June has come to a conclusion, and Ohio State’s recruiting efforts could not have gone any better. This month, the Buckeyes acquired eight fresh members to their 2025 class, raising the total to 21 commits for the country’s top recruiting class. Larry Johnson’s most recent addition occurred on Friday, when he grabbed another major name for his unit.
Trajen Odom, a four-star defensive lineman ranked No. 31 DL and No. 284 overall in the 247Sports Composite, made the commitment.
BREAKING: Four-Star DL Trajen Odom has Committed to Ohio State, he tells me for @on3recruits
The 6’5 285 DL from Matthews, NC chose the Buckeyes over USC, Oregon, & Georgia
“Romans 12:12
rockstar modeee!! O-H🌰🌰”https://t.co/mShc9EbRvM pic.twitter.com/OgkFcy6V5w— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) June 28, 2024
The defensive tackle from North Carolina opted for the Buckeyes from a top six that included Colorado, Georgia, Oregon, UCLA, and USC. Standing at 6-foot-4 and 285 pounds, Odom quickly became a key target for Ohio State’s interior line. Johnson initially offered him in January, and after Odom’s first campus visit in March, he returned in May before his official visit on June 7. This visit, along with his relationship with Johnson, convinced him to choose Columbus.
“Being in Columbus, the visit was great,” Odom told Eleven Warriors after his March visit. “The atmosphere and the area were cool. I liked the relationships I built with coach Day, coach Johnson, and the whole defensive staff. […] A big thing is the developmental piece that coach Johnson has put into his players. It’s really a brotherhood and a great relationship between the players and staff.”
Odom’s commitment gives Ohio State four total pledges on the defensive line, joining recent commit Zion Grady, along with Zahir Mathis and London Merritt. The Buckeyes need a strong class at this position, especially with Jack Sawyer and J.T. Tuimoloau likely going pro after this season. Johnson is off to a good start, but more work remains.
A notable prospect still in play is Ohio native Justin Hill, ranked as the No. 7 EDGE and No. 72 overall in this cycle.
The Winton Woods product is crucial for Ohio State. His primary recruiters, James Laurinaitis and Tim Walton, will learn if their efforts have paid off when Hill announces his commitment on July 3.
Elite 2025 EDGE Justin Hill is set to commit on July 3rd 👀
Where Should He Go?👇🏽https://t.co/OP5xtJGw1Z pic.twitter.com/WApUnYyfD8
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) June 30, 2024
While there are no Crystal Ball predictions for Hill on 247Sports, On3 lists Ohio State as the favorite, with all four RPMs in their favor, including one from Steve Wiltfong in early June. Despite being an in-state prospect, Hill is not a guaranteed commit for Ohio State, as they face competition from Alabama, Oregon, and USC, with the Ducks being the primary rival.
Meanwhile, Johnson and his team are also working on Maxwell Roy, who will announce his commitment on Monday afternoon. Roy plays at St. Joseph’s Prep in Pennsylvania, the alma mater of Marvin Harrison Jr. and Kyle McCord, as well as current OSU running back commit Isaiah West. Ranked No. 19 DL and No. 152 overall by 247Sports, Roy has recently received a flurry of Crystal Ball predictions favoring Ohio State over rival Michigan, the original favorite in his recruitment.
While Ohio State has had a strong recruiting month, they did face a setback as defensive back target Dorian Brew committed to Oregon over the Buckeyes. Once considered a near-lock for Ohio State, the No. 5 CB and No. 27 overall prospect chose Eugene instead.
BREAKING: Five-Star CB Dorian Brew has Committed to Oregon, he tells me for @on3recruits
The 6’2 197 CB from Conroe, TX chose the Ducks over Ohio State and Texas
Is ranked as a Top 25 Recruit in ‘25 (per On3)
“Let’s get to work.”https://t.co/iF4Kk5Uo4O pic.twitter.com/VaHejFYxL9
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) June 29, 2024
Despite being a five-star prospect, Brew would have been the No. 3 CB in Ohio State’s class behind fellow five-stars Devin Sanchez (No. 1 CB) and Na’eem Offord (No. 2 CB). Although Tim Walton would have liked to add Brew to the group, Brew preferred to be the clear top choice elsewhere.
Ohio State still boasts a strong defensive backs class with elite corners Sanchez and Offord, and a trio of talented safeties in Faheem Delane, DeShawn Stewart, and Cody Haddad. There are still key safety targets, including five-stars Tre McNutt and Jonah Williams. However, with their top remaining cornerback target off the board, Walton and the staff will need to find additional depth.
Quick Hits
Ohio State running back prospect Shekai Mills-Knight revealed his top eight schools over the weekend, including Alabama, Auburn, Miami, Michigan, Missouri, Ole Miss, and Tennessee. Mills-Knight, the No. 31 RB and No. 13 player from his native state of Tennessee, would be a great addition to a group that already features Bo Jackson and the previously mentioned West. Notably, Mills-Knight was position coach Carlos Locklyn’s first official offer upon his arrival at Ohio State.
Ohio State will also hope to add to its basketball recruiting class on Monday, when four-star shooting guard Dorian Jones is expected to announce his commitment. According to the 247Sports Composite, the Cleveland native is the No. 12 SG and No. 72 overall talent, with options including Ohio State, Michigan, Missouri, and Rutgers.
Commitment Primer: Richmond Heights 2025 guard Dorian Jones set to announce college choice on Monday … Finalists include #OhioState, Rutgers, Michigan and Missouri … He talks each school here https://t.co/oNYanck1cR pic.twitter.com/sX0MuNIby8
— Steve Helwagen (@SteveHelwagen) July 1, 2024
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