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Ohio State gets top in-state prospect Elbert Hill back to Columbus for spring visit

hunterby:Hunter Shelton•03/24/25•

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Elbert Hill 1 copy 1.jpg

No school has had Akron (Ohio) Archbishop Hoban four-star cornerback Elbert Hill on campus more throughout his recruitment than Ohio State.

With secondary coach Tim Walton leading the charge, the Buckeyes continue to push for the elite in-state defensive back. Hill returned to Columbus for a spring visit on Monday:

Ohio State isn’t keen on letting top in-state recruits get away, and in the 2026 cycle, there is no bigger in-state prospects than Hill. He ranks as the No. 27 overall prospect, No. 4 CB and top-ranked player in Ohio, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

There is plenty of competition in his recruitment, though. He’s continued to see other top schools and has also locked in official visits to LSU (May 30), USC (June 6), Oregon (June 13) and Alabama (June 20).

Ohio State was not included on his OV schedule, but he told Lettermen Row’s Mick Walker earlier this month that the Buckeyes “willl always be high” in his recruitment and he’s already been on campus plenty. It will be hard to develop a stronger bond than the one he has with Walton, too.

“Me and Coach Walton, our relationship has been so good,” Hill told Walker. “He’s been recruiting me since going into my sophomore year. So like, it’s just been great between our relationship, man.”

“As for where me and Coach Walton stands, we just, we stand very well,” he added.

When speaking with On3’s Chad Simmons in February, Hill broke down some his interest in some of his top schools, as well as what will factor into his decision when the time comes:

“It comes down to who is pushing the hardest and where I feel I can stay and be happy,” Hill said. “My list right now is jumbled up and it hard to see what is going to happen right now. I just want to find the best place for me.”

Hill continues to gear up for a big senior season at Archbishop Hoban, one of Ohio’s top high school football programs. The Knights won 12 games in 2024 and finished as the No. 90 team in the nation and No. 4 team in Ohio, per the On3 Composite Rankings.

To date, Ohio State has the nation’s No. 6 recruiting class, according to the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings. Five commits make up the pledge list: Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei five-star wide receiver Chris Henry Jr., Avon Lake (Ohio) four-star interior offensive lineman Max Riley, Avon (Ohio) four-star athlete Jakob Weatherspoon, Pataskala (Ohio) Watkins Memorial four-star WR Jaeden Ricketts and Jacksonville Bolles School three-star tight end Corbyn Fordham.