Larry Johnson has taken some flak from Ohio State football fans over the last couple of seasons for the lack of five-star recruits that the defensive line has been able to get. He's also by far the oldest coach on Ryan Day's staff, so some fans have been worried that recruiting has passed him by.
Johnson has turned that notion upside down in the last few months. Khary Wilder will be coming in as a five-star recruit in the 2026 class, and he continues to work on guys in the 2027 class. There's a chance he also flips a recruit before Signing Day arrives.
Even though Johnson is 73 years old, that hasn't stopped kids from committing to him and the Ohio State Buckeyes. In fact, Johnson just landed his first kid from the class of 2028. Yes, a kid who is just a sophomore in high school has already committed to the Buckeyes.
Ohio State football team lands four-star defensive line recruit in the 2028 class
The Buckeyes have landed a commitment from defensive lineman Jameer Whyce. According to Rivals, Whyce is the ninth-best overall recruit in the country for the 2028 class. He stands at 6'5 and 270 pounds and is from Trotwood, Ohio.
There's not really any tape out on him yet, but he must be good if the Buckeyes were already pursuing him. Johnson is one of the best to ever do it, so he must've seen something great in him to bring him aboard. He is already a huge kid at just 15 years old, so that's a good start.
It's a little silly to have someone commit three years before he steps foot on a college field, but the Buckeyes will take it for now. There's a chance that he doesn't stay committed for the entire three years, but now Ohio State has the inside edge to keep him.
If NIL rules change in the state of Ohio, maybe it will be easier for the Buckeyes to keep him.