‘The offer meant the world to me’: Key Ohio State recruiting target is building a great relationship with the Buckeyes
Ohio State has five commitments so far in the class of 2026 and this spring is key to adding to that list.
The Buckeyes will host a ton of recruits this spring into the summer. One of those will be 2026 RB Favour Akih, who was offered by Ohio State earlier in the week. Akih is an in-state player from Delaware, Ohio, about a half hour from Ohio State’s campus. It was a special offer for the four-star running back who attends Delaware Hayes High School.
“The offer meant the world to me, [it was] dreams to reality,” Akih told A to Z Sports exclusively. “This is what every Ohio kid works for, to one day be able to play for the Buckeyes.”
Though he is right in their backyard, the Buckeyes aren’t a given to land Akih’s commitment. The 6-foot, 190-pound running back’s final three schools are the Buckeyes joined by USC and Miami.
Akih will take official visits to each of the three programs in June. First up will be Ohio State from June 6-8, and then Akih will be at USC from June 13-15. The visits will wrap up in Miami from June 20-22. Akih is the No. 15 running back in the country and No. 205 player, according to 247 Sports Composite.
Ohio State recruited three running backs in the class of 2025 with TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins on the way out. The Buckeyes will likely take at least two running backs again in the class of 2026. Akih has already begun building a relationship with running backs coach Carlos Locklyn.
“Me and Coach Lock [Locklyn] have been talking for a while now, and we stay in consistent contact nearly every day,” Akih said. “Coach Lock sees my raw athletic skills and told me I have too much potential. So with three to four years of training with the best in America, I would be one of the best to run the ball.”
As a junior at Delaware Hayes, Akih put up 1,653 yards and 20 total touchdowns. Heading into his junior season, Akih is set up to have a big showing for Hayes.
Ohio State doesn’t yet have a running back committed for 2026 and is interested in several. Akih has a relationship with wide receiver commits Chris Henry Jr. and Jaedan Ricketts.
Expect a decision to come sometime after the official visits for Akih and Ohio State should certainly be the leader to receive the commitment from the talented running back.
