The Buckeyes have been extremely busy on the trail, especially in the heart of the south. Despite coaches being all over the country, Ohio State LB Coach James Laurinaitis made a stop at Kell High School in Georgia. While he was there he extended an offer to 2026 four-star LB Brayden Rouse. The Peach State native has been on the Buckeyes’ radar for a little bit now. Rouse spoke to The Silver Bulletin about the offer and more about Ohio State.
First off, the offer for Rouse as he described was a very important one for him. One thing that sticks out to him is, “They are the best team in college football!” He has seen the outstanding season Cody Simon has had, and that’s sticking out for him. He said, “Yes the development that Coach [Josh] Chorba and Coach Laurinaitis have done this past year is very impressive!” Speaking of Laurinaitis, he spoke very highly of the former Buckeye legend. Rouse said, “I love Coach L (Laurinaitis) he always brings energy, and he’s been there and done the things I want to do so he understands what I’m going through.” The Buckeyes have been in contact with Rouse for quite some time, as he took a gameday visit to Ohio State this season for their matchup against Purdue.
AG2G!! Thank you to my teammates, coaches, and family for helping me earn an offer from THE Ohio State University!@JLaurinaitis55 @jchorba16 pic.twitter.com/Tj0GMP7pM3
— Brayden Rouse ✰ (@BraydenRouse8) January 29, 2025
However, he still has a long way to go in his recruitment. Rouse has heavy interest in the Buckeyes, but there are other schools in the mix. He said he will have his official visits locked in after the Spring. But, the majority of schools that have offered him are key players. Some schools to watch are Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Texas, and a few others. His plan for a commitment is by the end of the summer. There is a good reason schools are pushing to land the talented 6’3, 208 lbs LB. Rouse had snaps at LB, EDGE, Safety, WR, and TE. He had 105 tackles, 14 TFLs, 3.5 sacks, and 5 PBU’s this past season. He also plays offense, for which he had 25 catches, 378 yards, and 8 TDs.
Kaleb Longhurst, a Cincinnati, Ohio native, is a recruiting analyst that covers Ohio State. A trusted source for Buckeyes recruiting, Kaleb has experience at Mike Farrell Sports, but has blossomed at TSB. Kaleb is an up and coming writer who is just getting started. He plans to attend Coastal Carolina University in the fall of 2025.