The Ohio State Buckeyes have received a major update in their pursuit of a running back for their 2027 class.
Ryan Day and the Ohio State Buckeyes are among the three finalists to land running back Jordan Hall for their 2027 class. The Missouri Tigers and Penn State Nittany Lions are the other two teams in the mix to land Hall, and he will announce his commitment on October 23rd.
Ohio State is off to a solid start to the 2026 season, as they have a 3-1 record and are the 5th-ranked program in the country. The Buckeyes' lone loss came against the Texas Longhorns, but they are still firmly in the mix to be a College Football Playoff team and compete for a National Championship.
Ohio State will have to get through some tough matchups, including the 14th-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes, the 6th-ranked Indiana Hoosiers, the 18th-ranked USC Trojans, and the 15th-ranked Oregon Ducks.
Strong performances over the next few weeks could help them land Hall. Ohio State will also want to be successful in the run game, showing that they can develop talent at that position.
USA TODAY Network via Reuters ConnectIn recent years, the Buckeyes have had running backs go on to the NFL and have had solid seasons, including Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson.
Judkins had a good rookie season in 2025, rushing for 827 yards and seven touchdowns while catching 26 passes for 171 yards. Henderson was also productive in his rookie campaign, rushing for 911 yards and nine touchdowns and catching 35 passes for 221 yards and a touchdown.
With both of those running backs thriving in the NFL, Day and Ohio State can use it in their recruiting pitch to Hall.
In 2026, the Buckeyes run game has been solid, led by Bo Jackson and Ja'Kobi Jackson. Bo has rushed for 283 yards and two touchdowns on 50 carries (5.7 yards per carry), while Ja'Kobi has rushed for 206 yards and five touchdowns on 31 carries (6.6 yards per carry).
Overall, Ohio State's run game has been strong, with 627 yards and 10 touchdowns on 136 carries this season. The efficient ground game has been helpful in securing wins and will be pivotal to establish against top teams.
The Buckeyes have consistently been one of the best teams in college football and should have a strong pitch to land Hall, as they are the most established program among the finalists. Ohio State will look to keep the Ohio native in-state and develop him into the program's next star running back.
