Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day. Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Ohio State loses commitment from four-star EDGE

By Andrew Kulha | Last updated Nov 18, 2024 9:48 PM ET

From Philadelphia, four-star EDGE Zahir Mathis just feels like he's a recruit who should end up at Penn State. That's why there was undoubtedly disappointment in Happy Valley when Mathis committed to Ohio State in January of 2024.

Now, nearly a year later, there is hope once again for the Nittany Lions. Mathis announced on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, that he's decommiting from Ohio State.

After much consideration I’ve decided to reopen my recruitment and decommit from Ohio State. I appreciate Coach Day, Coach Johnson and all the coaches at Ohio State. They are still a top school for me. This is a life decision. Please respect my decision!
— Zahir Mathis (@ZahirMathis5) November 18, 2024

The only school outside of Ohio State that Mathis had officially visited was Penn State. He also visited unofficially in late July for a recruiting event, so the Nittany Lions are undoubtedly one of the top schools to keep an eye out for in Mathis' recruitment moving forward.

That said, he clearly didn't rule out coming back to Ohio State, and at the time of his original commitment, Florida State, Tennessee, Texas and South Carolina were amongst his favorite programs.

It's open to everyone," a source told 247Sports regarding Mathis' recruitment.

At this juncture, it's anyone's game, but Penn State is certainly going to push hard to keep the No. 3 player in Pennsylvania in the state. According to the 247Sports Composite, he's also ranked as the No. 6 EDGE in the country.

Andrew Kulha

Andrew Kulha is probably the only sports writer you know who also doubles as a mortician. Spooky! @KulhaSports

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