\n Ohio State has added an in-state tight end to its 2026 recruiting class. <\/p>\n
\n\tNick Lautar<\/a>, a three-star prospect from Lebanon, Ohio, announced his commitment to the Buckeyes on Sunday.\n<\/p>\n \n\t\tHome !! https:\/\/t.co\/lWQELxnq1h<\/a>\n\t<\/p>\n \t\u2014 Nick Lautar TE (@nicklautar8) November 16, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n \n\tRanked as the No. 52 tight end and No. 924 overall prospect in the 2026 class, Lautar had been committed to Louisville since June. He quickly flipped to Ohio State, however, after receiving an offer from OSU while visiting OSU for its 48-10 win over UCLA<\/a>\u00a0on Saturday.\n<\/p>\n \n\t\tTruly blessed to receive an offer from @OhioStateFB<\/a> !!!@CoachKee<\/a> @ryandaytime<\/a> @brianhartline<\/a> @Hayesfawcett3<\/a> @CoachMicahFaler<\/a> @Coach_Pflug<\/a> @JuckOnBucks<\/a> @LebanonAthDept<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/Cn4KsLanUa<\/a>\n\t<\/p>\n \t\u2014 Nick Lautar TE (@nicklautar8) November 16, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n \n\tWhile Ohio State waited until two-and-a-half weeks before early signing day to offer Lautar, the Buckeyes had been evaluating and building a relationship with Lautar for months. The 6-foot-5, 235-pound tight end also visited Ohio State for its September win over Ohio.\n<\/p>\n \n\tBaylor, Cincinnati, Kentucky, Northwestern, Pittsburgh, Rutgers and Wisconsin were among the other schools that offered Lautar before his initial commitment to Louisville.\n<\/p>\n \n\tA fluid pass-catcher who shows good route-running ability for a high school tight end and the receiving skill to make tough catches in traffic,\u00a0Lautar caught 38 passes for 511 yards and eight touchdowns in his senior season at Lebanon. He\u2019s also a strong blocker who\u2019s often seen knocking defenders into the dirt when the ball isn\u2019t coming his way.\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \n\tLautar will likely still\u00a0need some time to bulk up and develop his technical skill before\u00a0he\u2019ll be ready to play a significant role at Ohio State, as most tight ends do, but the Buckeyes shouldn\u2019t need him to play much right away. Will Kacmarek is the only tight end on this year\u2019s roster who\u2019s set to exhaust his eligibility, so the Buckeyes project to have a deep tight end room in 2026 with Max Klare, Bennett Christian, Nate Roberts, Jelani Thurman, Brody Lennon and Max LeBlanc all potentially returning.\n<\/p>\n \n\tAs such, Lautar is likely to be the only tight end in Ohio State\u2019s 2026 recruiting class. He replaces Corbyn Fordham, who decommitted from OSU and flipped to Florida State<\/a> in October. While Ohio State made an effort this fall to flip Alabama tight end commit Mack Sutter<\/a>, the four-star Illinois tight end appears set to sign with the Crimson Tide.\n<\/p>\n \n\tOhio State could look to add two tight ends in the 2027 class. Four-star Illinois prospect Brock Williams<\/a>, who was on campus alongside Lautar for the UCLA game, is a top target for the Buckeyes in that class.\n<\/p>\n \n\tLautar becomes Ohio State\u2019s sixth commitment of November in the 2026 class, joining five\u00a0other prospects who were also previously committed to other schools: cornerback Jay Timmons<\/a>\u00a0(Florida State),\u00a0defensive tackle Emanuel Ruffin<\/a>\u00a0(Colorado), offensive weapon\u00a0Legend Bey<\/a> (Tennessee), defensive end Dre Quinn<\/a> (Clemson) and offensive lineman Mason Wilhelm<\/a> (North Carolina).\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 | #26 DL<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t6-4\u00a0|\u00a0290<\/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\tATH<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tLEGEND BEY<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t#361 NATL\u00a0|\u00a0#24 ATH<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t5-11\u00a0|\u00a0175<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tNorth Forney (Forney, Texas)<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tDE<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tDRE QUINN<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t#391 NATL\u00a0|\u00a0#36 EDGE<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t6-4\u00a0|\u00a0228<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tBuford (Buford, Georgia)<\/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\tTE<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tNICK LAUTAR<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t#924 NATL\u00a0|\u00a0#52 TE<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t6-5 | 230<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tLebanon (Lebanon, Ohio)<\/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#1119 NATL\u00a0| #92 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 \t\t\t\t\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t#1276 NATL\u00a0|\u00a0#101 IOL<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t6-4 |\u00a0285<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tSt. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio)<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tProspect Rating Data: 247Sports Composite<\/p>\n \n\tLautar is the third prospect to commit to Ohio State this weekend, joining Quinn and 2027 four-star safety Eli Johnson<\/a>. Lautar is the 27th overall member of Ohio State\u2019s 2026 recruiting class, and the 10th in-state prospect in the class.\n<\/p>\n