Ohio State lost another defensive end from its 2025 class when Bradenton (Fla.) four-star London Merritt (6-3, 250) decommitted from the Buckeyes on Nov. 26.
He pledged his services to Larry Johnson and the Buckeyes on March 29, but since then has been on official visits to North Carolina and most recently Colorado on Oct. 11, which is the favorite to land him at this point.
He is the No. 144 overall prospect in the country and the No. 13 defensive end according to 247Sports composite rankings.
This comes just over a week after Philadelphia Imhotep Institute four-star defensive end Zahir Mathis (6-6, 225) decommitted from Ohio State as well, leaving the Buckeyes with Enterprise, Ala. Four-star edge rusher Zion Grady (6-4, 235), Newberry, Fla., four-star defensive lineman Jarquez Carter (6-2, 284), Philadelphia St. Joseph’s Prep four-star defensive lineman Maxwell Roy (6-3, 285) and Matthews (N.C.) Weddington four-star defensive lineman Trajen Odom (6-4, 285) on the defensive line in the 2025 class.
But the Buckeyes are not done on the defensive line and still hope to land New Orleans Edna Karr five-star defensive lineman Jahkeem Stewart, who reclassified to the 2025 class earlier this fall and plans to enroll early. He is currently deciding between Ohio State, Oregon and LSU, and with early signing period on Dec. 4, he will likely decide soon.
Ohio State is also still going after Penn State commit Warren (Ohio) G Harding four-star defensive end Chaz Coleman (6-5, 225) and UCLA commit Bellflower (Calif.) St. John Bosco four-star defensive end Epi Sitanilei (6-5, 220).
