The Buckeyes got a very big recruiting weekend started with a bang — or rather a boom — thanks to the commitment of 2025 defensive lineman London Merritt early Friday evening.
Merritt (6-3 250) is visiting Ohio State this weekend, along with a number of other top prospects from around the nation.
Ranked the No. 10 defensive lineman in the nation per the 247Sports Composite, Merritt transferred to IMG Academy for his upcoming senior season. Merritt committed to Ohio State over offers from Alabama, Michigan, North Carolina, Florida State, Notre Dame, LSU, and many others.
Merritt also took an unofficial visit to Alabama earlier this month.
The Buckeyes now have eight commits in their 2025 recruiting class. Six of those commits are on the defensive side of the ball. London Merritt is now the second defensive lineman in the class, joining Zahir Mathis out of Philadelphia.
Mathis is ranked the No. 5 edge prospect in the nation and the No. 57 prospect overall per the Composite. Merritt is ranked the No. 101 player overall.
Ohio State has verbal commitments from all three levels of the defense, with cornerbacks Na’eem Offord, Devin Sanchez, and Blake Woodby committed, along with Akron linebacker Eli Lee.
The commitments could continue this weekend as four-star Florida linebacker TJ Alford is set to announce his commitment on Saturday. He is choosing between Ohio State, Miami, Florida State, UCF, and Tennessee.
Buckeye Huddle will have more on the commitment of London Merritt, as well as ongoing coverage of the biggest recruiting weekend of the spring so far.
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