Could Ohio State steal a five-star recruit before Signing Day?

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Ohio State’s 2026 class looks in good shape on paper, but Ryan Day and his staff are still very much active on the trail.

The Buckeyes have spent the fall courting several prospects already pledged elsewhere, and this fall’s roster shakeups around the country, coaching changes, program turbulence, and a handful of decommitments have opened legitimate windows for late flips.

Below I profile three realistic flip candidates Ohio State has pursued publicly or whose situations make them plausible targets, explain why the Buckeyes are well positioned to make a run, and lay out the key obstacles standing in the way.

1) Bralan Womack — five-star safety (committed to Auburn)

Womack is a consensus five-star safety and one of the top defensive backs in the 2026 cycle. He offers immediate starter upside, three-down physicality, and the kind of playmaking range that would plug right into Ohio State’s defensive blueprint.

Ohio State was one of Womack’s finalists during his recruitment, and remained a major suitor even after he announced for Auburn in August. Since then, Auburn’s program turbulence this fall has created renewed chatter about his pledge. That combination — past finalist status plus recent program instability (head coach fired) — keeps him squarely in OSU’s orbit.

OSU checks the boxes five-stars care about: elite exposure, NFL pathway, a loaded defensive staff that sells development, and a clear position fit with playing time down the road. Womack’s family ties (a sibling at Auburn) and his August commitment to the Tigers were meaningful then, but coaching upheaval or doubts about program direction often reopen even high-profile pledges.

Several outlets have flagged Womack as a commit to watch after Auburn’s recent turmoil, which makes a late switch plausible if Auburn’s advantage erodes.

Despite this, Womack’s commitment was serious. He chose Auburn over Ohio State and other finalists this summer and family reasons and comfort with Auburn remain real hurdles. Flips of five-star defensive backs happen, but they usually require a push from the recruit (reopening publicly or privately) or a seismic change at the committed program.

Still, given OSU’s prior runner-up status and the recent headlines and news around Auburn’s staff, Womack is a realistic “boom” target for the Buckeyes.

2) Kemon Spell — five-star running back (recently decommitted from Penn State; 2027)

Spell is one of the country’s elite 2027 prospects, a true workhorse with home-run speed and receiving chops who would be a generational add to any backfield. His recent decommitment from Penn State after the firing of James Franklin cleared the path for a new frontrunner, and Ohio State was already heavily involved in his recruitment even before the Penn State situation changed.

With Spell now on the open market, OSU has a window to build traction.

The Buckeyes have a realistic shot at landed Spell because they sell elite development to the NFL, immediate national exposure, and room to compete for early playing time in a committee that values backs who can do damage as runners and receivers.

Beyond the on-field case, the timing is critical. Spell opened his recruitment publicly after Penn State’s staff change, and OSU hosted high-profile visitors and put renewed emphasis on late-cycle courting. That combination, open recruitment plus OSU’s continued interest, makes Spell a credible target.

Despite all that, Spell will still be a very tough get. Notre Dame, Oregon, Michigan and several others have been linked to Spell’s recruitment since he reentered the market, multiple programs are already staking claims. OSU will need early momentum (visits, trusted staff face time, and a crystal-clear role) to outcompete those powers.

Spell is 2027, so this is a longer-term play than Womack, but it’s one worth watching closely.

3) Kevin Brown — 2026 offensive line (committed to Penn State but recently on campus in Columbus)

Kevin Brown is such an important recruit in this class because if OSU can rob a high-end lineman from a Big Ten rival, that’s a twofold win. You shore up your trenches and swing a tangible piece of talent and momentum away from a conference opponent.

Kevin Brown (a Pennsylvania tackle who has been reported as someone Ohio State is monitoring) attended one of Ohio State’s home games in early November, and multiple outlets listed him among prospects OSU is trying to flip after Penn State’s staff shakeup.

He’s a prototypical Big Ten tackle who fits what OSU looks for in its offensive trenches.

Brown’s presence on campus for a marquee game is the clearest sign OSU is in the driver’s seat for late engagement. Ohio State’s record of winning offensive line recruits late in cycles, the program’s recent success producing NFL linemen, and the proximity of Columbus to Brown’s Pennsylvania roots all work in the Buckeyes’ favor.

If Brown was already open to visits after Penn State’s coaching change, OSU’s hosting and face time could be decisive.

Brown does has a prior relationship with Penn State and has been committed for some time, and flipping a committed in-state lineman requires more than an official visit, it typically takes relationship ruptures, family buy-in for change, and a clear plan for playing time.

Nevertheless, Brown’s visit to Columbus and the ongoing fallout in Happy Valley make him a prime late candidate.

Why Ohio State is uniquely equipped to pull late flips right now

1. Staff bandwidth and resources. Day, Hartline, Patricia, and the recruiting staff have been aggressive in the late stages hosting visits on game weekends, issuing late offers, and leaning on relationships built earlier in each prospect’s recruitment. Ohio State has been actively hosting multiple top prospects during high-visibility games.
2. National brand and development pathway. Elite recruits want the NFL track record and exposure Ohio State offers at skill positions and in the trenches. That pitch becomes even more compelling if a recruit’s current program is unstable.

The realistic odds and how this plays out before signing day

• Bralan Womack: moderate chance. He committed in August, but Auburn’s late struggles and staff churn have put his pledge in the conversation. Ohio State was a finalist and still projects as a primary suitor if Womack reopens publicly or privately. (Watch his public statements and any steps to reopen commitment.)
• Kemon Spell: plausible but competitive. As a 2027 five-star now on the market, Spell will draw an all-star courtship. Ohio State has momentum and relationships here, but Notre Dame, Michigan, Oregon, and others are active. This one will be decided over official visits and timing across the winter and spring.
• Kevin Brown: realistic and actionable. Brown’s campus visit to Columbus and public reporting that Ohio State is engaging him make him the sort of in-window flip target the Buckeyes historically execute. If Brown’s relationship with Penn State frays further, Ohio State could be in a position to flip him before signing day.

Bottom line

Don’t assume Ohio State’s board is closed — far from it.

The Buckeyes have their eyes on high-impact targets who, for a variety of reasons, have become vulnerable to late movement. Five-star DB Bralan Womack (Auburn commit but a former OSU finalist), elite running back Kemon Spell (recently reopened after Penn State’s turmoil), and offensive line target Kevin Brown (attended OSU’s Penn State game and has been mentioned as a flip candidate).

Each profile is different. Womack is the headline “big fish,” Spell is a long-term splash with heavy competition, and Brown is the pragmatic, offensive line win that would move the needle immediately.

If history and Ohio State’s late-season activity mean anything, the Buckeyes should not be counted out. With early signing windows and decisions looming, watch for visits, social signals from recruits, and any public reopening of commitments, that’s where the true drama will unfold.

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