Ohio State has officially made a major recruiting move, setting its sights on another elite prospect from Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, California.
Having already secured a commitment from five-star wide receiver Chris Henry Jr., ranked as the No. 2 receiver and 14th overall in the 2026 class, the Buckeyes are now aggressively pursuing his teammate, four-star wide receiver Kayden Dixon-Wyatt.
Ohio State’s new offensive coordinator, Brian Hartline, has extended an offer to Dixon-Wyatt, and recent developments suggest the Buckeyes have overtaken Oregon as the frontrunner for his commitment. According to Rivals’ Adam Gorney, Dixon-Wyatt now views Ohio State as his top choice, pushing Oregon to second place, despite the Ducks previously leading his recruitment.
Dixon-Wyatt holds 30 total offers, with On3’s projections still giving Oregon a 79.7% chance of landing him. However, Ohio State has made it clear that he is a top priority. Following his visit to Columbus, head coach Ryan Day and Hartline emphasized that he is a “must-get player” for the program, as they aim to secure his commitment over a key Big Ten rival.
Ohio State’s Likely Starting Quarterback Emerging Amid Offseason Developments
With Will Howard having led Ohio State to a national championship before heading to the NFL, head coach Ryan Day and his staff face the critical task of identifying his replacement. Entering the spring, no clear frontrunner had emerged, but at the halfway mark of spring practice, a top contender is beginning to take shape.
Former Alabama quarterback and five-star recruit Julian Sayin, who transferred to Ohio State last season, appears to be leading the competition. According to Spencer Holbrook of *Letterman Row*, Sayin currently has the edge over Lincoln Kienholz and Tavien St. Clair in the Buckeyes’ quarterback battle.
“Sayin still leads the Ohio State quarterback battle, while Kienholz looks better than he has in past spring practice periods,” Holbrook noted. “That battle will be one we’re watching closely as the spring hits its half-way point.”
Sayin, a 6-foot-1, 203-pound quarterback from Carlsbad, California, was a top-ranked recruit in the 2024 class. Initially committed to Alabama, he transferred to Ohio State following Nick Saban’s retirement. During his freshman season, he made four appearances, completing 5-of-12 passes for 84 yards and a touchdown, including a 55-yard scoring strike against Western Michigan.
If Sayin secures the starting role, he will have a talented group of receivers to work with, including standout sophomore Jeremiah Smith, along with Carnell Tate, Brandon Inniss, and Bryson Rodgers.
