Ohio State Makes Late Push for 5-Star Recruit, But It Might Not Be Enough
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The Ohio State Buckeyes have a new chance to win over national recruits Saturday. By beating rival Michigan at Ann Arbor, multiple four and five-star talents can become coaxed to join the Buckeyes' future.
OSU happens to be pushing hard for one prized five-star. Yet one recruiting analyst revealed the push might not be enough.
Which Recruit Ohio State is Pursuing
Honor Fa'alave-Johnson is one of the few five-stars representing the next recruiting cycle of 2027.
Blair Angulo of 247Sports revealed the Buckeyes and Ryan Day are indeed courting the standout safety from Cathedral Catholic in the San Diego region. And yes, the Buckeyes are of interest on the side of the 6-foot, 170-pounder.
Yet Angulo revealed why it won't be easy for Ryan Day and company to court the defender.
"The [USC] Trojans have recent momentum thanks to his family's experience inside the Memorial Coliseum that night [when USC faced Michigan at the Coliseum] — an atmosphere that gave him a tangible look at the vision USC's coaches have pitched," Angulo wrote.
He adds: "Sources close to the recruitment keep pointing to USC as the frontrunner at this phase of the process, but cautioned that there are still several more checkpoints to pass. Proximity to home is a factor that shouldn't be discounted."
That's when Angulo dropped one more telling nugget that plays against the Buckeyes.
"It's hard to envision him leaving the West Coast," a source on the Cathedral Catholic sideline said to Angulo.
OSU Locks in Former LSU Commit
Meanwhile, the Buckeyes added to their growing 2026 class thanks to a decommit out of the Southeastern Conference realm.
Darryus McKinley has flipped to Ohio State, after originally being committed to LSU. However, the firing of Brian Kelly has impacted the 2026 class including the defensive tackle.
McKinley adds a three-star talent to a deep trench room moving forward in Columbus.
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Nov 27, 2025, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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