Revisiting Ohio State May defensive recruiting goals, priorities
Ohio State recruiting is a year-round venture, and Lettermen Row is trying to keep everyone up to speed on just how the Buckeyes’ efforts are going. At the beginning of each month, our staff will make a to-do list for Ryan Day and his staff on the recruiting trail while reviewing the prior month’s list. A look at how May went for Ohio State.
COLUMBUS — Ohio State is another month closer to being back in the Horseshoe for a game that counts toward the record.
The Buckeyes were in Ohio Stadium for the spring game in April, but that obviously doesn’t count toward the record. What does count toward the record, however, is all the legwork the Buckeyes have done on the recruiting trail to be where they are now.
The months prior have been good for Ohio State. Was that the case in May?
Lettermen Row revisits this month’s defensive recruiting goals and priorities.
REVISIT: Establishing May Ohio State defensive recruiting goals, priorities
Pump the Brakes on ’26
OK, we might have jumped ship for a second. But what’s life without a quick reality check, right?
Ohio State still holds the top-rated 2025 class per the On3 Team Industry Rankings, but it did suffer a decommitment in May. Four-star Baltimore (Md) St. Frances Academy cornerback Blake Woodby left the class leaving the Buckeyes with Devin Sanchez and Na’eem Offord — two five-stars.
There is also the lingering want to add more to the secondary at safety. Cody Haddad and DeShawn Stewart are the two safeties committed, but the Buckeyes want at least one more. Additionally, the push for more edge rushers and at least one defensive tackle needs to happen.
The good thing is, Ohio State is in a great position for multiple prospects at all of those positions. This leads us to the next section.
Gap Sound
Whether it was about widening gaps or closing them, the Buckeyes were effective in May at doing so.
Lettermen Row wrote at the beginning of May that Ohio State needed to close the gap for defensive tackle Maxwell Roy, defensive tackle Trajen Odom linebacker Riley Pettijohn and cornerback Dorian Brew. The Buckeyes are sitting in great position for the two defensive tackles, good position for Brew and we will see how it all breaks with Pettijohn. All four make official visits to Ohio State in June.
That leaves defensive tackle Kole Briehler, EDGE Mariyon Dye, and safeties Faheem Delane and Trey McNutt as the gaps the Buckeyes needed to widen. Briehler has been quiet throughout May, but has his official visit to Ohio State in June. Dye cut a top schools list that featured plenty of SEC and ACC flavor, but Ohio State made the cut. At this point, it would be pretty stunning if Delane committed to anyone but Ohio State. McNutt remains the dark horse candidate and it appears his recruitment will carry into his senior season.
Linebackers are on Deck
Ohio State kicks off its first official visit weekend of the summer with an important crop of linebackers heading to campus.
For starters, 2025 commitments TJ Alford and Eli Lee will be there, Alford on his official and Lee just hanging out. Then, four-star McKinney (Texas) linebacker Riley Pettijohn will be there. We’ll also lump in four-star Cincinnati (Ohio) Winton Woods EDGE Justin Hill since James Laurinaitis is his lead recruiter.
The Buckeyes want one more true linebacker to their 2025 class. Pettijohn is a pretty heavy Texas lean, but Ohio State should be taken seriously. Hill is being recruited for the JACK but he will learn the ins and outs of the Buckeyes’ linebacker room.
A name we didn’t mention at the beginning of the month but has emerged is four-star Bradenton (Fla) IMG Academy linebacker Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng. The Virginia native visited Ohio State in mid-May and returns for an official visit in mid-June.
The post Revisiting Ohio State May defensive recruiting goals, priorities appeared first on On3.
Welcome to Billionaire Club Co LLC, your gateway to a brand-new social media experience! Sign up today and dive into over 10,000 fresh daily articles and videos curated just for your enjoyment. Enjoy the ad free experience, unlimited content interactions, and get that coveted blue check verification—all for just $1 a month!
Account Frozen
Your account is frozen. You can still view content but cannot interact with it.
Please go to your settings to update your account status.
Open Profile Settings