Ohio State has had plenty of success in recruiting Brooklyn (N.Y.) Erasmus Hall in recent years, signing four-star athlete Curtis Samuel in 2014, three-star athlete Jahsen Wint in 2016 and four-star two-way lineman Matthew Jones in 2018.
That trend continue very well continue in the current cycle — albeit in an odd year — as four-star defensive end Jahzion Harris included the Buckeyes in his top five earlier this week alongside LSU, Michigan, Rutgers and Texas A&M.
Here ya go …😏 @RivalsFriedman @Dannylandberg @AggieFootball @LSUfootball @RFootball @UMichFootball @OhioStateFB pic.twitter.com/uhLUU7lS4Y
— Jahzion Harris (@JahzionHarris) April 15, 2020
The 6-4, 215-pound Harris, who is considered the 14th-best defensive end and No. 215 prospect overall in the class of 2021, landed an offer from Ohio State back in April 2018. He attended a summer camp the year prior, where he worked with defensive end coach Larry Johnson, and the Buckeyes’ assistant apparently kept tabs on him up to that point.
Harris returned to Columbus for another camp just a few months later, which would actually turn out to be his most recent visit. He once again spent time with Johnson and then posted some ridiculous testing numbers (including an unofficial 4.6-second 40-yard dash) for someone his size — and would have notably placed Harris among the leaders at his position in the 2020 NFL Combine.
Ohio State already holds three commitments along the defensive line in Pickerington (Ohio) North five-star end Jack Sawyer; Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy four-star end Tunmise Adeleye; and Streetsboro, Ohio, four-star tackle Michael Hall, and the Buckeyes hope to add two more in the trenches this cycle.
But with players like Sammamish (Wash.) Eastside Catholic five-star tackle J.T. Tuimoloau; Belleville, Mich., five-star tackle Damon Payne; Gaithersburg (Md.) Quince Orchard four-star tackle Marcus Bradley; and Oradell (N.J.) Bergen Catholic four-star tackle Tywone Malone ahead of him on the priority chart, Harris is likely to be on the outside looking in if he hopes to make a decision any time soon.
The Scarlet Knights and Wolverines would be the biggest beneficiaries of an accelerated timeline, meanwhile, as the Aggies and Tigers face a similar numbers game as the Buckeyes.
For four free issues of the now-monthly print edition of Buckeye Sports Bulletin, sign up at the link below. No credit card required: https://www.buckeyesports.com/subscribe-4issue-trial/
