Ohio State vs Texas football roster: Which team has the recruiting edge?
Ohio State vs Texas football roster: Which team has the recruiting edge?
Joseph Spears, USA TODAY High School SportsSat, September 12, 2026 at 4:01 PM UTC
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Two of college football's best square off Saturday night as Jeremiah Smith and the Ohio State Buckeyes travel down to Austin, Texas, for a massive, top-five showdown with Arch Manning's Texas Longhorns.
Both rosters are loaded with future NFL talent and considered by many as two of the favorites in the national championship picture.
Looking at the depth and names for each side, it's not hard to see why. Both teams are loaded with former five-star prospects, as well as players that may not have been ranked highly coming out of high school, but found success playing at the college level.
What team has more former five-stars?
Here's how the starters for both teams ranked as high school prospects, according to recruiting site 247Sports.
Ohio State BuckeyesOffense
Quarterback: Julian Sayin (2024 5-star, No. 20 overall, No. 3 QB)
Running Back: Bo Jackson (2025 4-star, No. 213 overall, No. 11 RB)
Wide Receiver: Jeremiah Smith (2024 5-star, No. 1 overall, No. 1 WR)
Wide Receiver: Devin McCuin (2023 3-star, No. 92 ATH)
Wide Receiver: Brandon Innis (2023 4-star, No. 35 overall, No. 5 WR)
Tight End: Nate Roberts (2025 4-star, No. 18 TE)
Left Tackle: Ian Moore (2024 4-star, No. 182 overall, No. 9 IOL)
Left Guard: Luke Montgomery (2023 4-star, No. 120 overall, No. 5 IOL)
Center: Carson Hinzman (2022 4-star, No. 188 overall, No. 9 IOL)
Right Guard: Austin Siereveld (2023 3-star, No. 41 IOL)
Right Tackle: Phillip Daniels (2023 3-star, No. 57 IOL)
Defense
Defensive End: Kenyatta Jackson Jr. (2022 4-star, No. 98 overall, No. 9 EDGE)
Defensive End: Beau Atkinson (2022 3-star, No. 32 EDGE)
Defensive Tackle: Eddrick Houston (2024 5-star, No. 33 overall, No. 7 DL)
Defensive Tackle: John Walker (2023 4-star, No, 99 overall, No. 14 DL)
Linebacker: Christian Alliegro (2023 3-star, No. 111 LB)
Linebacker: Payton Pierce (2024 4-star, No. 204 overall, No. 18 LB)
Cornerback: Devin Sanchez (2025 5-star, No. 5 overall, No. 1 CB)
Cornerback: Jermaine Matthews Jr. (2023 4-star, No. 148 overall, No. 14 CB)
Safety: Earl Little Jr. (2022 4-star, No. 84 overall, No. 12 CB)
Safety: Jaylen McClain (2024 3-star, No. 48 safety)
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Nickel: Jay Timmons (2026 4-star, No. 47 overall, No. 5 CB)
Texas Longhorns
Offense
Quarterback: Arch Manning (2023 5-star, No. 1 overall, No. 1 QB)
Running Back: Hollywood Smothers (2023 3-star, No. 40 RB)
Wide Receiver: Cam Coleman (2024 5-star, No. 5 overall, No. 2 WR)
Wide Receiver: Emmett Mosley V (2024 3-star, No. 77 WR)
Wide Receiver: Ryan Wingo (2024 5-star, No. 32 overall, No. 7 WR)
Tight End: Nick Townsend (2025 4-star, No. 74 overall, No. 6 TE)
Tight End: Spencer Shannon (2023 3-star, No. 34 TE)
Left Tackle: Trevor Goosby (2023 3-star, No. 34 OT)
Left Guard: Dylan Sikorski (2024 3-star, No. 80 IOL)
Center: Connor Robertson (2022 3-star, No. 28 IOL)
Right Guard: Brandon Baker (2024 4-star, No. 44 overall, No. 3 OT)
Right Tackle: Melvin Siani (2023 unranked)
Defense
Defensive End: Lance Jackson (2025 4-star, No. 39 overall, No. 3 EDGE)
JACK: Colin Simmons (2024 5-star, No. 28 overall, No. 4 EDGE)
Defensive Tackle: Ian Geffrard (2023 3-star, No. 53 OT)
Defensive Tackle: Hero Kanu (2022 4-star, No. 118 overall, No. 17 DL)
Linebacker: Biles Rasheem (2023 3-star, No. 72 ATH)
Linebacker: Justin Cryer (2023 3-star, No. 125 LB)
Linebacker: Brad Spence (2023 3-star, No. 129 EDGE)
Cornerback: Bo Mascoe (2023 3-star, No. 61 CB)
Cornerback: Kade Phillips (2025 5-star, No. 23 overall, No. 4 CB)
Safety: Kobe Black (2024 4-star, No. 60 overall, No. 7 CB)
Safety: Jelani McDonald (2023 4-star, No. 51 overall, No. 2 ATH)
Nickel: Graceson Littleton (2025 4-star, No. 81 overall, No. 10 CB)
Follow Sports Reporter Joe Spears on X at @joe_spears7 or via email: JSpears@usatodayco.com. For additional high school sports coverage, be sure to follow USA TODAY High School Sports on Instagram and X.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ohio State vs Texas football roster: Which team has the recruiting edge?
Source: “AOL Sports”
