Ohio State looks to have taken the lead for an elite 2026 pass rusher.
The Ohio State Buckeyes are reportedly leading the race for one of the top pass rushers in the 2026 recruiting class. According to On3’s Josh Newberg, 4-star edge prospect Luke Wafle from Hun High School in Princeton, New Jersey, was quite impressed with his visit to Columbus over the weekend, putting the reigning national champions in a strong position to secure the skilled defender.
“Speaking with Luke Wafle’s family and sources who spent time with him during his Ohio State visit, I believe the Buckeyes currently have the advantage in his recruitment,” Newberg mentioned on the Wiltfong Whiparound podcast. “His father described the weekend as ‘perfect.’ A significant part of this visit was getting to know the new defensive coordinator, Matt Patricia, as during his earlier visit in the spring, it seemed like Ohio State had some momentum after connecting with Ryan Day and coach Larry Johnson multiple times.”
While the Buckeyes have taken the lead, Penn State and Texas are still contenders, with USC and Florida rounding out the top five schools for Wafle. He plans to visit Penn State on June 6, USC on June 13, and Texas on June 20.
Standing at 6-foot-5 and weighing 245 pounds, Wafle is the top player in New Jersey, ranked as the No. 10 edge rusher and No. 52 overall in the nation. During his junior season, he recorded 53 tackles and eight sacks, and On3 predicts he could achieve five-star status before the 2026 recruiting cycle concludes.
There seems to be strong interest from both Wafle and the Buckeyes program. Although he seems to be taking his time with his commitment decision, all indicators suggest that Wafle and Ohio State could be a perfect fit.
“If there’s a player in this class who already looks like he belongs on Ohio State’s roster, it’s Wafle,” Steve Wiltfong stated recently on his podcast. “He truly enjoyed his time in Columbus, calling it a wonderful experience, and spoke about the team’s strong desire to win, which he found very inspiring.”
“If Ohio State were to rank their prospects in the 2026 class, I believe Luke Wafle would be their top choice,” Newberg added. “I think Ohio State would select him as the No. 1 pick in 2026.”
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