Ohio State has had a lot of success recruiting Texas with standouts like Garrett Wilson, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Donovan Jackson all making massive roster impacts in Columbus and TXHSFB standouts like Corian Gipson, Payton Pierce, and Micah Hudson could be next.

RB James Peoples (5'10, 195) - Class of 2024 - San Antonio Veterans Memorial

The No. 12 rated prospect in the state is seriously interested in the Buckeyes. Peoples named a Top 6: Ohio State, Texas, TCU, Oklahoma, Alabama and Oregon, but many down this way feel Ohio State is a real contender. The four-star has already visited Columbus on his own dime, and a return trip later this spring could play a huge role in his final decision. RB is a position of need for Ohio State in the 2024 cycle, and Peoples is one of the best in the nation. As a junior, Peoples rushed for 1,904 yards and 28 touchdowns, earning 13-5A Division II Co-MVP honors. He has been selected to play in the 2024 All-American Bowl. Boom Herron may be a good Ohio State comparison. 

ILB Payton Pierce (6'1, 225) - Class of 2024 - Lovejoy

Pierce is an exciting prospect from the suburbs north of Dallas who is one of the state's most highly sought-after recruits, possessing 39 FBS scholarship offers. Pierce missed a large portion of his junior season with a hamstring injury but quickly passes the eyeball test and has been a known commodity in this part of the country since his middle school days. The four-star has a wrestling background, capturing the 5A Division II state championship in 2021 and finishing second in 2022. Pierce has plans to make it up to Columbus for an official visit and there are starting to be more whispers behind the scenes about his potential to play in Scarlet and Gray. Oklahoma, Texas A&M, and Notre Dame are also strongly in the mix. Pierce is an ELITE inside backer who may be lower on some of the rankings lists because of his limited reps as a junior, but he is a throwback LB who could quickly become a fan favorite in Columbus if he picks the Buckeyes. 

CB Corian Gipson (6'1, 175) - Class of 2024 - Lancaster

Gipson plays at one of the traditional recruit powerhouse programs South of Dallas and is another one of the state's most heavily offered prospects (39 offers). Many thought the state's No. 16 rated prospect would end up at Texas because Lancaster's former head coach Chris Gilbert was on staff, but Coach Gilbert accepted a position at North Texas, opening the door wide for Alabama and Ohio State to make a strong case for Gipson to leave the state. Gipson has already unofficially visited Ohio State and plans to make a return trip to Columbus for an official visit. Gipson might remind some Ohio State fans of Chris Gamble. 

OT Michael Fasusi (6'6, 290) - Class of 2025 - Lewisville 

This monster from the Dallas metroplex is one of the fastest-rising prospects in the country and will be under serious consideration for five-star status as one of the top recruits in the country. The Buckeyes offered him after a thorough evaluation by OL coach Justin Frye and Fasusi has a genuine interest in tOSU. It is still early in the recruitment, and Fasusi will get offers from every top college, but Ohio State should already be cemented in as a prime contender. Fasusi reminds me of Houston Texans OL Kenyon Green. 

WR Micah Hudson (6'0, 180) - Class of 2024 - Lake Belton

He is a top five-star recruit at one of the positions that Ohio State has had a lot of success recruiting in Texas. Most of the talk early on has centered on the Texas Longhorns, but the longer this one plays out, the more interesting it will get. Ohio State already has a five-star commitment from WR Jeremiah Smith in 2024, but Hudson is the type of talent that any school would take, and he is already being compared to Garrett Wilson.