Ohio State has never had any problem attracting talent, and after winning the national championship, that certainly hasn’t changed. The Buckeyes have the No. 6 class in the country with 21 commits in 2026, and they could be on the cusp of adding a coveted target at a position of need.
On Wednesday, four-star defensive lineman Deuce Geralds announced that he will make his commitment on August 2. Geralds is the 73rd-ranked overall player in the 2026 class by 247Sports Composite and the 9th-ranked defensive lineman. The 6-foot-3, 265-pound Suwanee, Georgia, product is weighing offers from LSU, Michigan, Ole Miss, Oregon, and Ohio State.
NEWS: Four-Star DL Deuce Geralds will announce his Commitment August 2nd, he tells me for @rivals
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) July 9, 2025
The 6’2 275 DL from Suwanee, GA will choose between LSU, Michigan, Ohio State, Ole Miss, & Oregon
Where Should He Go? ⬇️https://t.co/Mq9DixCbDZ pic.twitter.com/x7wRSBnynR
4-star Deuce Geralds schedules commitment date for August 2
Ryan Day’s most recent roster was stacked at every position, but had a special combination of talent and experience with a defensive line led by Tyleik Williams, Jack Sawyer, and J.T. Tuimoloau. That group dominated in the College Football Playoff. Sawyer sealed the CFP semifinal with a strip-sack of Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers, and then, they all left for the NFL.
The void left by their departures was partially filled by UNC transfer Beau Atkinson, but the Buckeyes are not entering 2025 on the same level up front as they were a year ago. Reloading that defensive line has been one of the primary objectives for the staff, first through the transfer portal with the addition of Atkinson, then in the 2026 recruiting class, which so far features four-star edge rushers Cincere Johnson and Khary Wilder, and four-star interior defensive lineman Damari Simeon.
Geralds would be an important addition on the interior of the defensive line, though for Collins Hill High School, he plays primarily edge rusher and running back. While he may need to add weight to stick on the interior at the next level, his versatility and athleticism make him a uniquely intriguing prospect in the 2026 class. Maybe his best fit is to stay as a slightly oversized edge.
The coach who harnesses his physical gifts and finds the ideal way to deploy them could have a special player on their hands. Ryan Day needs to ensure that those coaches are on his staff, and not the staff up in Ann Arbor. August 2 will be a big day for Ohio State’s 2026 recruiting class and the future of Matt Patricia’s defense in Columbus.
Patricia has had mixed results throughout his career, especially away from Bill Belichick. For his tenure with Ohio State to work, Day will need to provide him with plenty of high-level talent and unique chess pieces, as he and Belichick had for so many years in New England.