Ohio State loses in-state prospect as Jakob Weatherspoon flips commitment to UNC

Weatherspoon is no longer a member of the Buckeyes’ 2026 recruiting class.

Recruiting in 2025 is an ever-changing realm of college football. Each day bringing something new to the table, it can be hard to keep up with the constant rollercoaster ride this has become not only for Ohio State, but any major program in the current landscape.

The Buckeyes have a class that ranks in the top-ten by every major outlet, and while that’s impressive for most schools, Ohio State rarely sees the outside of the top five. Fresh off a national championship, one would think this recruiting cycle for the 2026 class would be a breeze.

That said, while there’s plenty of top talent committed right now, it’s a bit of a toss up depending on who you ask on whether or not Ohio State’s haul thus far is up to the standard.

A group that sits at 20 players, Wednesday brought a shake up to the Buckeyes’ class.

Heading into the 2026 class, the in-state defensive back targets for this cycle were extremely exciting on paper. Three players that were among the top in the country at their positions, Ohio State looked to have several answers right within their own backyard.

Elbert Hill, Victor Singleton, and Jakob Weatherspoon being those key three guys, it’s been a wild ride to say the least concerning each respective recruitment.

Hill picked USC over the Buckeyes, and Singleton took his talents Texas A&M. The Buckeyes did land the commitment of Avon, Ohio native Weatherspoon way back in January of this year, but on Wednesday that relationship changed when he surprised the masses by announcing he was de-committing from Ohio State and committing to North Carolina.

A 5-foot-11, 180 pound athlete, Weatherspoon is the No. 178 player nationally and 14th best safety per the 247Sports Composite. A player Ohio State had long been associated with, Weatherspoon was likely to play cornerback for the Buckeyes, so this loss certainly impacts the class as a whole and the outlook for the position.

Ohio State still boasts the likes of Blaine Bradford and Simeon Caldwell, but the coaching staff now really needs to either pivot elsewhere or plan to be plenty active when the transfer portal comes around at cornerback based on what is still left on the board in regards to uncommitted players and potential flip candidates.

Rumors still have Ohio State atop of the list for another elite safety in Bralan Womack, who is set to announce in August, but again, cornerback has to be addressed. Regardless of the reason for Weatherspoon’s decision, feelings on either side probably have some sense of justification, but it’s back to drawing board at least for now.

In an area of the game that is constantly throwing curveballs, Ohio State has to adjust a bit. The few months left of this cycle will tell a lot about where the Buckeyes are looking to spend their resources.