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Ohio State Buckeyes are going to have to beat out Jim Knowles’ new team and another Big Ten rival for a major recruiting target

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Brandon Little | Last updated May 26, 2025 12:33 PM ET

The Ohio State Buckeyes are off to a strong start with their 2026 recruiting class, and the next two months will be pivotal in shaping how the class ultimately looks.

According to 247Sports, the Buckeyes currently hold the No. 3-ranked class in the country, with 13 commitments. Several key official visits are scheduled between next weekend and the end of June. We are entering commitment season as players often like to make decisions before their senior seasons begin.

Ohio State remains firmly in the mix for a highly talented defensive lineman, but they’ll need to beat out both Penn State and Michigan to land him.

Ohio State Buckeyes Make Final Four for DL Damari Simeon

Four-star defensive lineman Damari Simeon of St. Augustine Prep (NJ) announced his final four schools: Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan, and Texas.

Where’s home…? #Top4 @HermitsFootball pic.twitter.com/dCdGYoVaUU
— Damari Simeon (@Damari_Simeon) May 22, 2025

Simeon is ranked as the No. 26 defensive lineman and No. 201 overall player in the 2026 class, according to the 247Sports Composite. The 6-foot-3, 275-pound prospect is scheduled to take his official visit to Columbus on June 20. Notably, Ohio State will host his final official visit, which could play in their favor.

The Buckeyes entered Simeon’s recruitment in February when they extended an offer, and they’ve maintained consistent communication since. Ohio State currently has no defensive line commitments in the 2026 class. Of the 13 total commitments, only one player is from the defensive front seven: three-star linebacker CJ Sanna.

Ohio State is firmly in contention for Simeon, who could become a key piece of their defensive class in 2026. Larry Johnson has had good results with interior defensive linemen as of late and Tyleik Williams and Ty Hamilton were the latest examples of that in the NFL draft.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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