Ohio State's roster features only a handful of Texas high school football standouts
Texas is set to face Ohio State in the 2025 Goodyear Cotton Bowl as a part of the College Football Playoff semifinals on Friday from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, and a number of Texans are on the Buckeye roster.
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There used to be a time when some of the best from the Lone Star State ventured north, namely players like Baron Browning, Jeff Okudah, JK Dobbins, Garrett Wilson, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, though some like Ryan Watts and Quinn Ewers managed to return home.
Here’s a look at the Texas high school football standouts on the Buckeye roster.
James Peoples, RB, San Antonio (Texas) Veterans Memorial
Texas offered the tailback from down the road during the spring of his junior year, and Peoples made it to campus a number of times. However, Tashard Choice‘s focus was on Christian Clark and Jerrick Gibson. Peoples committed to Ohio State in April 2023, and Choice earned his choices a couple of months later.
Calvin Simpson-Hunt, CB, Waxahachie (Texas)
Another defensive back target Texas liked but ultimately didn’t pursue. He has two tackles this season for the Buckeyes and four in his career.
Payton Pierce, LB, Lucas (Texas) Lovejoy
The Horns were enamored with the DFW product, like many big programs. Pierce committed to Ohio State early in his recruitment and never looked back.
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Jayden Fielding, K, Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy via League City (Texas)
The Buckeyes’ kicker is 11-for-15 on the season with a long of 46. He’s 65-of-65 on PATs and also handles kickoff duties for Ohio State.
Morrow Evans, LS, Houston (Texas) Bellaire Episcopal
Evans is a preferred walk-on who has not played during his career in Columbus.
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Donovan Jackson, OL, Houston (Texas) Bellaire Episcopal
A member of the class of 2021, Texas loved the five-star O-lineman from H-Town, offered him in 2018, and hosted him on numerous occasions. Jackson committed to the Buckeyes right after his junior season, and didn’t waver despite the best efforts from other programs.
There are also two 2025 signees who left Texas for Ohio State
Riley Pettijohn, LB, McKinney (Texas)
Pettijohn and Texas seemed to make sense for a long time, but Ohio State was one of several programs that made it into his top group. The family was impressed on their visit to Columbus and Pettijohn himself built a strong connection with James Laurinaitis. Texas wasn’t able to overcome the affinity developed on that trip, and while there was never a cut-off in communication, Ohio State earned the signature with a full-cycle effort.
Devin Sanchez, CB, Houston (Texas) Galena Park North Shore
Ohio State gave late-cycle priority to Sanchez before his junior year, and that started a commitment that was checked on but never got close to being undone.
