The Ohio State–Michigan rivalry stretches far beyond the field, with everything from social media jabs to flipping each other’s recruiting targets; the competition always remains intense. And this time, it’s for IMG Academy’s 6’3″, 183-lb player. After listing out his final six teams, this 4-star quarterback has put Michigan and Ryan Day’s Bucks right in the contention, making it a high-stakes gamble that nobody wants to lose.

Jayden Wade has been generating national buzz since middle school, and the hype keeps intensifying as he is now ranked as the No. 1 overall prospect in the 2028 class. What’s interesting is that he already holds 28 offers and has listed his final six: Georgia, Michigan, Ohio State, Oregon, Texas, and Washington.

Looks like even Wade wants to be a part of the nation’s top teams, as he explains the major deal behind his selection, “But let’s just hope Ohio State doesn’t lose against Michigan like they did at running back Savion Hiter’s time.” Further, he added, “All these schools have great staff, a winning culture, great development, and tradition. I’ll base my decision on what place feels like home. And what coaches have been recruiting me the hardest and showing that they don’t just want me but need me to be part of their program?” With November 16 set for his commitment date, the stakes are pretty high.

Wade became IMG Academy’s starting quarterback this season after turning heads last year. He appeared in 8 games as a freshman, completing 19 of 28 passes for 362 yards with 6 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. He even added 24 carries for 217 yards and two touchdowns. This year too, he is building on the same momentum, completing 73 of 120 passes for 1,383 yards with 20 TDs and 2 interceptions. Now, you know why there are so many offers lying on his hands.

Now, his on-field game might have started this year, but teams were already taking notice of his excellence, as Jayden Wade got his first offer back in 2022 from San Jose State when he was in the 7th grade. Fast forward to today, and as per both Rivals and 247Sports, Georgia holds the best chances to land Wade. On top of that, Rivals gave them a 98% chance, with Texas holding 1%, and the remaining percentage shared among programs like Ohio State, Michigan, Oregon, and Washington.

But let’s not forget that Kirby Smart’s team is also eyeing Christopher Varges, and to avoid competition, Wade might take a different route. There’s a chance that he might reclassify into the 2027 class, as he will be 19 years old in 2028. Now, with 3 teams in the mix, it will be interesting to see which one finally lands him.

Ryan Day’s search for recruits doesn’t just end there.

Ryan Day’s flip targets

Ryan Day is not just focused on this season’s success but also on making moves for the future. Just as he did when offering Jayden Wade, he is now eyeing top recruits for his 2026 class. There’s 4-star cornerback CJ Bronaugh, who’s committed to Florida; 3-star linebacker Ja’Dyn Williams, who’s committed to Indiana; Braxton Rembert, who’s committed to Wake Forest; and 4-star IOL Kevin Brown, who is at Penn State.

Bronaugh has already made his visit to Ohio State and seems very satisfied. Even Williams looks pretty excited with the offer, as he said, “Any offer that comes my way is a blessing … any coach who shows faith in me playing at the next level shows how much work I’ve been putting in.” Now, Rembert is yet to set a visit with Ryan Day’s team, but he called the offer a “blessing,” which shows his interest in the program. Then last but not least, Brown, who’s making a visit to West Virginia and Ohio State, seems to be looking for better options.

Now, let’s wait and see if Ryan Day is able to flip them or not.