The Ohio State football team won't give up trying to flip this recruit

The Ohio State football team has done a great job on the recruiting trail. They have the best class in the country for the 2025 cycle. It should keep getting better too because there are some five-star recruits that they have their eyes on as well. They should get at least one of them.

Still, the Buckeyes were disappointed to lose out on Justin Hill. Hill is a four-star defensive lineman from Cincinnati. He decided on Wednesday to go to Alabama instead of Ohio State. Even though the Ohio State football team has five defensive linemen already in this recruiting class, they still really want Hill.

The big reason for that is because they think he could play the "Jack" position for them. He has great skills both down as a defensive end and as a linebacker in coverage. He's the perfect hybrid player. That's what that "Jack" position is supposed to be about.

The issue for the Buckeyes is that Jim Knowles abandoned the "Jack" position after this first year as DC. He had Jack Sawyer in that spot but moved him back to defensive end. They don't have any film to show Hill how he would fit in as a player in the "Jack" position.

Ultimately, that's why Hill decided to go with Alabama. They have a clear plan for him while the Buckeyes do not. Knowles would like to go back to the "Jack" position being clear in his defense once Larry Johnson retires, but it's unclear when that will actually be.

Ohio State is not giving up on Hill. They are going to try to flip him until Signing Day. They very much like his potential. Whether or not they will be able to actually do it is another story. They have a few months to accomplish this feat.