Iowa’s top 2026 football prospect has unique timing with Ohio State visit: Buckeyes recruiting roundup (2024)

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Both his parents attended the University of Iowa, and he lives about two hours away from the home of the Hawkeyes in the heart of Iowa.

Those are the circumstances for Ohio State prospect Evan Jacobson, the Class of 2026′s No. 1 football player in Iowa, according to 247sports. He’s a 6-foot-7 tight end who attended his first game day visit to Ohio State during Saturday’s win over Iowa.

Jacobson told cleveland.com that there was no intentionality in picking the Ohio State game vs. his home state Hawkeyes, but “it was definitely super exciting getting to see them put a beatdown on Iowa.”

Despite his parents both attending Iowa in their day, it was all Iowa State growing up in his family, he said. At least for his dad and brother. His brother, Michael Jacobson, played basketball at Iowa State from 2017-20.

“My mom’s the Iowa fan, but everybody else was Iowa State growing up,” Jacobson said.

Jacobson picked up an offer from Ohio State during a visit back in early June and was eager to get back to campus this fall. The junior from Waukee High School credited his relationship with multiple coaches on the Buckeyes staff for his excitement to get back to campus.

“Where I’m at with them is what keeps drawing me back. What we’ve built so far is really, really what made me want to get back to Ohio State,” Jacobson said.

At the game on Saturday, Jacobson said he got to chat with Nate Roberts, a tight end recruit from the class of 2025. Roberts committed to OSU back in April, and Jacobson was able to pick his brain about the decision on the sidelines of Ohio Stadium.

Seeing the stadium packed full of Buckeye supporters for the first time was a perk of the visit, too.

“To get to see it with all the fans there,” Jacobson said, “it was insane, to be honest.”

Jacobson had an active summer full of visits and offers from all over the country, including his backyard team Iowa State. In the immediate future, Jacobson said he has game day visits scheduled at Colorado (Oct. 12) and Penn State (Nov. 9), whom he possesses offers from.

OSU offers 3-star DL

Jeremy “JJ” Finch Jr., like Jacobson, was in attendance for Ohio State’s matchup with Iowa this past Saturday.

Finch, though, walked away with an offer from the Buckeyes the next day.

Finch is a 6-foot-3, 260-pound 2026 defensive lineman out of Warren Central High School in Indianapolis. He’s a versatile figure across the defensive line and consequently holds offers from across the NCAA. Finch is currently predicted to commit to Wisconsin, according to On3, but does not publicly boast a top schools list as of the Ohio State visit.

The 3-star is Indiana’s No. 1 player overall in the class of 2026, according to both On3 and 247sports.

Buckeyes host sought-after 2027 corner

Sophomore Larry Moon III, a cornerback out of Aliquippa High School near Pittsburgh, also made the journey to Columbus to watch Ohio State handle Iowa. Moon’s instinctive, tactical defensive game has made him an attractive target for major schools across the nation; the young prospect holds 32 offers already.

On3′s 4-star No. 7 CB received his Buckeyes offer back in early summer.

Moon’s game day visits so far this season include West Virginia, Pitt, Alabama and Ohio State.

That said, On3 currently projects the prediction that Moon is most likely to commit to Penn State. Moon has a teammate committed to Penn State, and his X profile is also headlined by a photo of him in front of a Penn State backdrop.

He has no visits and no top schools announced at this time.