Recruiting in college football never stops. While programs prepare for the upcoming season, some have turned their attention to recruiting a formidable weapon from the 2027 class. Ryan Day’s Ohio State has now entered the race and extended an offer to four-star defensive lineman David Folorunsho. But it seems like the Buckeyes might already be playing catch-up.​

Folorunsho moved to the United States after spending ten years in Nigeria and worked his way up to become one of the most sought-after defensive line prospects in the country. Rivals now ranks him as the No. 13 overall player in the 2027 class and the No. 2 defensive lineman nationally. 

For Folorunsho, receiving an offer from Ohio State is great news. The 6’4″, 280-pound lineman out of St. Patrick High School in Chicago, Illinois, has an offer sheet that is growing by the week. Michigan, Indiana, Missouri, Notre Dame, Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Penn State, and Tennessee are all in the mix. Now the Buckeyes have joined that group, too. With Matt Patricia retained and Larry Johnson leading the defensive line, the idea of playing in Columbus could be very enticing for Folorunsho. 

But Big 10 heavyweights and OSU’s arch-nemesis, the Michigan Wolverines, are in this conversation. And the Wolverines’ move may have surprised some people. New defensive line coach Larry Black, who came over from Vanderbilt, made Folorunsho one of his first targets after arriving in Ann Arbor.

The relationship clicked immediately. “It means a lot to me,” Folorunsho said of the Michigan offer. “I’ve always wanted an offer from Michigan. I love the style of football they play with.” He was equally direct about Black’s impact. 

“Coach Black is a guy anyone would want as a position coach. You can tell his style of coaching by having a conversation with him.” Since receiving the offer, Folorunsho has confirmed that Michigan is already one of his top schools. He is planning a visit to Ann Arbor for an April 2nd spring practice session to get a firsthand look at the program. 

Now add SEC giant, Alabama into the mix, and Ohio State’s challenge becomes even steeper. The Crimson Tide has become the latest program to join Folorunsho’s long list of offers. Folorunsho hasn’t been shy about the impression it made. Defensive line coach Freddie Roach made the first move.

“Coach Roach was the one who gave me the offer,” Folorunsho said. “It was honestly kind of surreal from Alabama. It’s Alabama — it’s one of the best college football teams historically. Hearing about it and actually hearing him say he was going to give me the offer, it was crazy, and I am blessed to be in this position.” 

The situation is complicated for Ryan Day because Folorunsho has now spoken glowingly about two separate coaches, Black at Michigan and Roach at Alabama, in the same recruiting cycle. That’s two programs building real traction at the same time.

Recruiting ultimately comes down to relationships. And right now, Michigan and Alabama are both investing heavily in that department. If Ohio State wants to cut into that ground, getting Larry Johnson directly involved in conversations with Folorunsho is probably the most compelling card the Buckeyes can play.

David Folorunsho is big on Freddie Roach, worrying news for Ryan Day

Freddie Roach’s initiative in contacting Folorunsho appears to have paid off. Not only did Folorunsho speak highly of Alabama and say he felt honored by the offer, but he also praised Roach’s efforts. That development could be a concern for Ryan Day as the recruiting battle continues.

“That was the first time I’d heard from him, which makes it more special for me,” Folorunsho said. “We’ve had some conversations since. I feel like he was letting me know he’d like to have at Alabama. That was huge for me to know that it’s not just another offer, but he’s trying to build a real relationship with me. That’s really big for me.”

While Larry Johnson carries a legendary reputation, recruiting ultimately comes down to the relationship between the player and the coach. Freddie Roach understands that and knows he must build a strong connection to sway Folorunsho away from other programs. Because of that, other programs are likely to follow the same approach to avoid losing such a talented prospect to the SEC program.