Recruiting Roundup: Top Underclassmen Land Big-Time Offers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Summer recruiting was in full swing in the buckeye State, with several prospects in Indiana seeing their recruiting blow up, or some landing their first offers. Here are four Buckeye State prospects who were on a roll and picked up some of their first offers last summer. We'll still be recapping the summer which saw a flurry of offers extended.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2245034"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a5040d3cfb76"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">West Branch High School Class of 2028 prospect [player_tooltip player_id='2245034' first='Landon' last='Coffee'] saw his recruiting explode as college camp season rolled on. Coffee is a 6-foot-6, 225-pound mountain of a young man and multi-phase contributor. He is very good downfield on kickoff coverage, takes great angles to kick returners and wraps up. I love Coffee's motor, instincts, effort and tenacity on defense. He has the size and arm length to also be a tight end. Multi-sport athlete, also plays basketball and track. Good run blocker at tight end who can cover and block at the second level. He has picked up his first offers from Kent State and UConn.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1620681"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a5040d3cfbdc"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Pickerington, Ohio/Pickerington North defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='1620681' first='Geo' last='McKnight'] added an offer from Notre Dame over the summer, a big one after a strong showing at an Irish camp. McKnight is one of the best prospects in the entire Midwest. The rising junior is a physical playmaker on defense with legit top-end speed after interceptions and outstanding ball skills. He recorded 40 tackles, two defensive touchdowns, four forced fumbles, nine pass breakups and six interceptions in 2025.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1921386"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a5040d3cfc28"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"> <br>[player_tooltip player_id='1921386' first='Seth' last='Taylor'] is a mauler in the trenches, and the 6-foot-4, 305-pound offensive tackle gets great vertical push for Jackson High's run game. He can create running lanes, drive his feet on contact, and helped pave the way for the 2025 conference champions to a 9-3 record. Starts at right tackle, shining at college camps, and picked up offers from Virginia Tech and Toledo.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2245038"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a5040d3cfc6c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='2245038' first='Dontez' last='Shepherd'] had a great month of May. The 5-foot-9, 160-pound Class of 2029 corner is tough as nails. Very physical with great use-of-hands, times the ball well for pass breakups, comes out of a backpedal effectively and wraps up. Shepherd earned offers from Pittsburgh, Kent State, Miami-Ohio, and Arizona State over the month of May. Has huge upside. Growth will determine his recruiting.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->