Ohio State trending to flip a 2027 LB after big recruiting weekend

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Ohio State did a great job of winning both on and off the field on Saturday.

The Buckeyes beat up on Maryland 45-16 behind a strong defensive effort and big plays from Jeremiah Smith and Bo Jackson, and all the while the coaching staff was playing host to a plethora of big time recruits.

One of those guys was 2027 linebacker James Conrad, a Cleveland native out of St. Ignatius currently committed to Buffalo. Conrad, a three-star prospect and a top-40 player in Ohio, make the trek to Columbus without an Ohio State offer in hand, but that changed over the weekend.

Conrad held 13 offers to his name prior to Ohio State joining the mix, but the Buckeyes are his first P4 offer. The 6-foot-3 linebacker has started to turn heads with an impressive senior campaign, and James Laurinaitis has clearly taken notice.

It appears that interest is mutual as well. Shortly after Conrad announced the news on Twitter, On3 Director of Recruiting Steve Wiltfong logged an RPM prediction for Ohio State to flip Conrad from Buffalo. Conrad had been committed to the Bisons since June, but the ‘emotional’ offer as he put it may be too good to pass up.

Conrad wasn’t the only prospect in attendance on Saturday to walk away with an offer from Ohio State, as 2027 running back Kingston Allen also received an offer from the Buckeyes over the weekend.

Allen is currently committed to Wisconsin, where he is one of the crown jewels of the Badgers’ class as their second-highest rated commit, per 247Sports. The Notre Dame Academy product is ranked as the No. 7 RB and No. 150 player nationally, and has been committed to the in-state program since April.

Ohio State is pretty late to the part on Allen, who is having one of the most prolific careers the Wisconsin prep ranks have ever seen.

The reigning 2025 Wisconsin Gatorade Player of the Year ran for more than 3,400 yards with a whopping 57 touchdowns a year ago, and is already nearing 2,300 yards with 43 touchdowns in only eight games this season. On Friday night, Allen rushed for 306 yards and five touchdowns on just 16 carries, the seventh time in his career the 6-foot, 195-pound back has rushed for at least 300 yards — the most in Wisconsin high school history.

It is no secret that Carlos Locklyn and the Buckeyes are looking for a star running back to add to their 2027 class, and it certainly appears that Allen fits that mold. It will be incredibly tough to pry him away from the in-state Badgers, especially this late in the game, but look for Ohio State to put up a fight here if there is mutual interest.

Quick Hits

Despite some less-than-ideal weather, there was no shortage of talent on hand for Ohio State’s victory over Maryland. Here are a few more guys who got to take in the sights at Ohio Stadium on Saturday…

Jayshawn Mitchell (No. 8 RB, No. 113 Natl. in 2028 | San Antonio, TX)

Jamarcus Johnson (No. 5 DL, No. 29 Natl. in 2028 class | Lyons, GA)

Madoxx Davis (No. 5 WR, No. 23 Natl. in 2028 class | Cartersville, GA)

Christopher Vargas (No. 1 QB in 2028 class, Ohio State commit | Danvers, MA)

David Olotu-Judah (No. 26 CB, No. 260 Natl. in 2028 class | Katy, TX)

Karlos May (2027 DL, Ohio State commit | Birmingham, AL)

Luke Sohyda (2028 TE, Ohio State commit | Canonsburg, PA)

Keith Nolen Jr. (No. 28 ATH in 2028 class | Ashburn, VA)

Landon Ghea (No. 1 IOL, No. 25 Natl. in 2029 class| Alpharetta, GA)

Kolton Wymer (2029 IOL | Libert Center, OH)

Andre Scott (2029 safety | Port Charlotte, FL)

Maddox Purins (2029 TE | Youngstown,OH)

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