Recruiting: Two Ohio State Defensive End Targets Commit To Alabama, LSU

After a streak of success in the recruiting cycle, Ohio State missed out on a couple of defensive line prospects in the 2025 class in the past few days.

Cincinnati Winton Woods four-star defensive end Justin Hill (6-3, 220) committed to Alabama on July 3 and Indianapolis Warren Central four-star defensive end Damien Shanklin (6-4, 230) committed to LSU on July 5.

BREAKING: Four-Star EDGE Damien Shanklin has Committed to LSU, he tells me for @on3recruits

The 6’4 252 EDGE from Indianapolis, IN chose the Tigers over Ohio State & Alabama

“I’M HOME DEATH VALLEY!”https://t.co/z0JEZAOiSv pic.twitter.com/zTRK6qeSRj

— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) July 5, 2024

Justin Hill commits to Alabama. ⁦@WCPO⁩ pic.twitter.com/4thiz03r3b

— Mike Dyer (@MikeDyer) July 3, 2024

Hill and Shanklin were two high-priority targets for Ohio State, but with five defensive linemen already committed in the 2025 class, it won’t hurt the Buckeyes too much to miss on a few.

So far the Buckeyes have Enterprise, Ala., four-star defensive end Zion Grady (6-4, 235), Philadelphia Imhotep Institute four-star defensive end Zahir Mathis (6-6, 225), and interior defensive linemen Bradenton (Fla.) four-star London Merritt (6-3, 250), Philadelphia St. Joseph’s Prep four-star Maxwell Roy (6-3, 285) and Matthews (N.C.) Weddington four-star Trajen Odom (6-4, 285) committed in the class.

They are still targeting Auburn commit Opelika, Ala., four-star Malik Autry (6-6, 320) and Newberry, Fla., three-star Jarquez Carter (6-2, 284).