Chalk up another big win for Larry Johnson and the Buckeyes as defensive lineman Trajen Odom has just committed to Ohio State, adding to a defensive line haul that could go down as one of Johnson’s best with the Buckeyes.
The 6-foot-4, 285-pounder out of suburban Charlotte (N.C.) picked Ohio State over USC, UCLA and Oregon, among others. Odom was reporting 40-some offers and had his pick of pretty much any destination.
It is no secret that Ohio State has come up short in terms of numbers on the defensive line in the past two classes, but this current class of 2025 is not suffering from the same problem. Defensive linemen have been readily available, and it may be no coincidence with Johnson signing a multi-year extension prior to the 2024 season.
Odom is a consensus four-star according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings and a top-10 player from the Tar Heel State, playing at Weddington high school.
Odom is going to play defensive line, likely as a three-technique or maybe even a five at times, but that remains to be seen. During his junior season at Weddington, Odom racked up 54 tackles, 22 of those for loss, four sacks and a forced fumble, all in just 10 games.
The Buckeyes had Odom on campus at the start of their official visit weekends, so Ryan Day and the Buckeyes had to make a lasting impression that would endure over subsequent visits to Oregon and USC.
Apparently, that was the case as the Buckeyes have come out on top.
Ohio State could get very thin at defensive tackle after this season with the potential departure of Ty Hamilton, Tyleik Williams and Tywone Malone. While we are not sure if all three will leave, a successful 2024 for the Buckeyes could lead to a mass exodus if Ohio State is the last team standing.
We will have more on this exciting commitment including an edition of the Skull Session Recruiting Podcast to explain what the Buckeyes are getting and what this means for the pursuit of others on the line. All of that and more here at BuckeyeHuddle.com.
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