\n The Buckeyes have added a fourth defensive tackle to their 2026 recruiting class. <\/p>\n
\n\tFour-star defensive tackle\u00a0Emanuel Ruffin<\/a>\u00a0committed to Ohio State on Sunday, becoming the highest-ranked DT and the third four-star defensive lineman in Ohio State\u2019s 2026 recruiting class.\n<\/p>\n \n\t\tBREAKING: Four-Star DL Emanuel Ruffin has Committed to Ohio State, he tells me for @rivals<\/a>The 64 290 DL from Bessemer, AL decommitted from Colorado on TuesdayJohn 13:7https:\/\/t.co\/SHVGugWI69<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/HRXGrFvWnY<\/a>\n\t<\/p>\n \t\u2014 Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) November 9, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n \n\tA former Colorado pledge, Ruffin commits to Ohio State just five days after decommitting from the Buffaloes.\n<\/p>\n \n\tHailing from Bessemer, Alabama, Ruffin is the No. 197 overall prospect and No. 26 defensive lineman in the 247Sports composite. Standing 6-foot-4 and\u00a0295 pounds, he projects as a defensive tackle at the next level, especially as he adds more weight in a college strength and conditioning program. He picked Ohio State over\u00a0offers from countless top programs, including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Miami, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Texas, USC and Washington, among others.\n<\/p>\n \t\tThe Ruffin File<\/p>\n \t\t\tClass: 2026<\/p>\n \t\t\tSize:\u00a06-4\/295<\/p>\n \t\t\tPos:\u00a0DT<\/p>\n \t\t\tSchool:\u00a0Bessemer City\u00a0(Bessemer, Alabama)<\/p>\n \t\t\tComposite Rating: \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\tComposite Rank:\u00a0#197\u00a0(#26\u00a0DL)<\/p>\n \n\tThe Buckeyes were a top contender in Ruffin’s initial recruitment. He made an official visit to Ohio State in June. When he set his initial commitment date of July 4, he announced Ohio State, Alabama, Texas, LSU and Georgia as his finalists. But he ultimately opted to push his commitment back.\n<\/p>\n \n\tColorado then emerged in the race, extending Ruffin an offer on Sep.\u00a016\u00a0and landing his commitment on Sep. 23. Ohio State was the only school to remain a finalist out of the original group, joining the Buffaloes, Missouri and Ole Miss as the group he selected from in September.\n<\/p>\n \n\tRuffin continued to welcome suitors while committed to Colorado, taking an official visit to Missouri in October. The Buffaloes, meanwhile, have\u00a0lost five\u00a0of their last six games as questions have swirled about the future of head coach Deion Sanders, who is dealing with health issues. That combination helped lead to Ruffin’s decommitment and eventual verbal to Ohio State.\n<\/p>\n \n\tThe defensive tackle’s tape makes it easy to see why he was so sought-after. Ruffin is nimble, explosive and extremely athletic for a 295-pound man. He finishes plays with violence. He’s excellent at stacking and shedding blocks in the run game, though\u00a0he will need to work on his pad level. Refinement of his hand fighting to become a more effective pass rusher will also be beneficial.\n<\/p>\n \n\tRuffin finished his junior season with 51 tackles, two tackles for loss and a fumble recovery. As a senior, Ruffin has 40 tackles with two tackles for loss, one sack and a fumble recovery in nine games.\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \n\tRuffin is the fourth defensive tackle to commit to Ohio State in the 2026 recruiting class as Johnson builds depth for the future of his room. He joins four-star Damari Simeon<\/a>, three-star Cameron Brickle<\/a> and three-star Jamir Perez<\/a>. Four-star defensive end Khary Wilder<\/a>\u00a0gives the Buckeyes five total defensive line commits in the class.\n<\/p>\n \n\tRuffin becomes the 24th overall member of Ohio State\u2019s 2026 recruiting class. He\u2019s the third player to commit to the Buckeyes in four days, joining cornerback Jay Timmons<\/a> and offensive lineman Mason Wilhelm<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n \t\tClass of 2026 Commits<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tPos<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tName<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tRating<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tRank<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tSize<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tSchool<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tWR<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tCHRIS HENRY JR.<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t#20 NATL | #2 WR<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t6-5\u00a0|\u00a0205<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tMater Dei (Santa Ana, California)<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tS<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tBLAINE BRADFORD<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t#41 NATL | #6 S<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t6-1\u00a0|\u00a0207<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tCatholic (Baton Rouge, Louisiana)<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tOT<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tSAM GREER<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t#55 NATL | #5 OT<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t6-6\u00a0|\u00a0310<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tArchbishop Hoban (Akron, Ohio)<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tLB<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tCINCERE JOHNSON<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t#67 NATL | #10 ED<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t6-3\u00a0|\u00a0225<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tGlenville (Cleveland, Ohio)<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tDE<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tKHARY WILDER<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t#79 NATL | #9 DL<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t6-4\u00a0|\u00a0260<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tJunipero Serra (Gardena, California)<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tCB<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tJORDAN THOMAS<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t#98 NATL | #11 CB<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t6-1\u00a0|\u00a0185<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tBergen Catholic (Oradell, New Jersey)<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tS<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tSIMEON CALDWELL<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t#109 NATL | #7 LB<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t6-3\u00a0|\u00a0185<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tThe Bolles School (Jacksonville, Florida)<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tCB<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tJAY TIMMONS<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t#136 NATL | #17 CB<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t5-11\u00a0|\u00a0185<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tPine-Richland (Gibsonia, Pennsylvania)<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tWR<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tKAYDEN DIXON-WYATT<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t#142 NATL | #20 WR<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t6-2\u00a0|\u00a0180<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tMater Dei (Santa Ana, California)<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tOT<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tMAXWELL RILEY<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t#143 NATL | #11 OT<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t6-5\u00a0|\u00a0280<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tAvon Lake (Avon Lake, Ohio)<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tDT<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tEMANUEL RUFFIN<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t#197 NATL\u00a0|\u00a0#26 DL<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t6-4|\u00a0295<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tBessemer City (Bessemer, Alabama)<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tRB<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tFAVOUR AKIH<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t#210 NATL | #15 RB<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t6-0\u00a0|\u00a0190<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tRutherford B Hayes (Delaware, Ohio)<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tDT<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tDAMARI SIMEON<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t#211 NATL | #29 DL<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t6-3\u00a0|\u00a0275<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tSt. Augustine Prep (Richland, New Jersey)<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tLB<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tCJ SANNA<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t#295 NATL| #20 LB<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t6-3| 225<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tOlentangy (Lewis Center, Ohio)<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tWR<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tJERQUADEN GUILFORD<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t#301 NATL\u00a0| #46 WR<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t6-2\u00a0|\u00a0190<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tNorthrop (Fort Wayne, Indiana)<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tWR<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tJAEDEN RICKETTS<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t#334 NATL\u00a0|\u00a0#52 WR<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t6-0\u00a0|\u00a0187<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tWatkins Memorial (Pataskala, Ohio)<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tWR<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tBROCK BOYD<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t#504 NATL\u00a0|\u00a0#75 WR<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t6-2\u00a0|\u00a0183<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tSouthlake Carroll (Southlake, Texas)<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tDT<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tCAMERON BRICKLE<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t#532 NATL | #63 DL<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t6-2\u00a0|\u00a0305<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tIMG Academy (Bradenton, Florida)<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tOL<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tTUCKER SMITH<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t#532 NATL | #40 IOL<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t6-5\u00a0|\u00a0280<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tSandra Day O’Connor (Phoenix, Arizona)<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tQB<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tLUKE FAHEY<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t#580 NATL\u00a0|\u00a0#34 QB<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t6-1\u00a0|\u00a0185<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tMission Viejo (Mission Viejo, California)<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tDT<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tJAMIR PEREZ<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t#724 NATL | #89 DL<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t6-4\u00a0|\u00a0330<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tGlenville (Cleveland, Ohio)<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tS<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tKHMARI BING<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t#923 NATL\u00a0|\u00a0#78 CB<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t6-0 | 190<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tSt. Frances Academy (Baltimore, Maryland)<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tOT<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tLANDRY BREDE<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t#1123 NATL\u00a0| #94 OT<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t6-5\u00a0|\u00a0280<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tMentor (Mentor, Ohio)<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tOL<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tMASON WILHELM<\/a><\/p>\n