It is amazing the Buckeyes did not pull off back-to-back College Football National Championship titles, powered by a truly stacked roster. Ryan Day’s squad is loaded with blue-chippers on both sides of the ball, with elite playmakers topping the charts at nearly all of the marquee positions on my prospect ranking list. Given their dominance and overwhelming talent, the Buckeyes will continue to lead the charge as the top football factory in college football.
Carnell Tate, WR (No. 2 prospect at position): The acrobatic pass-catcher blossomed into a big-play specialist with WR1/WR2 skills. With opponents initially devoting most of their attention to his ultra-talented partner, Jeremiah Smith, the 6-foot-2, 192-pound Tate punished defensive coordinators for their schematic disrespect by routinely winning his one-on-one matchups on the perimeter. He showed a more polished game in 2025, particularly as a route-runner, making it easy to see why NFL evaluators are smitten with his playmaking potential.
Max Klare, TE (No. 2 prospect at position): The pass-catching phenom has an impressive resume as a catch-and-run specialist dating back to the three seasons he spent at Purdue. Klare’s polished route-running ability and elite ball skills create problems on the perimeter, but the 6-4, 246-pounder is also a scrappy blocker who projects as a scheme-friendly “Y” (traditional tight end) in any system.
Kayden McDonald, DT (No. 4 prospect at position): A rugged “trench warrior” who specializes in stopping the run, the 6-2, 326-pounder is a rare find as a heavy-handed defender who can win with force (using a bull rush or jack-and-shed maneuver) or finesse (arm-over) to eliminate A-gap runs (between the center and guard). With McDonald showing disruptive skills at the point of attack, evaluators could target the big-bodied defender as a borderline Day 1 prospect.
Arvell Reese, LB (No. 1 prospect at position): The ultra-athletic defender gives off Micah Parsons vibes as a dynamic off-ball linebacker with disruptive pass-rush skills. Reese’s inexperience (16 college starts) could limit his impact as a two-position standout in Year 1 — but the explosive playmaker otherwise checks the boxes as a potential superstar playing in a hybrid role that enables him to create chaos from the second level or off the edges.
Sonny Styles, LB (No. 2 prospect at position): After Styles stole the show at the NFL Scouting Combine, he has scouts envisioning him as a future Fred Warner or Kyle Hamilton, patrolling the box as a designated playmaker. As an Olympic-caliber athlete with A-plus diagnostic skills and awareness, the swift linebacker could flourish as a key cog within a “seek-and-destroy” scheme that enables him to blitz, run and cover from the second level. With more defenses employing hybrid personnel, the athleticism and versatility of this former safety will no doubt make him a hot commodity in scouting circles.
Caleb Downs, S (No. 1 prospect at position): The do-it-all safety plays the game like a 10-year veteran with All-Pro credentials. Downs controls the back end like a traffic cop and also enhances the unit’s playmaking as a versatile third-level defender with blitz, hit, and cover capabilities. As a dominant player with plenty of big-game experience at a pair of elite programs (he also played at Alabama) and a stellar resume littered with splash plays, Downs is a top-10 prospect with Pro Bowl potential.