Ohio State football dealt tough loss the Buckeyes never want to see at the hands of a major SEC school

Ohio State football dealt tough loss the Buckeyes never want to see at the hands of a major SEC school

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Ohio State football dealt tough loss the Buckeyes never want to see at the hands of a major SEC school
Ohio State Buckeyes offensive line coach Tyler Bowen talks to players during the Ohio State football spring game at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on April 18, 2026.
Ohio State Buckeyes offensive line coach Tyler Bowen talks to players during the Ohio State football spring game at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on April 18, 2026. Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

When an Ohio State recruiting target gets out of the Buckeye State and heads south it's bad news for Ryan Day's program.

The Ohio State Buckeyes have had a major focus on the trenches when it comes to recruiting the class of 2027. 

Ohio State has six offensive line commitments specifically and offensive line coach Tyler Bowen has done a great job on the trail. 

The ball is already rolling for the class of 2028 where the Buckeyes have three commitments. Just one of those commitments is from Ohio though, and the Buckeyes just watched a top Buckeye State recruit head south with his commitment. 

Ohio State loses out on 2028 target to Alabama Crimson Tide  

In a bit of a surprise, Fitch (OH) four-star IOL Anthony Blalock Jr. announced his commitment to begin the week on Monday. Blalock has made a verbal commitment to the Alabama Crimson Tide over the Buckeyes and Texas Tech. 

Blalock is a 6-foot-3, 305-pound offensive lineman who could potentially play guard or tackle at the next level. He comes from Austintown Fitch in Ohio, the same school that produced Billy Price, and traditionally has a strong football program. 

According to 247 Sports Composite, Blalock is the No. 12 interior offensive lineman and No. 204 player nationally. He's also listed as the No. 6 player in the state of Ohio. 

When it comes to 2028 offensive linemen in Ohio, Blalock is rated as the highest. A commitment at this point before his junior season may not have been something Ohio State was comfortable with. The Buckeyes often like to see the junior season play out for in-state players who aren't necessarily top national guys. 

Regardless, it's a loss for the Buckeyes on the recruiting front to an SEC program. Depending on what Ohio State's 2028 offensive line haul ends up looking like, Blalock could be a player they circle back to down the road for a potential flip. 

This article was originally published on A to Z Sports. Read the full story here: Ohio State football dealt tough loss the Buckeyes never want to see at the hands of a major SEC school

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