“Ohio State’s future quarterback and standout receiver were in Cleveland, raising the question of why they might be outliers going forward.”

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Brady Edmunds didn’t exactly ease into his weekend.

Fresh off throwing seven touchdowns in Huntington Beach’s 48–7 rout on Thursday night, the junior quarterback hopped on a Friday flight with his dad from California to Columbus. Bags dropped at the hotel, they hit I-71 and headed north to Euclid.

The reason? To watch his future Buckeye teammate.

Five-star wideout Jamier Brown and his Wayne squad were overmatched in a lopsided loss to St. Edward, but Edmunds wanted to see him play in person. He got a glimpse of Brown’s top-end speed and a highlight-reel grab — reminders of why the duo, Ohio State’s only two 2027 pledges so far, could anchor the class.

“Obviously we’re the first two commits in the class, and I think we’re both pretty solidified,” Edmunds said. “With Jamier’s Ohio State tattoo, I think it’s safe to say we’re locked in. Now it’s about building that relationship because we’re going to spend three to four years together.”

Edmunds, the No. 90 overall prospect and No. 8 quarterback in the 2027 cycle, committed to Ohio State last December. With family ties to the Buckeyes, he never hid his desire to play for Ryan Day. But unlike 2025 quarterback commit Tavien St. Clair — a Bellefontaine native who grew up less than an hour from campus — Edmunds has to work harder to connect with future teammates.

“He’s a cool guy,” Edmunds said of Brown. “We’ve texted, hung out at the Rivals Five-Star Camp, just had time to chill outside of football. I’m excited — he’s a really good person, and he can really play.”

At 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds, Edmunds already looks the part of a college quarterback, with a big frame and a live arm. That arm strength will be tested trying to match Brown’s speed.

The wideout is one of the fastest players in Ohio, and when he arrives in January 2027, he’ll immediately be among the most athletic players on the Buckeyes’ roster.

“That means a lot,” Brown said of Edmunds making the trip. “Just knowing he’s my future teammate, I appreciate him coming out to support me.”

The pair have continued to strengthen their bond, and as the first two members of Ohio State’s 2027 class, they’re natural leaders. That’s expected when one is a five-star in-state recruit and the other is the quarterback.

But in today’s recruiting world, their early decisions make them stand out.

Two decades ago, blue-chip prospects often waited until February to announce commitments. Now, NIL, revenue-sharing, and shifting priorities mean many recruits hold off longer than ever. Early pledges like Edmunds and Brown may become rarer going forward.

For Ohio State, though, the formula hasn’t changed: elite quarterbacks paired with dynamic receivers. Edmunds and Brown just look like the next ones in line.