Ohio State Football Recruiting Roundup: Latest news on Buckeye targets

The Ohio State football team has had yet another busy week off the field. Between finalizing the coaching staff, and hitting the recruiting trail, there is virtually no downtime for coaches and staff alike. But the Buckeyes have made some progress with some 2025 recruits over the past few weeks. Here is the latest:

Ohio State football makes the final list for coveted linebacker

James Laurinaitis has wasted no time on the recruiting front as he is squarely in the mix for a number of top 2025 linebackers. At the top of that list is four-star Texas native Riley Pettijohn, who currently ranks as the No. 33 player in the nation according to 247Sports.

Laurinaitis and this Buckeye staff have clearly found an area to exploit, as recruiting Texas linebackers has become a norm in Columbus following Payton Pierce's commitment in 2024, and offers extended in 25' to Pettijohn and Elijah Barnes, who is also a top target for Ohio State.

Pettijohn will decide between the Buckeyes, Texas, Georgia, Florida State, Texas A&M, and USC. Of the six schools, Texas is seen as the favorite. But with Laurinaitis getting the full-time gig earlier this week for Ohio State, let's see if he can work some magic to close out his recruitment.

Buckeyes looking for more defensive linemen

Larry Johnson was only able to get three commitments for the defensive line in 2024, making the 2025 class all that more important. And with only one lineman verbally committed (Zahir Mathis), Johnson has to get going and get some more commitments.

A player near the top of Johnson's wish list is four-star defensive tackle Maxwell Roy, of St Joe's Prep outside of Philadelphia. Yes, the same high school where Marvin Harrison Jr. and Kyle McCord came from. Maxwell recently came out with a top-six that included Ohio State with Duke, Michigan, Oregon, Rutgers, and Wisconsin. Hopefully, Johnson can lad Roy, who is currently ascending up the recruiting rankings.

Larry Johnson is also trying to lock down another four-star defensive tackle in Jarquez Carter, who is scheduled to visit Columbus on March 28th. This will be the Newberry, Florida native's second trip to Columbus, following the Minnesota game last November. All indications are that with a good visit in March, Carter could be an Ohio State commit by the summer.

Latest on running back recruiting

Ohio State and running backs coach Tony Alford will be looking to add two commits for 20205, due to the fact of some likely attrition in the room come next offseason. Two in-state targets are at the top of that list in four-star Cleveland native Bo Jackson and four-star Cleveland Heights native Marquise Davis.

But the top overall running back in the class, Jordon Davison, of Santa Anna, California, will be making a visit to Ohio State in March. He had this to say last June to Eleven Warriors, confirming his high interest in playing for the Buckeyes:

"“I was actually an Ohio State fan growing up,” Davison said in June after attending an OSU recruiting camp. “So I always knew about the big tradition of the running backs at OSU. I know a lot about (OSU running backs) coach Tony Alford, he’s been here for nine years and with all the backs he’s developed, it shows.”"

- Jordon Davison

Hopefully, Alford can keep Davison's interest high following this visit. The need for two backs in this class is high and pairing him with one of the Cleveland backs would be ideal.