Ohio State is deep in the weeds of official visit season, and these last two weekends have both proved fruitful with the Buckeyes landing a pair of major commitments amid hosting dozens of the nation’s top players. After adding a massive in-state target last week in running back Bo Jackson following his OV, Ryan Day’s group once again made the most of their time on campus with the players with yet another huge addition — this time on defense.
On Sunday, four-star 2025 safety Faheem Delane announced this commitment to Ohio State. The elite defensive back out of Maryland chose the Buckeyes over Oregon and LSU, as the nation’s No. 2 safety and No. 34 player nationally, per the 247Sports Composite, joins a loaded cycle for secondary coaches Tim Walton and Matt Guerrieri. DeShawn Stewart and Cody Haddad, as well as the continued pursuit of No. 1 safety Trey McNutt, an Ohio native.
Quick Hits
It isn’t just prime recruiting season for Ohio State football. Jake Diebler’s group was also busy over the weekend, sending out a new offer to 2025 shooting guard Kiyan Anthony. The son of NBA legend Carmelo Anthony, Kiyan currently ranks as the No. 4 SG and No. 38 player nationally per the 247Sports Composite. He is the top player from his home state of New York. With another list of double-digit official visitors on hand this weekend, names to keep an eye from this group include four-star defensive end Damien Shanklin and four-star defensive tackle Trajen Odom. The Buckeyes will need a big haul along the defensive line in this class, and while they are off to a great start with a pair of top-150 commits in Zahir Mathis and London Merritt, there is still work to be done.
Odom, the No. 31 DL and No. 283 player nationally per the 247Sports Composite, received a Crystal Ball to Ohio State a little over a week ago. Shanklin, the No. 11 EDGE and No. 114 player nationally, seems to be currently leaning towards LSU. The Buckeyes appear to have a lead for Odom, though that is no guarantee, but will need to do a bit more to lure the Indiana native Shanklin to Columbus. Defensive line coach Larry Johnson would love to add one or both to his room in this cycle.
