Ohio State sets up its quarterback future with the commitment of 2028 5-star QB Christopher Vargas

The Buckeyes' landed the top-ranked QB in his class, after four visits to Columbus.

COLUMBUS — Ryan Day was busy during Ohio State’s 7-on-7 recruiting camp in mid-June.

He was watching one team quarterbacked by his son, RJ. He was watching another quarterbacked by Ohio State’s 2027 quarterback commitment from California, Brady Edmunds. And he was watching another quarterbacked by Christopher Vargas, the Buckeyes’ top quarterback target in the Class of 2028.

Vargas’ team won that event. Saturday, Vargas announced his intention to be a Buckeye.

The 6-foot-5 quarterback from Massachusetts picked the Buckeyes at noon Saturday in a social media announcement, to no one’s surprise. His visit to Ohio State this summer was his fourth trip to Columbus. He also visited USC and UCLA in June, and his other finalists included Oregon, Miami, Washington, Boston College, Virginia Tech and Alabama.

Vargas is ranked as the No. 1 quarterback in his class by Rivals and ESPN and the No. 2 quarterback by 247sports. Assuming he maintains his ranking, he’ll be the fourth 5-star quarterback recruit the Buckeyes have landed out of high school in the Day era, joining Kyle McCord, Quinn Ewers and Tavien St. Clair.

By the On3 Industry ratings, St. Clair’s recruiting score was at 99.16, Julian Sayin (who went to Alabama briefly before transferring to Ohio State) was at 98.61, and Vargas is 95.98.

(Christopher Vargas completes a deep ball at an OSU camp this summer as Ryan Day and Brady Edmunds look on.)

After not landing a top quarterback in the last two classes, the Buckeyes re-focused their quarterback future with Vargas. Current freshman Luke Fahey was the No. 37 quarterback in the Class of 2026. Edmunds, who reaffirmed his pledge to the Buckeyes this summer after much wondering about his future, is the No. 18 quarterback in 2027.

Vargas more fits the recruiting profile of Sayin and St. Clair, and he could follow them as an OSU starter.