Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch-USA TODAY NETWORK

Reported contract for elite Ohio State recruiting target may show why the Buckeyes missed on the five-star

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Brandon Little | Last updated Jul 7, 2025 8:59 AM ET

The Fourth of July was a mixed bag for the Ohio State Buckeyes. The Buckeyes secured a new commitment but also missed out on a top target.

On Independence Day, Ohio State landed a commitment from former Florida pledge, defensive tackle Jamie Perez. The Glenville product flipped his commitment in a move that wasn’t all that surprising — it was something many expected.

However, the Buckeyes came up short in their pursuit of their top target, five-star offensive tackle Felix Ojo. In a surprising decision, Ojo committed to the Texas Tech Red Raiders — and now we may understand why that happened.

According to reports, Felix Ojo received a substantial deal from Texas Tech

In today’s college football recruiting landscape, top recruits are often swayed by financial packages — that’s just the reality. If you want to land the nation’s elite talent, you have to pay up. Texas Tech is reportedly giving Ojo a fully guaranteed three-year, $5.1 million deal.

Five-Star OT Felix Ojo will join Texas Tech on a fully-guaranteed 3-year, 5.1M Deal, per his agent Derrick Shelby of @PrestigeMgmtLLC

It’s believed to be one of the largest guaranteed deals in CFB historyhttps://t.co/p5CYQomCVB pic.twitter.com/Pft40wpRm3
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) July 4, 2025

A decade ago, the idea of deals like this in college football would’ve seemed unthinkable. Ohio State generally doesn’t allocate premium money toward high school offensive tackles. Instead, the Buckeyes prefer to invest in the transfer portal, targeting linemen who already have college experience. Until that approach changes, Ohio State may continue to miss out on some top-tier prospects — because there isn’t always a Paris Johnson Jr. right in your backyard.

That being said, Ohio State’s strategy isn’t without success. Sam Greer and Aaron Thomas, two standout tackles in the 2026 class, are exciting additions the Buckeyes are thrilled about. Missing out on Ojo is certainly a setback — but given the deal he received, it’s also completely understandable.

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

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