Ohio State quarterback commit Brady Edmunds joins the recruitment battle for four-star 2026 class TE

Four-star tight end Mark Bowman made headlines as one of the top prospects in the 2027 class. The Mater Dei High School (California) standout reclassified to the 2026 cycle on Saturday afternoon and is focused on 12 schools: Miami, Texas, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Ohio State, Alabama, USC, Arizona State, Florida, Oregon, Georgia and LSU.

Bowman's recruitment caught the attention of three-star quarterback Brady Edmunds, who is committed to Ohio State's 2027 class. He retweeted On3's Hayes Fawcett's post about Bowman's reclassification with a recruitment pitch:

"buckeye fans go let him know where home is😁😁@Mark_Bowman09 #GoBucks," Edmunds posted.

Despite growing interest, Bowman appears in no rush to make a decision and is expected to extend his recruitment timeline until around signing day. For now, Ohio State faces stiff competition, with Georgia and Texas leading the race for his recruitment.

According to On3, the Bulldogs have a 28.7% chance of landing Bowman, while Ohio State’s chances are less than 1%. He has already visited Texas, Georgia and Oregon. The next step for Ryan Day and his Ohio State coaching staff will be to secure an official visit to make their case.

What potential may Mark Bowman bring to Ohio State?

Mark Bowman has the potential to be a game-changer as both an in-line tight end and a wide receiver. As a sophomore in the 2024 season, he proved his skills against top-tier competition while playing for the prestigious Mater Dei program. He recorded 32 receptions for 435 yards and eight touchdowns, contributing to his school's perfect 13-0 record, including a 5-0 mark in league play.

As a freshman, Bowman added 11 catches for 125 yards and four touchdowns. Despite just completing his sophomore season, he has already secured a four-star prospect rating due to his impressive skills. He is the No. 4 tight end in the nation, the No. 11 recruit in California and the No. 78 overall prospect, according to the On3 Industry Rankings.

A player of his caliber would be a big-time addition to Ohio State's 2026 class, which already includes a tight end commit in three-star Corbyn Fordham. The class is headlined by five-star wide receiver Chris Henry Jr. and has two other committed players besides Henry and Fordham. It ranks No. 8 in the nation and is also in the mix for four-star tight end Evan Jacobson.