Ohio State football: Buckeyes in line for top-5 defensive lineman

So far, the Ohio State football team has only one defensive lineman committed for the 2023 recruiting cycle. Ryan Day and his program hope that changes very soon. Jason Moore, the number five-rated defensive lineman in the country and 53rd-rated player overall, has said he will announce his choice of schools at 7 P.M. Sunday.

Moore is someone OSU defensive line coach Larry Johnson really wants. He hails from the same school (DeMatha Catholic in Maryland) and wears the same number 2 as former Buckeye Chase Young. The feeling is he can play inside at tackle or move out to end.

At 6’6”, 255 pounds I don’t doubt he will eventually find a home at defensive end. When I watch his highlights (click here to watch them), a few things jump out at me. He is BIG-tall and lanky, but thick as well. His strength is another thing you notice right away.

Moore uses his powerful legs to shove blockers backward. Although he’s tall, he understands how to get underneath blockers. I’d like to see him be quicker off the ball, but there is no question he will be a great addition to the OSU defensive line unit.

Although there were no predictions, many believed Moore was heavily leaning towards Notre Dame. After he took official visits to the Irish, Penn State, Michigan, and Ohio State in June, the feeling is the Buckeyes have not just surged ahead, but are now way ahead. So much so that six of 247Sports’ recruiting experts have given predictions for OSU.

Right now, the Buckeyes have just one defensive line commit (three-star Will Smith, Jr.), but the hope is Moore will just be the beginning of a flurry of others at this position who choose Ohio State. On July 28th, 6’3”, 310-pound Floridian John Walker will make his choice of schools known.

The 247Sports recruiting guys have given just two predictions for the nation’s number eleven defensive lineman and both are for the Buckeyes. Another 6’6” Maryland native, Desmond Umeozulu (14th-rated edge rusher), is expected to make a decision by the end of the summer. The only prediction for him so far is also for the Buckeyes.

Reeling in all three would give the Buckeyes quite a defensive line haul. Reeling in all three plus five-star Matayo Uiagalelei would give the Buckeyes a stellar defensive line class for 2023. Uiagalelei is not expected to make a decision until late in the fall, but OSU seems to be in good standing with him right now. You can read my article on that situation here.