Most kids who grow up in Ohio dream of playing football at Ohio State. A state rich in high school football talent, the Buckeyes certainly have quite a selection to choose from. But there are a limited number of roster spots available, and with OSU being a perennial power, the team has the opportunity to get the best from the entire country, not just the Buckeye State. Because of that, there will always be disappointment from some who were hoping to land a scholarship with the Scarlet and Gray.
That seems to be the story with current Texas linebacker Rasheem Biles. A Pickerington, Ohio, native, Biles was an excellent high school player, but one without a specific position at the next level. As such, Ryan Day never came calling, leaving Biles with offers from Purdue, West Virginia, and Pitt. Not necessarily your powerhouse programs. Biles decided the Steel City was the best place to develop his skills, and it ended up being the right choice for him.
After playing mostly safety at Pickerington Central, Pitt moved Biles to linebacker, where he flourished. In his junior year, he accumulated 101 tackles, 17 tackles for a loss, 4.5 sacks, and two interceptions returned for touchdowns. His play would earn him All-ACC accolades in 2024 and 2025. Biles would decide to enter the transfer portal at the end of last season, and many thought the hometown team would have a great chance to land a commitment. But Biles felt slighted that Ohio State didn't show interest while in high school and decided that if he wasn't good enough then, he wasn't going to show the Buckeyes any love now that he was sought after by many major programs.
When asked about his thought process and why he chose not to go home, he shared, "I don't have a relationship with them," Biles said on Thursday. "They called and stuff, but I ain't want to stay in Columbus for real if I'm being honest. …When I made my list and stuff, I told my mom, I ain't really trying to be in Columbus; I ain't trying to be a Buckeye," Biles said. "They didn't want me out of high school, and I was right there, so ain't no point in trying to get me now."
Columbus native Rasheem Biles has extra motivation when Texas takes on Ohio State in Week 2 👀
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) August 13, 2026
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Biles scheduled trips to see other schools, including Colorado, Michigan, and Miami, even though those programs didn't initially show interest either. He got to Ann Arbor and Boulder, but after a trip to Austin, Biles cancelled his trip to South Florida and committed to the Longhorns.
Did Ryan Day miss out on a local kid who could've helped the program? Maybe, but there are only so many scholarship offers to hand out, and Day has a pretty good track record of bringing in elite talent. Buckeye Nation will get to decide for themselves on September 12 when Ohio State travels to Texas to do battle on the field.
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This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Texas linebacker holds grudge against Ohio State