Ryan Day’s NFL recruiting message

Ohio State football claims a strong reputation for winning over prized recruits. Ryan Day helped land one in past five-star Jeremiah Smith. Fans will now love Day’s insanely strict recruiting standards.

Day revealed how blunt OSU is on the College Football Recruiting trail with the Not Just Football podcast hosted by Cam Heyward.

“If you’re not a first or second rounder, then this probably isn’t the right place for you,” Day boldly said.

NEW: Ohio State has STRICT recruiting standards:

Ryan Day: “If you’re not a first or second rounder, then this probably isn’t the right place for you.” 😳 pic.twitter.com/GzuolZI4E7

— College Transfer Portal (@CollegeFBPortal) April 11, 2026

Now NFL fans know why Ohio State populates league draft boards every season. Day and the Buckeyes want guys with day one and two draft potential.

Safety Caleb Downs has garnered top five projections. The New York Giants are now picked to nab him as they pivot to John Harbaugh.

Edge rusher Sonny Styles rises as one more commanding top 10 attention. He spoke with the New York Jets, fueling speculation he’ll go right behind projected No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza. That means Styles becomes the first defensive player taken.

Yet Syles and Arvell Reese have sparked arguments among fans on who’s the more athletically gifted Buckeyes defender. Reese gained one fan already in former NFL director of pro personnel turned ESPN analyst Louis Riddick.

Defensive options dominate the Ohio State 2026 NFL Draft class. Does this mean that OSU will see its streak of producing first round wide receivers end?

Carnell Tate still presents the best chance to keep the lineage alive, with mocks projecting he’ll crack the top 1o. But Day could have four fall into the top 10 come April 23.