Ohio State suffered a loss on the recruiting trail Monday, as Chicago Kenwood Academy four-star defensive end Marquise Lightfoot (6-5, 220) announced his commitment to Miami (Fla.) over the Buckeyes.
Lightfoot is the No. 67 overall prospect and sixth-ranked defensive end in the class, and he chose the Hurricanes over Alabama, Georgia, Illinois, Ohio State and USC. He took his official visit to Ohio State from June 9-11 and also visited Columbus in the spring, but his official visit to Miami (Fla.) in late June evidently turned the tides in his recruitment.
He posted 122 tackles (15 for loss) with nine sacks and a forced fumble last season for Kenwood Academy. Lightfoot lined up as both a traditional defensive end and also operated as a stand-up pass rusher, and he is also a two-way player, lining up at tight end on offense.
Lightfoot would have been the second commitment on the defensive line in as many days for Ohio State, as the Buckeyes added a verbal pledge on Sunday from Chicago St. Ignatius five-star defensive lineman Justin Scott (6-4, 310).
Despite the loss of Lightfoot, Ohio State is still trending for Washington (D.C.) Friendship Collegiate Academy five-star defensive end Dylan Stewart (6-5, 235) and is considered a favorite for Buford, Ga., five-star defensive lineman Eddrick Houston (6-3, 255), who will announce his commitment on Aug. 22.
