This recruitment battle will hit a little differently for the Michigan Wolverines. The last time they went after a blue-chip talent from Idaho, it ended in disappointment, as Gatlin Bair spurned them for Oregon. This time, they’re in pursuit of another one. HC Sherrone Moore knows how to recruit big-time O-linesmen, and he proved it by landing five-star bookends, Andrew Babalola and Ty Haywood, in the 2025 class, but recruiting never stops. And for this Idaho blocker, the Wolverines aren’t alone in the chase. Make room for coach Ryan Day ladies and gentlemen!

Ohio State Buckeyes‘ new offensive line coach, Tyler Bowen, is pushing hard. OSU has already thrown out more than two dozen offers to offensive linemen in 2026, making it clear that they want to reload the trenches. The player in the spotlight? Kelvin Obot, a towering 6-foot-5, 285-pound offensive tackle from Fruitland, Idaho. Ranked as the No. 37 overall prospect in the 2026 class and the No. 5 recruit in Idaho, Obot is drawing interest from nearly every major program in the country. His blend of size, power, and raw athleticism makes him one of the most coveted linemen in his class. On Monday, Obot revealed his top ten schools, and Michigan made the cut. Ohio State, never one to take a backseat in a recruiting battle, is also firmly in the mix.

It’s no surprise that Michigan and Ohio State are in a tug-of-war for Obot, but they have company. His top ten list includes some of the biggest brands in college football: Oregon, USC, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Utah, Nebraska, and Michigan State – all made the cut. That’s the level of competition we’re talking about for a player who has already racked up 23 scholarship offers. Obot is in no rush to make a decision, though. He told On3’s Hayes Fawcett that he plans to take several unofficial visits this spring, with stops already penciled in for Wisconsin, Michigan State, Michigan, Tennessee, Utah, and USC. That means the race for his signature is just getting started.

For Sherrone Moore, this recruitment presents an interesting dilemma. On one hand, landing Obot would be a statement — Moore doubling down on elite tackle talent after an already strong 2025 haul. On the other, the Wolverines aren’t exactly desperate at the position. With Babalola and Haywood already in the fold for next year, they have the luxury of being selective.

Ohio State, meanwhile, has 18 tackle offers on the table and seems to have prioritized other targets slightly ahead of Obot. The Buckeyes have been aggressive on the offensive line recruiting front, prioritizing top-tier tackles like No. 1 OT in the class, Jackson Cantwell and Immanuel Iheanacho. But recruiting is fluid, and if the Buckeyes miss on the pair, expect their full attention to shift toward the Idaho mauler.

The next few months will be telling. Spring visits often shape a player’s recruitment, and Obot’s travels could determine which schools make the final cut. Michigan and Ohio State both have compelling pitches — one sells elite offensive line development under Moore, the other offers a pipeline to the NFL and a history of dominant tackle play.

Kelvin Obot almost went to Sherrone Moore’s and Ohio State’s greatest rivals

Obot is making the rounds this spring. With two-way experience on both the offensive and defensive line, let’s just say Idaho’s sophomore 3A fifth-place shot put finisher with a throw of 47-1 has got options.

While Sherrone Moore’s and the Buckeyes are in the mix, it turns out their greatest rival, the Spartans, and Oregon Ducks, has also been making a strong push. On3 recruiting insider Steve Wiltfong reported that Michigan State recently hosted Obot, adding even more intrigue to his recruiting process. But that’s just the beginning of his jam-packed schedule.

“I start with Wisconsin on March 19th to the 21st,” Obot said. “Then I will head to Detroit, where I will be going to Michigan State for a couple days and then Michigan for a couple. From there, I am headed to Tennessee until the 29th, and that is it for March. Then, on April 18-20, I will be at Utah, and lastly, USC from the 25th to 26th.” Not to forget — he’s already been to Oregon and Nebraska.