BREAKING NEWS: 5-Star QB Shocks Ohio State with Decommitment, Flips Commitment to Nebraska Over Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee
In a stunning turn of events that has sent shockwaves through the college football landscape, five-star quarterback phenom Jalen Ricks has officially decommitted from Ohio State and announced his commitment to Nebraska, bypassing powerhouse programs like Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee. The announcement came during a live-streamed press conference Thursday afternoon, where Ricks donned a bold red Cornhuskers cap and declared, “I’m taking my talents to Lincoln.”
Ricks, ranked as the No. 1 dual-threat quarterback in the class of 2026 by multiple recruiting outlets, had long been considered a lock for Ohio State. The Buckeyes had secured his verbal commitment early in his junior year, and he had been the crown jewel of what many considered the nation’s top recruiting class. That all changed following a surprise visit to Lincoln last weekend — a visit that reportedly had not been made public until after it happened.
Sources close to the recruitment say that Ricks was blown away by new Nebraska head coach Marcus Daniels, whose energy and vision for the program have begun to reshape Big Ten recruiting dynamics. “Coach Daniels showed me something different,” Ricks said. “He didn’t just talk about wins and stats. He talked about legacy, about building something, about being the guy who leads Nebraska back to glory.”
The flip is unprecedented not just because of the schools involved, but because of the timing. Ohio State was actively building its offense around Ricks, and his departure leaves a sudden void just months before National Signing Day. Even more shocking is his decision to spurn Alabama and Georgia — both of whom made aggressive late pushes, offering NIL packages rumored to be among the most lucrative in the nation.
Daniels, in his first year at Nebraska, has already begun to make waves with his charisma, NFL-style offense, and a commitment to recruiting elite athletes who want to be “trailblazers, not followers.” Ricks cited this mindset as a deciding factor. “Anybody can follow the herd to Tuscaloosa or Athens,” he said. “But only a few can blaze a trail.”
The ripple effect of this decision will be immediate. Nebraska’s national recruiting rank is expected to skyrocket, and other blue-chip recruits — including several wide receivers and offensive linemen — are now reportedly reconsidering their options. Meanwhile, Ohio State fans took to social media in stunned disbelief, while Nebraska fans erupted with celebration, hailing Ricks as the program’s next Tommy Frazier.
If Ricks delivers on his immense promise, this could mark a seismic shift in college football’s balance of power — and the beginning of a new era in Lincoln.
