5-Star DL Says Ohio State is 'No. 1' in Recruiting Battle

The Ohio State Buckeyes have put together an impressive 2027 recruiting class, already landing two five-star players. That includes EDGE David Jacobs and wide receiver Jamier Brown.

Now, they're in the mix to land another, with defensive lineman Marcus Fakatou emerging as a top priority for Ryan Day and his staff. They have already hosted him for an unofficial visit on March 10, and are set to get him back on campus for an official visit on May 29.

The Buckeyes are one of the top contenders to land the pass rusher. When speaking to Rivals' Greg Biggins, Fakatou confirmedOhio State is the top team on his list.

"It's still Ohio State No. 1, Notre Dame is No. 2 and Georgia is No. 3," Fakatou said. "Texas and Oregon are right there as well but those are still my top three going in to the official visits. I know a lot can still change and every visit I've taken has been great."

At 6-foot-7 and 275 pounds, he already has impressive size for just a high school athlete. Rivals Industry Rankings list the Chatsworth, California native as a five-star recruit, the No. 2 defensive lineman and the No. 27 player in the nation.

Originally a member of the 2028 cycle, he reclassified to enroll in college a year early. Last season for Orange Lutheran High School, Fakatou accumulated 69 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, seven sacks and 14 hurries.

He would be a major addition to the Buckeyes' recruiting class. So far, they have already landed 11 commitments, ranking second in the Big Ten and fifth in the nation.

While Ohio State is at the top of Fakatou's list, it isn't the only team working on a commitment. He also has official visits with the Texas Longhorns (June 5), Oregon Ducks (June 12) and Notre Dame Fighting Irish (June 15).

Related: Lane Kiffin, LSU Receive Major Recruiting News Amid College Football Offseason

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This story was originally published May 4, 2026 at 11:02 AM.