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Swann, who traveled to Columbus on Tuesday as part of the Maryland-based Fast Track Recruits bus tour, has had a busy month visiting schools all over the country, including Alabama, LSU, USC and Michigan, with a trip to Penn State planned on Wednesday. Having already participated in camps with many of college football’s top programs, Swann said what stood out about camping at Ohio State was the way the players were coached.
“Just the work and the effort they want to see, they're pushing you to be great like their players,” Swann said. “Every drill we did out there, their players do, so that shows that they want us to be the best.”
Swann previously visited Ohio State in October for the Buckeyes’ home game against Minnesota, receiving his offer from Ohio State that same weekend. The top-ranked defensive lineman and No. 5 overall prospect in 247Sports’ composite rankings for the 2028 class, Swann said Ohio State’s culture and the love he felt from the community stood out to him during his previous visit, and he felt that again on Tuesday.
Ohio State has long stood out to Swann because of Johnson, who was a legendary high school coach in Maryland – starting his coaching career at Lackey High School, the same school Swann attends – before moving into the college ranks. Swann sees Johnson as college football’s best defensive line coach.
“Being able to come here and learn from him, knowing he's from my area, he's a legend around there, it feels great,” Swann said. “I get to take home stuff from the best defensive line coach in the country.”
Swann says he’s also enjoyed watching Ohio State’s defensive stars over the years, including Chase Young, Nick Bosa, Jack Sawyer, Arvell Reese, Sonny Styles and current defensive end Kenyatta Jackson Jr. Young, in particular, is an inspiration for Swann as a fellow Maryland product.
“Just watching him and then being able to come here, it feels surreal to me,” Swann said.
