Closer Look: Much To Like About Defensive End Zion Grady

In November of 2023, Zion Grady committed to Alabama. Two months later, he took an unofficial visit to Auburn and decommitted from the Crimson Tide. In the 2024 spring/summer window, Grady took five official visits: Miami, Florida State, Auburn, Tennessee, and Ohio State. The visit to Columbus was his final official visit. Three days after that trip, he committed to the Buckeyes. Ohio State then had to fend off Auburn as signing day approached in December.

Grady posted 70 tackles, 28 tackles for loss, and 14 sacks as a senior at Enterprise High School in Enterprise, Alabama. He earned First-Team All-State honors his final three years in high school. Grady was ranked the No. 9 edge rusher in the 2025 recruiting class and the No. 81 player overall per the 247Sports Composite.

What To Like

Listed by Ohio State at 6-foot-4 and 246 pounds, Zion Grady has good size for a freshman defensive end. Strength coach Mickey Marotti has already had him add more weight and strength to prepare him for college offensive linemen. Grady has good length and covers ground easily.

In the clips below, you can see him chasing the ball all over the entire field. Grady also lines up as a quasi-middle linebacker in the clips below and attacks the line of scrimmage as a blitzer. He gets from point A to B quickly, but can then also easily transition to point C. He is also effective on special teams as a rusher.

Here's a look at Zion Grady's overall athleticism. pic.twitter.com/GQ66wl1xBW
— Tony Gerdeman (@TonyGerdeman) April 24, 2025

The Potential

If you’re going to be a defensive end, you’ve got to be able to rush the passer. The good news for the Buckeyes is that this has always been Zion Grady’s specialty. Seen by many in the SEC as an odd-front rush linebacker, Grady has plenty of experience in a four-man front as well, which is what Ohio State employs.

As seen in the clips below, Grady will line up on both sides of the defensive line of scrimmage. When he is aligned to the strength of the offense, he willingly attacks the the tight end, the offensive tackle, and any running back that is waiting in the wings. He brings a relentless desire to get to the quarterback

The Buckeyes likely won't need much pass rushing help from true freshman Zion Grady, but as a senior, he showed he was one of the top pass rushers in the 2025 class. pic.twitter.com/PlwyeQXWpo
— Tony Gerdeman (@TonyGerdeman) April 24, 2025

The Expectation

The Buckeyes brought in a pair of defensive ends from the transfer portal who will immediately help round out the top five on the depth chart. The top five defensive ends are all fourth-year players. The Buckeyes also return redshirt sophomore Joshua Mickens and redshirt freshman Dominic Kirks. As such, there isn’t much need for a true freshman pass rusher.

Still, defensive line coach Larry Johnson would like to get Zion Grady some reps this season, but only in advantageous passing situations. Ohio State won’t hold him back from making a contribution, but they’re not going to ask more of him than he’s capable of giving. Next season, however, the Buckeyes are likely to need some of their younger pass rushers to get involved. That’s the more likely spot for Grady to make some noise.

The clips below, however, show a player with a solid understanding of his job and an ability to play under control. Those are good traits for a young player to have if he is going to see the field early in his career.

Zion Grady was a disciplined defender in high school. He is athletic but also under control, often making life difficult for the QBs trying to read him. pic.twitter.com/czdoXhZkb8
— Tony Gerdeman (@TonyGerdeman) April 24, 2025

The Bottom Line

The bottom line for Zion Grady is that he’s going to spend his freshman season learning how to be a complete defensive end. While the desire early on will be to get him on the field in some pass-rushing situations, in the clips below he shows a high comfort level defending the run.

The goal for Grady is to be a three-down player for the Buckeyes, but it won’t have to be this year. Next year, however, he will have an opportunity to move into a rotational role for the defense.

Zion Grady wasn't just a pass rusher in high school. He was also pretty good against the run. pic.twitter.com/E8DcFtewdf
— Tony Gerdeman (@TonyGerdeman) April 24, 2025

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