“I got to be patient with them talking to me": Four-star safety target talks Ohio State’s championship pursuit in his recruitment decision

No. 8 Ohio State is all set to take on No. 7 Notre Dame in the national championship game on Monday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The Buckeyes' coaching staff focuses on securing a national title, and recruits like four-star safety Kaden Gebhardt are keeping a close eye on their efforts.

Gebhardt, an in-state prospect, shared his perspective on Ohio State's communication during an interview with On3, saying:

“I got to be patient with them talking to me just because they’re in their minds on the national championships.”

The Ohio native had a stellar junior season, earning first-team All-OCC, OCC Defensive Player of the Year and first-team All-District honors. He is the No. 50 safety in the 2026 class, the No. 27 prospect in Ohio and the No. 560 recruit in the nation, according to On3.

Ohio State’s 2026 recruiting class is currently ranked No. 4 in the nation, featuring four committed players. Adding Gebhardt to the fold would be a huge recruiting win for the Buckeyes' secondary. Besides Gebhardt, they are also targeting multiple safety prospects in this cycle, including Bralan Womack, Jett Washington, Jireh Edwards, Simeon Caldwell and Zech Fort, among others.

Can Ohio State secure Kaden Gebhardt's commitment?

Kaden Gebhardt received an offer from Ohio State on Nov. 30, and safeties coach Matt Guerrieri is recruiting him at the Buckeyes. Being an in-state target, he visited the program multiple times, including a gameday visit during the Buckeyes' 35-7 win over Iowa on Oct. 5.

However, as of now, Penn State is the leader in Gebhardt's recruitment, as he has been showing the most interest in the Nittany Lions with multiple visits, including during the program's 35-6 win over Washington on Nov. 9. He was also a high school teammate with Penn State quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer.

“Penn State is really high on my list and I talk with Penn State coaching staff almost every day," Gebhardt told Nittany Sports Now in October. "What impresses me about Penn State is the way that they produce guys on the defensive side of the ball and get them to the NFL. Plus, Penn State being Linebacker U also really stands out.”

On3 also gives Penn State a leading spot in Gebhardt's recruitment with a 68.6% chance of securing his commitment, followed by Ohio State at 27.8%.

Besides the Buckeyes and the Nittany Lions, Gebhardt has also received offers from Iowa, Cincinnati, Indiana, Iowa State, Michigan State, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Purdue, West Virginia, Missouri and Wisconsin.