Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Ohio State Buckeyes dealt some rough news at the hands of an unexpected college football program on Independence Day

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Brandon Little | Last updated Jul 4, 2025 4:57 PM ET

Ohio State picked up a key commitment on the Fourth of July by flipping 2026 defensive tackle Jamir Perez from the Florida Gators.

Perez, who plays at Glenville High School in the Cleveland area, continues a strong pipeline from the historic program to Columbus. He becomes the 21st commitment in Ohio State’s 2026 class, which has seen significant momentum over the past month.

However, it wasn’t all fireworks for the Buckeyes.

In a stunning twist, elite five-star offensive tackle Felix Ojo committed to Texas Tech, passing on both Ohio State and Texas—long considered the frontrunners.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Hayes Fawcett (@hayesfawcett3)

College football recruiting has reached a point where few decisions come as true surprises—but this one did. Until Thursday night, the race for Lake Ridge (TX) star Felix Ojo seemed to be a two-team battle between the Buckeyes and Longhorns, with Texas viewed as the favorite. Instead, Ojo chose to stay home and commit to Texas Tech, in a decision that highlights the dynamics of recruiting in the NIL era.

Ohio State misses out on the No. 2 offensive tackle and No. 7 overall player in the 2026 class, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings.

Despite the loss, the Buckeyes remain strong at the position group, with four-star offensive linemen Sam Greer and Aaron Thomas already committed—and both are highly regarded by the coaching staff. Still, missing on a player of Ojo’s caliber stings, even on a day of celebration.

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

More must-reads: