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“‘Ohio State is always watching!’ Top 2026 QB Prospect Catches Ohio State’s Eye After Game-Day Visit!”
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Gavin Sidwar is a four-star quarterback in the class of 2026 from La Salle College High School outside of Philadelphia. He’s 6-foot-3 with a strong and accurate arm, and Ohio State brought him to campus for a game-day visit against Indiana in November.
Sidwar described the visit as amazing and told cleveland.com that Ohio State plans to see him work out this spring. He’s got a gift of a right arm and a football brain that’s built for the next level, according to La Salle football Head Coach Brett Gordon.
He’s got a real gifted skill set from his ability to make all the throws at any part of the field. He’s incredibly accurate and he’s got a really high football IQ,” Gordon told cleveland.com. “I’ve spent a lot of time with Gavin, so I just have an appreciation for his preparation, for his work ethic.”
Perhaps the best anecdote of Sidwar’s mental advancement comes from Sidwar himself, who parrotted a lot of the things his head coach said about him — not knowing that his coach said such things.
“I’ll beat you from the pocket, I know where to go with the ball at all times. I’m accurate, I have a pretty strong arm, and mentally I feel like I’m there,” Sidwar told cleveland.com. “I’m trying to prove that I’m the best on the field every game. I always have something to prove no matter how many stars I have or where I end up.”
Sidwar does not currently hold an offer from the Buckeyes, but does from some of their Big Ten teams such as Indiana, Maryland and Rutgers. With the Buckeyes now entering the fray, Gordon believes Sidwar is going to turn into the national recruit he’s known Sidwar to be.
This past season as a junior he completed over 200 passes, threw 31 touchdowns compared to six interceptions and racked up around 2,800 passing yards in 11 games. There’s still a lot to do, though. Sidwar said he wants to work on getting bigger, faster and stronger this offseason.
And Gordon put an emphasis on a similar sentiment.
“Gavin’s a pretty good athlete, but almost all of his production has come from throwing the ball. One of the things we’re talking about this offseason is working on the ability, when a play breaks down, to go get one or two first downs a game [with his legs],” Gordon said. “If you look across all facets of football, whether it be college, professional or high school, the great ones figure out a way to get two-to-three first downs a game with their feet.”
Sidwar and Gordon expressed similar ideologies while talking with cleveland.com, and perhaps that’s a testament to the culture of La Salle’s football program. Sidwar said Gordon has mentally elevated his game and has developed him as a leader and teammate just as much as he has as a quarterback.
“Coach Gordon, that’s my guy. I love him,” Sidwar said. “He came in last year and completely changed the program and everything going on. He’s a great guy, he’s going to push me and stuff, but at the end of the day he’s going to show love back and do what’s best for me.”
Alongside Sidwar at La Salle is another four-star prospect. Joey O’Brien, the No. 1 athlete in Pennsylvania, according to 247Sports, was also in Columbus for Ohio State’s matchup with Indiana. O’Brien currently holds an offer from the Buckeyes as well as numerous powerhouse programs around the country.
O’Brien is one of Sidwar’s best friends, Sidwar said. They’ve been playing together since eighth grade and have developed a special connection on the field. It’s a testament to the talent the two 2026 recruits have, and it’s a testament to the culture Gordon has with La Salle.
Through all the excitement of the recruiting journey, though, Sidwar said he tries to keep a level head by living in the present and controlling what he can control.
He has a high level of respect for what it takes to be an elite athlete,” Gordon said.
Sidwar, once again, displayed precisely what his coach was talking about.
“I think I still have a lot of growth, and obviously this is the sport I’ve played since I was little and the sport I want to do when I’m older,” Sidwar said. “I’m excited for my senior year of high school, continuing to improve myself and my team and make a run to the state championship. Then whatever comes, comes … I’m just going to embrace it, because not a lot of kids get the opportunity I have.”
