Ohio State added pledges over the weekend from three highly-touted prospects, and the Buckeyes now hold the third-ranked class in 2025 as it heads into an important stretch on the recruiting calendar.
The Buckeyes added commitments from Vero Beach, Fla., four-star linebacker Tarvos Alford (6-2, 210), Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy four-star defensive lineman London Merritt (6-3, 250) and Wayne (N.J.) DePaul Catholic four-star wide receiver De’Zie Jones (6-0, 180) on Friday and Saturday, bringing them to 10 total pledges in 2025, with seven on the defensive side of the ball.
Ohio State – with 222.15 points, according to the 247Sports composite rankings – trails only No. 2 LSU (226.01) and No. 1 Notre Dame (251.61), with No. 4 Clemson (216.90) and No. 5 Penn State (177.83) rounding out the top five, though Ohio State has at least one fewer pledge than each of those schools. Furthermore, the Buckeyes are one of just three schools – along with LSU and USC – to have multiple five-star prospects committed.
And while Ohio State may not hold the edge in overall rankings, it does lead in average player rating, topping the nation at .9558, with USC the next-closest at .9457. Helping to raise that rating are the aformentioned five-star prospects in Houston North Shore cornerback Devin Sanchez (6-2, 170) and Birmingham (Ala.) Parker cornerback Na’eem Offord (6-1, 185), both of whom are top-10 prospects.
