Ohio State is riding high off a phenomenal 14-2 season and a triumphant national championship run from Atlanta. But Ryan Day isn’t resting on his laurels. Immediately after their victory, they suffered a gut-wrenching loss: the departure of their defensive maestro, DC Jim Knowles. This bittersweet moment cast a slight shadow over their otherwise exhilarating success. The million-dollar question is: how will Knowles’ absence impact the Buckeyes down the line?
Much hinges on who they pluck from the overflowing mailbox of candidates vying for the position. But let’s focus on what is certain: their explosive offense. Ryan Day is aggressively pursuing five-star Nixa High School recruit Jackson Cantwell. Can they seal the deal? One national analyst offers a glimmer of hope, but as always, take it with a grain of salt.
Jackson Cantwell raises the bar high at Ohio State
Speaking to On3, recruiting writer Alex Gleitman said, ”I would say no position more than the offensive line is positively impacted by Ohio State’s run to a national title just because of what they were able to do and what Justin Frye showed from a developmental standpoint and a coaching standpoint.” After a few back-and-forths, the Buckeyes’ O-line has overcome a series of injuries to lift the trophy. The Buckeyes had eight players enter the portal before the playoff began. The victory only made it more of a catch for the players to take a shot at. Offensive lineman coach Justin Frye should have been pretty careful to maximize the momentum and pull Jackson Cantwell to the board.
After all, the 6’8″ behemoth is a prized prospect in the 2026 class, and everyone wants a piece of him. Even arch-rival Michigan’s O-line coach is actively recruiting him, and a slew of other programs are vying for his commitment. So, the Buckeyes are in a heated recruiting battle for the five-star offensive tackle. And the question is: does Ohio State have the inside track?
Credits: Jackson Cantwell Twitter
“Winning a national championship in a dominant fashion over the four-game stretch. There may not be a more impressive coaching accomplishment than what Justin Frye did this past year when you look at the landscape of college football. I know that is resonates with offensive lineman including Jackson Cantwell. So I do think Ohio State maybe has its eye there; get him back on campuses I think they need to seize the opportunity, get them back on campus this spring, lock down an official visit this summer, and they will be in a mix to have a shot,” Gleitman told ON3’s Josh Newberg. However, in the last, he sprinkles some doubt, “But I am still taking the field over Ohio State at Jackson Cantwell.”
Ryan Day and Justin Frye recently paid a visit to Nixa High School, Missouri, gauging his interest and the overall recruiting landscape. Cantwell seemingly had a great conversation with the OSU duo as he posted a gratitude message right after the visit. Fans are already getting crazy for Cantwell to make the move, but Missouri has been lurking behind the bar to add their homegrown talent to the roster.
Even if Ryan Day wins the battle, he has to make sure that the premium coaches are there to chisel out the best out of Cantwell. But that area seems heavily shaking.
Jim Knowles’ act triggers more departures from Columbus
Jim Knowles has left the building without a notice. As per reports, Knowles left Ohio State because he had some serious conflicts of opinion with a few members of the coaching staff. According to On3’s J.D. Pickell, Knowles had decided to leave the Buckeyes at the end of the season, regardless of whether or not they won the national title. You can blame it on Ryan Day’s excessive scrutiny of the defensive line, but the truth is, the woe is deeper than it has been seen from the surface.
The OSU insider, Zach Smith, broke out a significant air of danger surrounding Columbus’ coaching room—”I think Matt Guerrieri, who is Jim’s kind of protégé who was coaching the safeties, I think he will want to elevate him. I don’t know what that means for the rest of the staff. You might also see Larry Johnson retire and Tim Walton to the NFL.”
Regardless, Jim Knowles’ absence hopefully wrecks the stability of a top-tier defense. Getting O-line on the place is good, but they need to take care of their defense standard as well.
The post Double Blow for Ohio State as Ryan Day Receives Tough 5-Star Recruiting Update Alongside Unexpected Coaching Agony appeared first on EssentiallySports.