Ohio State's 2027 RB Target Myson Johnson-Cook Predicted to Commit to Missouri

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The Ohio State Buckeyes have already landed nine commitments in the 2027 recruiting class, ranking first in the nation, according to On3. After failing to win back-to-back national championships, Ryan Day has hit the recruiting trail on a mission.

While the Buckeyes have yet to land a running back, they have been pushing for a handful of talented players at the position. That includes Myson Johnson-Cook out of East St. Louis, Illinois.

In his junior year at East St. Louis High School, he carried the ball 126 times for 1,341 yards and 20 touchdowns. At 6-foot-1.5 and 220 pounds, Johnson-Cook is a four-star recruit, the No. 2 athlete and the No. 39 player in the nation. Despite being listed as an athlete, he is expected to play running back in college.

Ohio State has been making a strong impression on him and was named one of his 12 finalists. Also making the cut were the Oregon Ducks, Tennessee Volunteers, Michigan Wolverines, Texas Longhorns, Texas A&M Aggies, Georgia Bulldogs, LSU Tigers, Alabama Crimson Tide, Miami Hurricanes, Missouri Tigers and Illinois Fighting Illini.

The Buckeyes have positioned themselves well, hosting the running back for two unofficial visits in Columbus.

However, on Monday, Rivals’ Steve Wiltfong logged an expert prediction for Johnson-Cook to pass on Ohio State and commit to Missouri. Of Wiltfong’s 1,126 predictions, 1,028 have been correct.

It would be an unfortunate battle to lose, leaving Day and his staff still searching for their first running back in the 2027 cycle. However, they are positioned well for five-star David Gabriel Georges, whom On3 rates as the second-best running back in the class.

While Johnson-Cook becomes increasingly unlikely, Ohio State has a 90.3% chance of landing Gabriel Georges, according to the Rivals recruiting prediction machine.

Related: Alabama Predicted to Lose 4-Star WR to Big Ten Powerhouse

This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Feb 16, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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