Ryan Day thought this recruiting battle was finished back in June. Five-star defensive lineman Marcus Fakatou had chosen Ohio State, picking the Buckeyes because of defensive line coach Larry Johnson. On paper, it looked like a locked-in deal. But down in Austin, Steve Sarkisian and the Texas Longhorns never stopped chasing him.

Texas found the perfect moment to reopen the door. As Rivals reporter Adam Gorney noted, Fakatou is visiting Austin on September 12. The twist? He will be sitting in the stands watching Texas fight Ohio State on the field. The Sierra Canyon standout locked in the visit right after opening his high school season with a big 42-21 win over JSerra.

“I’ll be at the Texas-Ohio State game,” he said. “Coach (Will) Muschamp and coach (LaAllan) Clark have kept contact with me since I committed. They haven’t broken it. Even though I’m committed, that shows a lot of love from their side, so it’s only right I go show them love, too.”

This new development puts Ryan Day’s team on alert. Marcus Fakatou is still committed to Ohio State, and there’s no indication that he has changed his mind. But Texas is getting him on campus, and it happens to be the weekend when the Longhorns will have the Buckeyes standing across from them.

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Texas was already in the mix during Marcus Fakatou’s recruitment. The Longhorns finished third when Ohio State landed his pledge, with Georgia also pushing hard. Ryan Day’s program eventually separated itself, with the biggest reason being the DL coach. The 2027 recruit had made it clear from the start that development would be a major part of his decision. Larry Johnson’s record with DLs heading to the NFL made the Buckeyes difficult to beat.

“There’s not a better DL coach in the country than Larry Johnson,” he said when he announced his commitment. “I like his coaching style, and I’m really comfortable with him. He’s not a big yeller or screamer; he’s more of a teacher. When you mess up, he’s not going scream to cuss at you, he’ll tell you what you did wrong and fix it, and I love that about him.”

That relationship mattered enough that Marcus Fakatou’s family bought into Ohio State, too. That is not the foundation of a shaky commitment. Still, Texas has kept the door open. After all, this is the No. 2 DL and No. 12 overall in the 2027 class. His 6’7, 275-pound frame makes him a versatile piece. He has primarily played on the edge, but there is enough athletic ability and size to eventually move him inside. If the Buckeyes keep him, they’ll walk into next season with several weapons. 

Ohio State has built another serious DL class

Marcus Fakatou is part of an impressive haul. 5-star edge rusher David “DJ” Jacobs is the No. 4 player nationally. 4-star Wyatt Smith is No. 85. Then came 4-star DT Karlos May, the No. 123 overall prospect and No. 11 DL per Rivals. All four are now part of Ohio State’s DL haul.

The group is already drawing comparisons to the 2021 class that brought J.T. Tuimoloau, Jack Sawyer, Tyleik Williams, and Mike Hall to Columbus. Every one of those players eventually reached the NFL, with three being part of a national championship team. That is a tough standard to match.

Because Marcus Fakatou reclassified from his original 2028 slot, the Buckeyes have the luxury of patience; there is no immediate need for him to step in and take over on day one. He may need time, and the Buckeyes have enough depth to let him develop. But that depth also matters in a recruiting battle.

Ohio State wants Marcus Fakatou in the room. Texas wants another elite DL. And now they get him in Austin on the weekend when the Buckeyes arrive. The commitment still belongs to Ohio State. The Longhorns, however, have no intention of treating it as permanent just yet.