will be visiting this summer. Cincere Johnson, a four-star linebacker from Cleveland, Ohio (Glenville), scheduled his official visit to Ohio State for June 13.
While Ohio State isn’t the only program pursuing Johnson—he’s also scheduled visits with Alabama, Oklahoma, and USC—the Buckeyes have consistently been seen as the frontrunner. Ohio State’s status as an in-state powerhouse and its effort to make Johnson feel like a priority have helped keep them in a strong position.
Johnson has expressed on multiple occasions that Ohio State is his top school, but in recruiting, nothing is ever certain. The visits with other schools could influence his decision, but Ohio State is in a solid position heading into this recruitment.
Ranked as the No. 9 linebacker in the 247Sports Composite and the No. 117 overall recruit, Johnson is also the No. 4 recruit from Ohio.
In other recruiting news, Ohio State’s 2025 class is nearly complete, and it has been another successful cycle, ranking No. 5 in the nation according to 247Sports. However, the Buckeyes have not quite met expectations on the offensive line. To address this, the coaching staff has placed a high priority on the 2026 class for offensive linemen.
Ohio State extended an official scholarship offer to 2026 four-star offensive tackle Evan Goodwin from Bauxite, Arkansas, on Monday. Goodwin is currently being pursued by several schools, with Missouri making a strong push. He has already made several visits to Missouri, and his only scheduled official visit is with the Tigers in June. To become a serious contender, Ohio State will need to get Goodwin on campus this spring and possibly again during the summer. Other programs like Notre Dame, Ole Miss, LSU, Florida State, Oklahoma, and Texas A&M are also heavily involved.
Goodwin is ranked as the No. 29 offensive tackle in the 247Sports Composite and the No. 339 overall recruit, as well as the No. 3 recruit from Arkansas.
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