Post-June Ohio State recruiting stock report: defense

June visits and camps are over for Ohio State and while the Buckeyes will host a number of prospects in late July, just ahead of camp kicking off, the heavy lifting is done when it comes to summer recruiting for the Buckeyes.

With most of the summer visits in the books and the staff starting to prepare for the season ahead, it’s time to take a look at the 2025 recruiting board to see where stock is up, stock is down, and stock is unchanged for Ohio State on the trail.

Today, we feature the defense, and earlier this week we took a look at the offense. The last stock reports we did in April for offense can be found HERE and for defense HERE.

Ohio State recruiting stock report: defense

Ohio State’s number one overall ranked recruiting class currently has 23 commitments, with 13 of them coming on the defensive side of the ball. The players currently committed are DE Zahir Mathis, DE Zion Grady, DE London Merritt, DT Trajen Odom, DT Maxwell Roy, LB Tarvos Alford, LB Eli Lee, LB Riley Pettijohn, CB Devin Sanchez, CB Na’eem Offord, S DeShawn Stewart, S Cody Haddad, and S Faheem Delane.

The Buckeyes will look to add another three or four prospects to that group, hoping to add another defensive tackle, another cornerback, and another safety, with another defensive end possible.

Below is a look at where Ohio State’s stock is with each remaining target on the defensive side of the ball following a busy month of June recruiting visits.

DL Damien Shanklin: Shanklin just committed to LSU but the Buckeyes won’t stop communication here. I am not seeing this as a “likely” flip, but I think there could be an opportunity to continue to work this one and see where it goes. Obviously the pledge to the Tigers wasn’t ideal here, and it’s not going to be an easy flip. Stock Down

DL Mariyon Dye: Dye just pledged to Tennessee, which is a big turn from having Ohio State as the favorite back in the spring and even after the official visit. Landing Zion Grady probably hurt OSU here, but contact between the two parties should continue. We’ll see where it goes. Stock Down

DL Darrion Smith: This has been a very quiet recruitment since Ohio State was named as a top two school, along with Tennessee, back in April. Hometown Maryland has creeped into this one and I’ve gotten the sense the Buckeyes haven’t really pushed here. An official visit may supposedly happen in the fall, so that is something I would watch for. Stock Down

DL Brandon Caesar: Weird, weird, weird recruitment. It almost seems like Caesar has been disinterested in his future in college football at times, and Ohio State has completely fallen off the radar here. It looks like Tennessee, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Minnesota have the most traction here right now. Stock Down

DT Malik Autry: Autry made a May visit and followed with an official visit to campus in June. Landing his good buddy Grady has helped Ohio State as well in their pursuit of a flip from Auburn. Autry grew up in the Tigers’ backyard and is a lifelong fan of the program, so this one won’t be easy. Florida and UCF are also involved here, but OSU has the best shot of a flip. A return visit for “The Game” is in the cards. Stock Up

DT Jarquez Carter: This recruitment has flown under the radar, but there are some that believe it will be Ohio State or Penn State for the Florida-native. Florida, Miami and UCF are also in play here, and there’s always a shot Carter stays in state. I’m not sure it will be Ohio State come July 18, which is decision day, but they’re certainly in this thing, and even more so than they were a couple months back after a strong official visit in mid-June. Stock Up

EDGE Justin Hill: It was long thought that Hill would land at Ohio State, but a the home state team took a punch to the gut last week when Alabama landed the commitment. The Buckeyes won’t let up here, though, and will work throughout the fall to convince Hill that they can use his skillset most effectively. Stock Down

LB Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng: It was a stock up moment to get NOB to take an official, as he wasn’t even on this report in late April. That said, it looks like Riley Pettijohn took his spot in the class. Even without a Pettijohn pledge, I had OSU no better than third here. Stock Down

LB Jaedon Harmon: Although Ohio State is “full” at linebacker with the addition of Pettijohn, I think they would stretch themselves and take Harmon should the Bama pledge want to flip. Ohio State is the only other program he took an official visit to, and the Buckeyes would be the destination if Harmon shook things up. I’m not counting on it, but getting an official visit was a nice step forward. Stock Up

CB Dorian Brew: Another shocker from an Ohio kid (living in Texas), as Brew pledged to Oregon. Sources think this one may not be completely over and you better believe Ohio State will stay in touch here as they look at add another corner to this class. Stock Down

S Trey McNutt: What was once thought to be a formality for Ohio State has completely changed. It seems McNutt wants to “forge his own path” and Oregon is looking like the favorites in this recruitment. The Buckeyes didn’t even get an official visit in June, although that may be for the best, as if they can get him on campus in season, it might go further in efforts to sign him come December. The longer this recruitment drags on, the better for OSU. Stock Down

S Messiah Delhomme: It looked like Delhomme may get squeezed out of the class in April, but after a strong official visit, I think he is a taker, especially with McNutt possibly going elsewhere. A decision is expected in August, and right now this is Ohio State against hometown Virginia Tech. Stock Up

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