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Ohio State Buckeyes make major move with an elite five-star defender who just pulled his commitment from a Big Ten opponent

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Brandon Little | Last updated May 15, 2025 10:18 AM ET

The Ohio State Buckeyes recently missed out on No. 1 overall recruit OT Jackson Cantwell — a development that had been expected for some time.

At this point in the 2026 recruiting cycle, the Buckeyes have two five-star commits in their No. 3-ranked recruiting class, according to 247Sports.

Big Ten foe USC currently holds the No. 1 recruiting class in the country, thanks in part to already having 27 commitments. However, the Trojans just lost an elite recruit — one that Ohio State is now pursuing.

Ohio State to Host Five-Star LB Xavier Griffin for Official Visit

USC suffered a significant loss on Wednesday when Gainesville (GA) linebacker Xavier Griffin decommitted and reopened his recruitment. The 6-foot-3, 200-pound linebacker has scheduled multiple official visits, including one to Columbus on May 30. He will also visit Alabama, Texas, and Florida State following his trip to Ohio State.

NEWS: Five-Star LB Xavier Griffin has locked in 4 Official Visits

His schedule is as follows:

• Ohio State - May 30
• Alabama - June 6
• Texas - June 13
• Florida State - June 15

The No. 2 LB in the ‘26 Class decommitted from USC moments agohttps://t.co/lpmmbnDvOy pic.twitter.com/wfv44qvzhE
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) May 14, 2025

Griffin is ranked as the No. 2 linebacker in the country and the No. 22 overall player, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings. So far, Ohio State has one linebacker committed in this class — three-star prospect C.J. Sanna, who hails from the Columbus area. Griffin and five-star linebacker Tyler Atkinson are the top two linebacker targets for the Buckeyes. Both are from Georgia and are highly coveted by the home-state Bulldogs.

Linebackers coach James Laurinaitis has done an excellent job early in his tenure, both on the field and on the recruiting trail. Landing T.J. Alford and Riley Pettijohn in the previous class was a big win for Ohio State.

Getting Griffin on campus is a major step for the Buckeyes, especially with the former USC commit now back on the market. This visit could prove pivotal in the recruitment of a player who would be a tremendous addition to Ohio State’s 2026 class.

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

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