Recruit Drives Nine Hours to Visit Ohio State
Gainesville running back Nigel Newkirk, an Alabama commit, made the trip to Columbus after planes were grounded nationwide.
Updated on Nov. 14, 2026 in Track & Field
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Class of 2027 running back Nigel Newkirk, a Crimson Tide commit, visited Ohio State on Saturday. Newkirk and his family drove nine hours to Columbus after planes were grounded across the country on Friday.
Why it matters
The trip shows how recruiting visits can be affected by travel disruptions, and Newkirk's visit to Ohio State comes despite his existing Alabama commitment. Signing day is expected next month.
Newkirk is listed as a three-star running back and ranked 23rd-best at his position nationally by 247 Sports. The extraction does not report his statistics from the Gainesville High School season.
The players
Nigel Newkirk
Nigel Newkirk is a Class of 2027 running back from Gainesville High School in Georgia who has committed to Alabama.
247 Sports
247 Sports is a recruiting website that publishes player rankings and ratings for high school athletes.
The details
Newkirk left for Columbus right after his Friday high school game at Gainesville High School in Georgia, arriving in time for Ohio State's noon ET kickoff against Northwestern on Saturday. He had earlier visited Alabama on May 29 and LSU on June 5 before committing to Alabama.
Timeline
May 29: Newkirk visits Alabama.
June 5: Newkirk visits LSU.
Friday: Planes are grounded nationwide; Newkirk drives after his high school game.
Saturday: Newkirk visits Ohio State for a noon ET kickoff against Northwestern.
Next month: Signing day.
Season Trajectory
Recruits who hold a commitment but keep visiting rival programs are common in the cycle leading up to signing day. This visit fits a pattern in which recruiting weeks are shaped by official visit schedules.
Fans tracking the Class of 2027 running back class can watch for Newkirk's signing day decision, which the extraction says is next month. Recruiting rankings and visit schedules can shift before a player signs.
The takeaway
Recruiting commitments are not always final, and a player's visits to rival programs can continue right up to signing day. Readers following a recruit should watch for the official signing announcement rather than assuming the current commitment is settled.
What happens next
Signing day is expected next month, when Newkirk is expected to make his commitment official.
Further reading
For more on recruiting in the Columbus area, see Track & Field.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Heavy.
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