BOOM! 2027 3-star linebacker James Conrad has committed to Ohio State, according to a Rivals social media announcement on Thursday.

The Buckeyes extended an offer to James Conrad on October 10th after the Maryland matchup. Conrad had been committed to Buffalo since June before receiving the offer from Ohio State. Rumblings began as soon as the offer came in, and it’s now official. Conrad also holds offers from Toledo, Kent State, Bowling Green, Youngstown State, and more.

BREAKING: Class of 2027 LB James Conrad has Flipped his Commitment from Buffalo to Ohio State, he tells me for @Rivals The 6’3 225 LB from Cleveland, OH had been Committed to the Bulls since June “Best in Ohio, stay in Ohio 🌰” https://t.co/szgOIQKr7y https://t.co/4Lh2l76I13

— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) October 15, 2026

A Cleveland native, James Conrad has had an impressive career with the St. Ignatius Wildcats. Conrad converted 23 tackles, five tackles for loss, and two sacks as a junior. Standing at 6-foot-3 and weighing 225 lbs., His size will be an advantage at the next level. In addition to football, Conrad also participates in track and field, where he ranked No. 1 among all juniors in Discus. His impressive athletic background is intriguing, to say the least, and could be one of the most underrated players at his position group in the class.

James Conrad is now the 20th member of the Buckeyes 2027 recruiting class. He joins Quinton Cypher as the only other linebacker in the class. Other notable commits include DJ Jacobs, Jamier Brown, and Marcus Fakatou. Now ranked 6th in the nation, the Buckeyes will likely keep adding in hopes of building a great class.

Linebackers coach James Laurinaitis is as good as they come, and recruits can see why they are bought in. Since arriving at his Alma mater, Laurinaitis has produced two first-round picks in Sonny Styles and Arvell Reese. A former All-American, Laurinaitis lives and breathes the Ohio State culture.

Coming off an excellent class in 2026, Laurinaitis looks like he will continue to take that culture on the road as he brings in the next great Ohio State linebackers.