Football: Meet the 2025 commits gearing up to be future Buckeyes

Cameron Moone
Thu, 05 Dec 2024 04:14:50 +0000
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Ohio State quarterback commit Tavien St. Clair on the sidelines ahead of a Buckeye football game. St. Clair is in the 2025 Ohio State recruiting class. Credit: David Petkiewicz via TNS

The early signing period for college football is officially underway, with recruits putting pen to paper and pledging allegiance to their respective universities.?

Entering Wednesday, Ohio State had the No. 3 class in the country, according to 247Sports, sitting with 301.94 total points and lagging just behind No. 2 University of Georgia (305.07) and top-ranked University of Texas (306.67).

In-state, five-star quarterback Tavien St. Clair headlines the incoming Buckeye class; what’s more, Ohio State also secured former Alabama commit and four-star running back Anthony Rogers.

Here’s who the Buckeyes signed Wednesday in order of ranking:

Bellefontaine, Ohio, five-star quarterback Tavien St. Clair (6-foot-4, 225 pounds)

High school: Bellefontaine High School

247Sports rankings: No. 3 national, No. 3 QB, No. 1 Ohio

St. Clair has been an Ohio State commit for more than half of his high school career, asserting his loyalty to the Buckeyes June 21, 2023. The top-ranked player in Ohio wrapped up his high school journey in the first round of the OHSAA Division III playoffs, losing to Chaminade Julienne Nov. 1.

Houston, five-star cornerback Devin Sanchez (6-foot-2, 170 pounds)

High school: North Shore

247Sports rankings: No. 5 national, No. 1 CB, No. 2 Texas

Touted as a “Jeremiah Smith-type cornerback” by recruiting analyst Jeremy Birmingham on X, Sanchez is the highest-rated defensive recruit in the class of 2025 and has been committed to the Buckeyes since Jan. 6. The No. 1 corner in the country will play in the University Interscholastic League Texas state championship game Saturday in hopes of capping off a brilliant high school career.

Toledo, Ohio, four-star offensive tackle Carter Lowe (6-foot-5, 290 pounds)

High school: Whitmer

247Sports rankings: No. 34 national, No. 7 OT, No. 2 Ohio

The Buckeyes held onto another in-state recruit, with Lowe being a potential boost for an offensive line position that lacked depth throughout the 2024 regular season. Lowe helped lead Whitmer High School to the OHSAA playoffs, losing in the second round to St. Edward Nov. 8.

Olney, Maryland, four-star safety Faheem Delane (6-foot-2.5, 195 pounds)?

High school: Our Lady Good Counsel

247Sports rankings: No. 91 nationally, No. 8 safety, No. 3 Maryland

Secondary coach Tim Walton landed one of Ohio State’s most accomplished recruits in Delane. The safety already possesses a college frame at nearly 200 pounds, and his height is an added bonus. Notably, he broke up 18 passes his junior season of high school and has been committed to Ohio State since June 9.

McKinney, Texas, four-star linebacker Riley Pettijohn (6-foot-1.5, 215 pounds)

High school: McKinney

247Sports rankings: No. 94 national, No. 6 LB, No. 22 Texas

One of three linebackers in Ohio State’s 2025 recruiting class, Pettijohn is the highest-ranked of the trio and was described as an “athletic volume tackler” by scouting analyst Gabe Brooks of 247Sports. Volume tackler, indeed, as Pettijohn racked up 125 tackles and eight tackles for loss throughout his junior season.

Oradell, New Jersey, four-star wide receiver Quincy Porter (6-foot-3, 190 pounds)

High school: Oradell

247Sports rankings: No. 95 national, No. 14 WR, No. 3 New Jersey

“Zone 6” keeps on rolling at Ohio State, as wide receivers coach Brian Hartline added a tall-frame pass catcher to his room with Porter’s signing Wednesday. Porter caught 57 passes for 969 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2024, averaging 17 yards per catch and helping Bergen Catholic earn an 11-1 record.

Enterprise, Alabama, four-star edge Zion Grady (6-foot-4, 235 pounds)

High school: Enterprise

247Sports rankings: No. 99 national, No. 9 edge, No. 7 Alabama

A Deep South player who has been committed to Ohio State since June 24, Grady is a college-ready edge rusher who piled up 33 sacks over his sophomore and junior seasons in high school. He is the No. 7 player in the state of Alabama and highest-ranked defensive lineman in the class of 2025 for Ohio State.?

Bellflower, California four-star edge Epi Sitanilei (6-foot-5, 220 pounds)

High School: St. John Bosco

247Sports Rankings: No. 114 national, No. 10 edge, No. 9 California

Back-to-back edge rushers in the class of 2025 for Ohio State, as Sitanilei will join forces with Grady to replace the production being lost in senior defensive ends Jack Sawyer and JT Tuimoloau. Sitanilei already has a college-ready frame and played at one of the premier California programs in St. John Bosco.

Cleveland, four-star running back Bo Jackson (6-foot, 205 pounds)?

High school: Villa Angela-St. Joseph

247Sports rankings: No. 136 national, No. 5 RB, No. 5 Ohio

Jackson will likely try to model his game after his namesake in the other Bo Jackson, a former Heisman Trophy winner and Los Angeles Raiders running back who also spent time in Major League Baseball. Ohio State’s Jackson signed six months to the day after his commitment and is the highest-ranked running back in the Buckeyes’ recruiting class.?

Montgomery, Alabama, four-star running back Anthony Rogers (5-foot-8, 190 pounds)

High school: Carver

247Sports rankings: No. 205 national, No. 11 RB, No. 13 Alabama

After months of relationship-building, first-season running backs coach Carlos Locklyn landed a flip from Rogers, a former Alabama commit. A smaller-frame running back, Rogers has the potential to be an out-of-the-backfield threat with his speed and could make an immediate impact with his skill set. Rogers had been committed to the Crimson Tide since June 2, 2023, before decommitting Nov. 17.

Mansfield, Ohio, four-star wide receiver Bodpegn Miller (6-foot-4, 180 pounds)

High school: Ontario

247Sports rankings: No. 220 national, No. 14 WR, No. 8 Ohio

The Buckeyes have found great luck with recruits from Richland County, with former Ohio State tight end Cade Stover hailing from Lexington in the class of 2019.?

Miller was a dynamic offensive threat in high school, totaling Ontario single-season school records such as passing yards (2,328), rushing yards (1,988) and total touchdowns (41). Miller spent most of his high school career as a quarterback, but will transition to wideout for Ohio State in 2025.

Washington, Oklahoma, four-star tight end Nate Roberts (6-foot-4, 235 pounds)

High school: Washington

247Sports rankings: No. 15 TE, No. 5 Oklahoma

The higher-ranked player in a pair of 2025 tight ends for Ohio State, Roberts was targeted heavily in high school, totaling 33 receptions for 705 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2022, all while helping Washington to a 15-0 record and an Oklahoma 2A state championship.

Philadelphia four-star defensive lineman Maxwell Roy (6-foot-3, 285 pounds)

High school: St. Joseph’s Prep School

247Sports rankings: No. 32 DL, No. 6 Pennsylvania?

Described as a “good-sized, broad-shouldered down defensive lineman” by Brooks of 247Sports, Roy has the potential to be a Michael Hall Jr.-type for Ohio State with his pass-rushing and run-stopping abilities as an interior defensive lineman. Roy has been committed to Ohio State since July 1.

Wayne, New Jersey, four-star wide receiver De’Zie Jones (6-foot, 180 pounds)

High school: DePaul Catholic

247Sports rankings: No. 30 WR, No. 8 New Jersey

Zone 6 got another edition Wednesday when Jones signed with Ohio State, solidifying his place as one of four wideouts in the 2025 class for Ohio State. Jones totaled 2,968 yards and 15 touchdowns over his final three seasons of high school and has been committed to Ohio State since March 30.

Mission Viejo, California, four-star wide receiver Phillip Bell (6-foot-2, 195 pounds)

High school: Mission Viejo

247Sports rankings: No. 31 WR, No. 26 California

Back-to-back receivers were recruited in the middle chunk of Ohio State’s 2025 class, with Bell signing with the Buckeyes Wednesday. Bell was also considering the University of South Carolina, according to 247Sports, but decided to come across the country instead.?

The California native tallied 56 passes for 644 yards and seven touchdowns, also capturing a Division 1-AA title in the California high school football playoffs.

Philadelphia, three-star running back Isaiah West (5-foot-11, 208 pounds)

High school: St. Joseph’s Prep School

247Sports rankings: No. 25 RB, No. 11 Pennsylvania?

Joining high school teammate Roy in Columbus will be West, the final running back in the class of 2025 for Ohio State, who has been committed since June 16. West was a crucial member of St. Joseph’s 2023 Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association 6A state championship, totaling 861 yards from scrimmage and 10 touchdowns.

Newberry, Florida, three-star defensive lineman Jarquez Carter (6-foot-2, 284 pounds)

High School: Newberry

247Sports Rankings: No. 39 DL, No. 42 Florida

After rumors of a potential flip to a Florida-based school, Ohio State was able to hold onto Carter to boost the defensive front heading into 2025. Carter, who made a career in the backfield throughout high school totaling 60 tackles for loss across his sophomore and junior seasons, had been committed to Ohio State since July 18.

Gates Mills, Ohio, three-star tight end Brody Lennon (6-foot-4, 220 pounds)

High school: Gilmour Academy

247Sports rankings: No. 20 TE, No. 13 Ohio

It’s always important to win one’s state in college football recruiting, and Ohio State added another in-state target with Lennon Wednesday. Lennon was a standout on both sides of the ball as a junior, totaling 32 receptions for 750 yards and 11 touchdowns offensively, as well as 86 tackles, 25 tackles for loss, 13 sacks, 1 forced fumble and 1 fumble recovery defensively.?

Wayne, New Jersey, three-star safety DeShawn Stewart (6-foot-2, 185 pounds)

High school: DePaul Catholic?

247Sports rankings: No. 40 safety, No. 15 New Jersey

There is another pair of high school teammates in the class of 2025, as Stewart will join Jones at Ohio State. Stewart has been committed to Ohio State since March 31 and held offers from Duke, Cincinnati and Boston College.

Matthews, North Carolina, three-star defensive lineman Trajen Odom (6-foot-4, 285 pounds)

High school: Weddington

247Sports rankings: No. 56 DL, No. 13 North Carolina

Odom has an extremely high ceiling to reach as a well-polished pass-rusher on the interior defensive line, totaling 33 sacks over his sophomore and junior seasons of high school. The three-star recruit has been committed to Ohio State since June 28.

Westerville, Ohio, three-star offensive lineman Jake Cook (6-foot-5, 295 pounds)

High school: Westerville North

247Sports rankings: No. 32 OL, No. 18 Ohio

Another in-state recruit playing for his home state, Cook will play college football just 33 minutes away from his high school. Cook already has a well-rounded college frame at nearly 300 pounds, also possessing experience at tackle.?

Upper Marlboro, Maryland, three-star offensive lineman Jayvon McFadden (6-foot-5, 300 pounds)

High school: Riverdale Baptist

247Sports rankings: No. 33 OL, No. 19 Maryland

Two offensive linemen were recruited in a row for Ohio State’s 2025 class, with McFadden signing with the Buckeyes Wednesday. The Maryland native has primarily played guard in his career and held offers from Penn State, Colorado and Georgia.

Cleveland, Ohio, three-star safety Cody Haddad (6-foot-1, 175 pounds)

High school: St Ignatius

247Sports rankings: No. 48 safety, No. 22 Ohio

Haddad will make the trip down I-71 to play college ball, serving as the penultimate in-state target for Ohio State and signing with the Buckeyes Wednesday. Haddad was described as “versatile player who has played all over the field in high school” by 247Sports national recruiting analyst Allen Trieu.?

Akron, Ohio, three-star linebacker Eli Lee (6-foot-3, 230 pounds)

High school: Archbishop Hoban

247Sports rankings: No. 79 LB, No. 25 Ohio

Lee is the final recruit in Ohio for the class of 2025, having held alternative offers from Penn State, Wisconsin and West Virginia.

Cartersville, Georgia, three-star cornerback Jordyn Woods (6-foot-3, 175 pounds)

High school: Cartersville

247Sports rankings: No. 97 safety, No. 116 Georgia

A late flip in the 2025 class, Woods was committed to the University of Cincinnati since June 25 before flipping to Ohio State Nov. 25, having received a Nov. 3 offer from the Buckeyes. Woods is an incredibly long cornerback and has the potential to make a big impact on day one.

This post will be updated as additional players announce their commitment to Ohio State in the 2025 recruiting class.