Dan Hessler
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Ohio State makes the cut for multiple 2025 targets
Dan Hessler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
2025 four-star DE Justin Hill via USA TODAY/247Sports
The Buckeyes also saw two of the top QB transfer prospects go elsewhere.
Ohio State finished the year 11-2 after falling to Missouri 14-3 in the Cotton Bowl. With the beginning of the offseason now official, focus will be on what Ryan Day and the Buckeyes can improve on heading into next season. A major area of this will be on recruiting, both in the traditional sense and regarding to the transfer portal.
While many of the headlines surrounding Ohio State last weekend were centered on the bowl game, you may have missed the Buckeyes making the recruiting headlines. If so, Land-Grant Holy Land has you covered.
Ohio State’s 2024 recruiting class is mainly wrapped up. The Buckeyes saw 20 of the nation’s top prospects sign with the team during the early signing period, good enough for the No. 6 class in the 247Sports Class Rankings.
With the cycle being nearly complete, focus will shift towards next year’s class. Ohio State currently holds verbal commitments from four recruits, and is actively working on adding to it. One of the positions quickly turning into a priority for the Buckeyes in next year’s class is the defensive line.
The Buckeyes have yet to earn a commitment on the line in 2025, but have offered nearly 20 prospects already. Over the holiday weekend, the Buckeyes learned they moved one step closer in securing one of their top defensive end prospects, when four-star edge rusher Justin Hill (Cincinnati, Ohio / Winton Woods) included the Buckeyes in his top 10 schools.
Alongside Ohio State, Hill included Penn State, Oregon, Miami, Cincinnati, USC, Michigan, Alabama, Georgia and Kentucky in his top schools.
Ryan Day and Ohio State have made recruiting in-state talent a priority. Keeping Hill in Ohio would be a massive win for Ohio State. While no school has yet to separate themselves from the pack, Ohio State seems to have the early lead. The Buckeyes, if not by proximity alone, were able to get him on campus multiple times last year, but Kentucky, Alabama, Cincinnati and Michigan have also been recruiting Hill heavily.
Hill doesn’t seem to be close to committing, but he has narrowed down his list of suitors to 10. Expect him to continue to visit the above schools and further narrow down his list of schools during the coming year.
Hill is the No. 13 DE and is the No. 138 overall prospect in the 247Sports Composite Rankings. He is also the No. 6 recruit out of Ohio.
The aforementioned Hill was not the only recruit to include the Buckeyes in their top schools over the holiday weekend. Ohio State also made the cut for 2025 four-star cornerback Onis Konanbanny (Columbia, SC / Heathwood Hall Episcopal School) when he included the program in his top 10 schools.
Alongside Ohio State, Konanbanny included Florida State, Tennessee, Penn State, LSU, Oklahoma, Michigan, Oregon, North Carolina and USC in his top schools.
Konanbanny has been able to visit with Ohio State, North Carolina, Florida State, Tennessee and Michigan already, but will likely try to make trips to visit with some of the other schools in his list. He will also look to lock in some official visits in the spring and fall, and will likely wait until next summer to make a commitment at the earliest.
Konanbanny is the No. 28 CB and is the No. 253 overall prospect in the 247Sports Composite Rankings. He is also the No. 2 recruit out of South Carolina.
Peterson currently plays in West Virginia, but is from Cuayahoga Falls, Ohio. Because Ohio State is the hometown school, the Buckeyes will likely be in the mix until the end, but Kansas is also making a heavy push for him.
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Dan Hessler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
2025 four-star DE Justin Hill via USA TODAY/247Sports
The Buckeyes also saw two of the top QB transfer prospects go elsewhere.
Ohio State finished the year 11-2 after falling to Missouri 14-3 in the Cotton Bowl. With the beginning of the offseason now official, focus will be on what Ryan Day and the Buckeyes can improve on heading into next season. A major area of this will be on recruiting, both in the traditional sense and regarding to the transfer portal.
While many of the headlines surrounding Ohio State last weekend were centered on the bowl game, you may have missed the Buckeyes making the recruiting headlines. If so, Land-Grant Holy Land has you covered.
2025 four-star DE has Ohio State in top schools
Ohio State’s 2024 recruiting class is mainly wrapped up. The Buckeyes saw 20 of the nation’s top prospects sign with the team during the early signing period, good enough for the No. 6 class in the 247Sports Class Rankings.
With the cycle being nearly complete, focus will shift towards next year’s class. Ohio State currently holds verbal commitments from four recruits, and is actively working on adding to it. One of the positions quickly turning into a priority for the Buckeyes in next year’s class is the defensive line.
The Buckeyes have yet to earn a commitment on the line in 2025, but have offered nearly 20 prospects already. Over the holiday weekend, the Buckeyes learned they moved one step closer in securing one of their top defensive end prospects, when four-star edge rusher Justin Hill (Cincinnati, Ohio / Winton Woods) included the Buckeyes in his top 10 schools.
Alongside Ohio State, Hill included Penn State, Oregon, Miami, Cincinnati, USC, Michigan, Alabama, Georgia and Kentucky in his top schools.
Ryan Day and Ohio State have made recruiting in-state talent a priority. Keeping Hill in Ohio would be a massive win for Ohio State. While no school has yet to separate themselves from the pack, Ohio State seems to have the early lead. The Buckeyes, if not by proximity alone, were able to get him on campus multiple times last year, but Kentucky, Alabama, Cincinnati and Michigan have also been recruiting Hill heavily.
Hill doesn’t seem to be close to committing, but he has narrowed down his list of suitors to 10. Expect him to continue to visit the above schools and further narrow down his list of schools during the coming year.
Hill is the No. 13 DE and is the No. 138 overall prospect in the 247Sports Composite Rankings. He is also the No. 6 recruit out of Ohio.
2025 four-star CB has Ohio State in top schools
The aforementioned Hill was not the only recruit to include the Buckeyes in their top schools over the holiday weekend. Ohio State also made the cut for 2025 four-star cornerback Onis Konanbanny (Columbia, SC / Heathwood Hall Episcopal School) when he included the program in his top 10 schools.
WhereWeGoinnnnnn #AGTG #THEpic.twitter.com/2Smcd3UE8E
— ᴏɴɪs " " ᴋᴏɴᴀɴʙᴀɴɴʏ'25 (@KonanbannyOnis) January 1, 2024
Alongside Ohio State, Konanbanny included Florida State, Tennessee, Penn State, LSU, Oklahoma, Michigan, Oregon, North Carolina and USC in his top schools.
Konanbanny has been able to visit with Ohio State, North Carolina, Florida State, Tennessee and Michigan already, but will likely try to make trips to visit with some of the other schools in his list. He will also look to lock in some official visits in the spring and fall, and will likely wait until next summer to make a commitment at the earliest.
Konanbanny is the No. 28 CB and is the No. 253 overall prospect in the 247Sports Composite Rankings. He is also the No. 2 recruit out of South Carolina.
Quick Hits
- The Ohio State football team is not the only program making recruiting headlines in Columbus. The men’s basketball team, led by Chris Holtmann, also made some noise over the holiday weekend, making the cut for one of the nation’s top prospects. 2025 five-star point guard Darryn Peterson (Huntington, West Virginia / Huntington Prep) included the Buckeyes in his top eight schools alongside North Carolina, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Arkansas, Kansas and Baylor.
Peterson currently plays in West Virginia, but is from Cuayahoga Falls, Ohio. Because Ohio State is the hometown school, the Buckeyes will likely be in the mix until the end, but Kansas is also making a heavy push for him.
- On Monday, two of the top quarterbacks in the transfer portal announced their decisions. Former Washington State QB Cam Ward announced he will be foregoing his senior season and instead will enter for the NFL Draft. Additionally, former Oregon State QB DJ Uiagalelei announced that he will be transferring to Florida State.
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