'The Buckeyes are poised for a flip here' - Ohio State is on the verge of swiping a commit from a prominent SEC program

The Ohio State Buckeyes appear to be on the verge of swiping a commit from a prominent SEC football program. 

Rivals.com national recruiting analyst Greg Smith noted on Wednesday that Ohio State is "poised" to flip 2026 three-star defensive lineman Jamir Perez from the Florida Gators. 

Perez has been committed to Florida since May 18. 

"Perez committed to Florida not too long ago which should make Gators fans rest easier," wrote Smith. "However, he set up an official visit to Ohio State after committing to Florida. He also camped with the Buckeyes this week. Anytime you are going against the Buckeyes for a prospect from Ohio that the defending national champs want, it could spell trouble. The Buckeyes are poised for a flip here."

Perez, 6-foot-4/360 lbs from Cleveland, Oh., is rated in 247Sports' composite rankings as the No. 72 defensive lineman in the nation and the No. 27 player in the state of Ohio. 

Scouting report via 247Sports: Square-built nose that can choke off the A-gap. Measured just over 6-foot-4, 325 pounds spring before senior year and carries the mass well with his thick ankles and thick wrists. Tends to play with a higher pad level, but natural knock-back power frequently gives him an advantage in the middle. Defeates double-teams with a wider base and can steer obstacles towards ball carriers when he clamps down. Lacks the desired range at this stage and isn’t the type of interior force that’s tracking to offer a ton of value as a pass rusher, but a few developmental semesters in the weight room could unlock more first-step and lateral quickness. Should be viewed as a potential anchor at the Power Four level that could fit into both an odd and even front. Might not ever fill the stat sheet, but has a chance to eventually provide valuable minutes on the interior with further physical and technical development.

Perez's recruiting ranking isn't impressive (at least not for an Ohio State target), but he's a player that has the potential to be a solid interior defensive lineman in the Big 10. 

247Sports' Bill Kurelic recently noted that Perez has "good feet" for a player of his size. That's a trait that's likely attractive to the Ohio State coaching staff (huge interior defensive linemen with quick feet are hard to come by).