Key Points:
- Ohio State continues to build one of the nation’s strongest 2026 recruiting classes under Ryan Day.
- Former Colorado commit Emanuel Ruffin could give the Buckeyes another elite talent on the defensive line.
- The Buckeyes’ recruiting momentum mirrors their on-field dominance as they chase another national championship.
It’s been a great season so far for the Ohio State Buckeyes. They’re 8-0 and earned the No. 1 spot in the College Football Playoff committee’s first rankings. The Buckeyes are looking to repeat as national champions and win their first Big Ten title since 2020.
Under head coach Ryan Day, Ohio State has been dominant and much of that has to do with strong high school recruiting. Despite many of the top players in the 2026 recruiting class already committing, several top names are still available.
That includes defensive lineman Emanuel Ruffin, who decommitted from the Colorado Buffaloes on Tuesday. Rivals Industry Rankings place him as a four-star recruit, the No. 21 defensive lineman and the No. 202 player in the nation.
He holds offers from major powerhouses such as Tennessee, Alabama, Florida, Missouri, Penn State, Miami, Texas and of course, Ohio State. It may not take Ruffin long to choose a new team, because on Wednesday, Rivals’ vice president of recruiting, Steve Wiltfong, logged an expert prediction for him to commit to the Buckeyes.
After decommitting from Colorado, Ruffin gushed over Ohio State, telling Rivals’ Hayes Fawcett, “You can tell it’s bigger than ball over there, they’re really a brotherhood. Then the coaches. Coach Pat [Miguel Patrick] coached down here in Birmingham at UAB and he was one of the first to offer me.”
How Ruffin Would Fit Into Ohio State’s 2026 Recruiting Class
The Buckeyes and Day have already been impressive in the 2026 cycle. They’ve landed 21 commitments, ranking No. 3 in the Big Ten and No. 9 in the nation.
Ruffin has the potential to be the fifth defensive lineman to commit, joining four-star Khary Wilder, four-star Damari Simeon, three-star Cameron Brickle and three-star Jamir Perez. He would be the second-highest ranked of that group, behind Wilder (No. 3 DL).
As of now, they also have the second-most four-star commits (13) in the Big Ten, trailing only the USC Trojans (21).
While Ohio State continues its search for a second straight national championship, Day takes no breaks on the recruiting trail, with Ruffin emerging as a potential addition.