After rocking the No. 3 recruiting class in the nation in the 2024 cycle; Ohio We are off to a hot start for 2025.
There are currently eight prospects drafted and the Buckeyes are ranked No. 2 in the rankings. On3 industry team recruitment ranking. Three five-star recruits lead the way — Birmingham (Alabama) cornerback Parker Naeem OffordHouston North Shore cornerback Devin Sanchez Bellefontaine (Ohio) quarterback tavian st clair.
But Ryan Day and the Columbus staff aren't done with this cycle. Ohio State tends to land multiple top prospects. On3 Adoption Prediction Machine (RPM)Buckeyes recruiter Matt Parker detailed these recruiting efforts. internal scoop Football recruiting show.
4 Star Edge Justin Hill
4-star EDGE in Cincinnati Winton Woods Justin Hill He's projected to be a top-five prospect in Ohio. He ranks No. 90 overall nationally and is the No. 12 edge rusher in the 2025 cycle. On3 industry rankingThis is a weighted average using all four major recruitment media companies.
Ohio State insiders Matt Parker and Alex Greitman, along with On3 Director of Recruiting Chad Simmons, record expert predictions favoring the Buckeyes. Ohio State currently ranks first with 94.5%. Number of revolutions.
“I don't expect a decision to be made right away,” Parker said of Hill. “I've been talking to Justin over the past year and he's really interested in going through this process, including a spring visit, and thinking about what's next.” (May 19th), but I expect he'll also go to Oregon and a few other places he's really interested in, Alabama. After that, an official visit is scheduled for June. There is.
“I believe he's considering a decision in early July. So, Ohio State is in a pretty good position right now, but this will continue into July or so.”
4-star WR Jamie French
Four-star wide receiver from Jacksonville (Fla.) Mandarin. Jaime French is the No. 4 wide receiver in the 2025 cycle. Programs across the country are working hard to secure the commitment of Ffrench, who decommitted from Alabama in January.
Parker recorded the expert's prediction that Ffrench has a 60% confidence rating in favor of Ohio State.Buckeyes take first place Number of revolutions At 57%, Alabama (28%) and Florida (10.7%) follow.
Four-star wide receiver from Jacksonville (Fla.) Mandarin. Jaime French is the No. 4 wide receiver in the 2025 cycle. Programs across the country are working hard to secure the commitment of Ffrench, who decommitted from Alabama in January.
“Brian Hartline. You look at what he's done, I feel like we just broke records here. But ever since Jaime French decommitted from the University of Alabama. , the two schools being talked about are Ohio State and Florida State,” Parker said. “We heard about it last year in the 2024 cycle. jeremiah smith He currently has two practices as an Ohio State Buckeye. Jaime Ffrench plays for the South Florida Express, which is no stranger to Ohio State.
“I just look at Ohio State's production, what they've done in terms of development and what they're doing right now in terms of recruiting.” It's hard to bet on Brian Hartline when you have five-star receivers.”
4 star edge marillon die
Ohio State needs talent on the defensive line, and the Buckeyes are hoping to make the jump to Indiana for four-star EDGE from Elkhart (Ind.) Central marillon dye. Dye is the nation's No. 147 prospect and No. 19 edge rusher in the 2025 class.
Parker and Gleitman both listed the experts' prediction as 60% for Ohio State.Buckeyes take first place Number of revolutions It was 95.2%.
“This is a little bit of a long-term play here for me,” Parker said. “Chad Simmons reported this a few weeks ago. Right now, the unofficial top four is Ohio State, Georgia, Tennessee and Tennessee.” [Miami]. But the most important thing about the unofficial top four is that Ohio State is the only school for Midwestern candidates north of the Mason-Dixon line. And if that's true, then Ohio State could go across the state line to Indiana and get the edge rusher the A's really want, the edge rusher the B's really need. I'm pretty confident.
“Ohio State is going to need to have a big defensive line class, especially on the perimeter with guys like: JT Tuimoloau and jack sawyer Last season at Ohio State University. After several failures in 2023 and 2024, they don't have much depth behind them. So, Ohio State will have to carry the load and will need to work with talented players like Marion Dye. So we need another long game with that pick here, and I'm hopeful that Ohio State can get it done.”
4-star RB Marquise Davis
Another in-state candidate is trending at Ohio State, but on the opposite side of the Buckeye State.Cleveland (Ohio) 4-star running back from Cleveland Heights. Marquis Davis He is a top-10 prospect in the state and the No. 12 tailback in the nation.
Parker has a 65% confidence prediction in favor of the Buckeyes, and Ohio State has the lead in recruiting Davis. Probability 91.7% About landing him.
“He wants to make this decision and get it done by August when his senior season starts,” Parker said. “I expect Davis' decision will probably be in mid- or late July. Ohio State is certainly one of the top schools recruiting him right now, as are USC, Michigan, Tennessee and Kentucky. So, there are many schools where Marquis Davis has high grades.
“I look forward to Davis visiting Ohio State in the spring and making the less than two-hour drive from Cleveland to Columbus to further develop our relationship.” You’re going to need at least two running backs in the cycle, and I like Marquise Davis, who’s at Ohio State right now.”
4 Star DL London Merit
Returning to the importance of Ohio State acquiring a solid defensive line class in 2025, the Buckeyes are pursuing a four-star defensive lineman from IMG Academy in Bradenton (Fla.) london merit. Merritt is ranked 165th overall in the 2025 class and 13th at his position.
Gleitman has a 60% confidence level in the expert predictions favoring the Buckeyes, making Ohio State the clear leader in this area. Number of revolutions It was 87.1%. North Carolina (3.7%) and Alabama (2.6%) follow.
When asked if Alabama was Merritt's biggest option over Ohio State, Parker said, “Yes.” However, caution was required.
“If you told me Nick Saban was going to be the head coach at Alabama in 2024, I would definitely say yes. I'm still saying yes, but I'm just talking to Ohio State officials. But there's a huge gap between the two,” Parker said. “I feel like Ohio State is in a pretty good position right now for London Merritt College, and he's already set up an official visit to Ohio State for the second or third weekend in June.” , is scheduled to be on campus on March 30th, which is a significant visitor's day for Ohio State University. Jamie Ffrench is also scheduled to be there. There will be a pretty big 5-star weekend later this month .
“Going back to Ohio State, we need to fill out the defensive line board for 2025 and I think London Merritt has a real opportunity there. , so this is a recruiting effort that deserves attention, and when head bosses make a big push into recruiting, it's time to start getting some attention.”
4 stars LB Tarvos Alford
In the discussion of who will be the next top choice to commit to Ohio State, look no further than the four-star linebacker from Vero Beach, Port St. Lucie (Fla.). Tarvos Alford. Alford is scheduled to take over on March 30th, and the Buckeyes are the frontrunners.
Ohio State currently leads Number of revolutions At 91.2%, Miami (3.3%) and Florida (2.8%) follow.
“I would say TJ Alford is a player we should really keep an eye on. He has a commitment date of March 30th,” Parker said. “He is scheduled to take an unofficial visit to Ohio State on March 23rd. I put a pick in the Buckeyes to get him, and my colleague Alex Greitman also put in a pick. Gators Online Corey Bender has drafted Ohio State University. That means the trajectory is starting to appear and all the candidates are starting to come together. That decision day will be here before we know it. We have to keep an eye on it. I think it's TJ Alford who has to be there.”
