Projecting Ohio State football 2025 recruiting class: What will OSU’s defense look like?

Ohio State football has already started to build its 2025 defense.

Of the Buckeyes’ eight commitments, five are on defense, including three cornerbacks, one defensive end and one linebacker.

But OSU is only getting started.

With eight commitments, the Buckeyes have the No. 4-ranked class in the country per 247Sports’ rankings behind Notre Dame, Clemson and LSU. However, Ohio State has the highest average commitment rating of any team in the country.

Who will join Ohio State 2025 class? Projecting Ohio State football 2025 recruiting class: What will OSU’s offense look like?

After taking a look at the Ohio State offense in 2025, here’s a look at where the Buckeyes stand on defense and who could be the next players to join the class:

Ohio State football 2025 recruiting: Defensive line

Defensive lineman London Merritt of IMG Academy football

Committed

Targets

DE Nasir Wyatt

DE Justin Hill

DE Darren Ikinnagbon

DE Mariyon Dye

DL London Merritt

DL Brandon Caesar

DL Landon Rink

Zahir Mathis. a 6-foot-6, 225-pound four-star out of Philadelphia, is a prototypical Larry Johnson edge rusher. But Mathis alone is not going to be enough to fill the losses of J.T. Tuimoloau, Jack Sawyer, and Tyleik Williams.

Since 2020, Ohio State averages nearly four defensive line signees in each recruiting class. The Buckeyes landed three in 2024 in defensive tackle Eric Mensah and defensive ends Dominic Kirks and Eddrick Houston.

Even if Kenyatta Jackson Jr. and Caden Curry leave a year early for the NFL, Ohio State, on paper, seems to have an advantage at defensive end compared to defensive tackle. In 2025, four-star London Merritt and three-star Brandon Caesar could fill in those spots on the interior

Look for Ohio State to continue to target Justin Hill, a four-star edge out of Winton Woods High School in Cincinnati, to pair with Mathis.

Ohio State football…

..

Read More

You might like