Ohio State LB commit Eli Lee has a special relationship with James Laurinaitis
AKRON – Three-star Akron (Ohio) Archbishop Hoban linebacker Eli Lee was one of the first commitments for Ohio State in the 2025 class and despite Lee being fully locked into his commitment to the Buckeyes, Ohio State linebackers coach James Laurinaitis has continued to recruit as if he was un-committed.
Laurinaitis was in attendance at Hoban’s college showcase on Thursday, May 16 and stayed from the first whistle to the last which meant a lot to Lee.
“Oh, it’s great. I mean, Coach Laurinaitis is still just talking to me all the time, really and it’s been really nice,” Lee told Lettermen Row. “Knowing that he wants me a lot, it’s really nice.”
The two have built such a close bond that Laurinaitis has told Lee that he wants him to continue wearing No. 33, Lee’s high school number and Laurinaitis’ college number, in Columbus.
“It’s awesome. I mean, I grew up watching his highlights. So it’s like, hearing that from him is really crazy. And it’s just kind of an honor. Because I mean, it’s 33 that’s my number, obviously, and now he wants me to wear that. It just makes me even happier about it.”
Lee also has a close relationship with Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles who was also in Akron for the Knights’ college showcase.
“Yeah, I mean, it’s great. Obviously seeing him too because he wasn’t as technical. He’s still very technical but he just likes getting to know the family still. He’s just real. He tries to stay close. You know, it’s honestly the same way.”
With his own commitment behind him, Lee has put on his recruiting hat and is working to get his high school teammates Elbert Hill, No. 1 2026 prospect in the state of Ohio according to the On3 Industry Rankings, and Sam Greer, the No. 4 2026 prospect in the state of Ohio, to become Buckeyes as well.
“I’m always on those guys there. I mean, it’s more of a joke. It’s not very serious, it’s like hurry up and commitment, you know where you want to go and stuff like that. So I mean, they’re still going through the process but they definitely both like Ohio State. And so I definitely have to be on them.”
Lee has also started getting to know some of the other commitments in Ohio State’s 2025 class, in particular, fellow linebacker Tarvos Alford and fellow Ohio native Cody Haddad.
“I mean, I wouldn’t say I talk to all the linebackers much. I do talk to TJ not often but I mean, we still talk sometimes. But it’s really just that I’m more focused on the Hoban season honestly right now. Yeah, I’m talking with the coaches a lot. But as for other recruits, I haven’t talked too much with them or commits. I talked to Cody Haddad a little bit just because we’re both Ohio guys. We text how our off seasons are going and stuff like that. But other than that, I really haven’t talked to many people.”
The 6-foot-3 and 215-pound Lee projects as a MIKE linebacker at Ohio State while Alford, 6-foot-2 and 210, projects best as a SAM or WILL backer for the Buckeyes.
The post Ohio State LB commit Eli Lee has a special relationship with James Laurinaitis appeared first on On3.
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