Three-star linebacker Nicholas Rodriguez includes Ohio State in top six

COLUMBUS — Ohio State needs help on the defensive recruiting trail, but not at linebacker.

The Buckeyes have two commits with four-star prospects Garrett Stover and Payton Pierce.

Defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Jim Knowles and graduate assistant James Laurinaitis, however, aren’t finished just yet.

Three-star Fort Lauderdale (Fla) St. Thomas Aquinas linebacker Nicholas Rodriguez is on the Buckeyes’ radar, and they’re on his after making his top six.

Louisville, LSU, Miami, Tennessee and West Virginia round out the list for the No. 68 linebacker in the On3 Industry Ranking.

Lettermen Row breaks down the Buckeyes’ position and what to expect in the coming weeks. We’ll also take a look at the linebacker board and other targets.

Let’s dive in.

Ohio State Position, Timeline

Ohio State hosted the 6-foot-1, 190-pound prospect for his debut visit on March 25. He made the trip with his teammate and now Ohio State commit, running back Jordan Lyle.

Ohio State linebacker commits Payton Pierce and Garrett Stover were also on campus that weekend.

Lettermen Row sources indicated that the visit couldn’t have gone any better for Rodriguez. He earned an offer at the conclusion of the weekend and has now locked in an official visit.

His official visit is scheduled for June 2-4 and the only commit scheduled on campus for that weekend is four-star Chattanooga (Tenn) Baylor School tight end Max LeBlanc.

With Stover’s proximity to campus, however, it is assumed he will make the drive down to Ohio State.

The schools in that top six are intriguing and of all the schools to watch, pay attention to Miami, Tennessee and Louisville.

Buckeyes Backers Board

Ohio State already has two linebackers committed in the class — that is well-established.

A Lettermen Row source has indicated that the Buckeyes would absolutely take four, but if they only end with three that would be just fine.

So the two in question?

Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa and Edwin Spillman.

Four-star Bellflower (Calif) St. John Bosco linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa was the first 2024 prospect Ohio State offered. Despite the numerous coaching changes from the Buckeyes, his interest has remained the same — high.

Viliamu-Asa has a top three of Ohio State, Notre Dame and USC.

He makes his official visit to Columbus the weekend of June 23-25 — his final scheduled official.

Four-star Nashville (Tenn) Lipscomb Academy linebacker Edwin Spillman also included Ohio State in his top schools’ list. The Buckeyes are competing with Florida State, Georgia, Oklahoma, Tennessee and UAB for his pledge.

Despite the five other programs, there is only one real competitor — Tennessee.

The Volunteers have made a long recruiting effort for the No. 4 Tennessee prospect. They signed his brother, Nate, in the 2023 cycle.

His official visit to Tennessee is the weekend of June 16-18. Ohio State is the weekend before, June 9-11.

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