The Ohio State Buckeyes continue to get good news about the future of its roster. On Wednesday, key 2026 4-star edge rusher Zavion Griffin-Haynes showed his confidence in the Buckeyes and defensive line coach Larry Johnson. See what the Buckeyes target had to say about his recruitment as a top prospect.
Top Recruit Zavion Griffin-Haynes Has Buckeyes No. 1
Ranked as the 140th overall prospect and 16th-edge defender in the 2026 recruiting class by industry boards, landing Griffin-Haynes would be a solid coup for the Buckeyes. The 6-foot-6, 220-pounder is from North Carolina, where he's already earned offers from regional schools. Tennessee, North Carolina, and South Carolina have a location advantage for Griffin-Haynes.
So far, Griffin-Haynes doesn't seem to mind the extra distance to Columbus. According to On3's Mick Walker , his relationship with Larry Johnson has taken precedence in his recruitment process. Griffin-Haynes said, "Ohio State is definitely No. 1 on my list right now."
The Buckeyes can absolutely sell future playing time to the lanky athlete. Seven defensive ends on their roster today are seniors; another three will be seniors next fall. By the time he's on campus, the Buckeyes will have a host of new faces from which he can learn and compete.
The success of recent defensive ends in Columbus has been a talking point in recent years. J.T. Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer had good but not elite 2023 seasons, so each returned to school for this season. Since Chase Young departed, the Buckeyes have lacked a star on the edge.
Griffin-Hayes might be more Zach Harrison than Young or a Bosa brother. He's light in the pants now, but by the time he's ready to play on Saturdays in 2028, Griffin-Hayes might be over 260 pounds. His long frame generally bodes well for power rushers who are less dynamic and bendy.
That's a generalization, though, and it's also possible he'll be the next Tyree Wilson as a freak who compensates for his naturally high pad level. His high school film is littered with good examples of smooth speed, fluid movements in the open field, and promising closing ability with his wingspan.
We'll have to see whether Johnson is still around for Griffin-Hayes to see his commitment process through. Johnson, 72, is surely in his final years as a coach. The Buckeyes will surely replace him with a reputable presence when it's time, but those days might be dwindling.
Johnson's challenge has been overcoming the speculation of retirement. Other teams often bring this up to recruits, to which Johnson has repeatedly shot those accusations down. However, Johnson would be wise to sell the program over himself as a tying bind between his recruits and the Buckeyes.
If he can successfully sell the program and its future, recruits like Griffin-Hayes may stay with the Buckeyes beyond Johnson's years. Failure to make a more holistic pitch can lead to quick flips and decommitments.
We'll continue to monitor the 2026 Ohio State recruiting class as we learn more.
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