North Carolina Star Keysaun Eleazer Rising Up Recruiting Boards

RALEIGH, N.C. — Ohio State is looking to add pass rushers to its 2026 recruiting class and Raleigh (NC) Southeast product Keysaun Eleazer is becoming a key focal point of that search. The 6-foot-6, 200-pound prospect has been one of the fastest rising names in the recruiting world over the past few months.

“It’s definitely been exciting,” Eleazer told BuckeyeHuddle.com of his rise up recruiting boards. “January was a big point in my recruitment. I think I picked up more than 20 offers in January.”

Ohio State offered Eleazer back in November, before the big rush, and as always it’s Larry Johnson leading the way for the Buckeyes in the pursuit of the talented pass rusher.

“For him being a very well known defensive line coach, I feel like he’s very old fashioned and down to earth,” Eleazer started. “He came up here the other day and I feel like we’ve had good conversations and have built a good relationship through our text messages and phone calls.”

Eleazer visited for the Indiana game during the season and will make his return to Columbus next month when the Buckeyes host him for an official visit the weekend of June 13th. That will be an important recruiting weekend for Ohio State and a chance for Eleazer to see if Columbus is the right fit for him.

“I want to see the developmental plan for me,” Eleazer said. “I also want to continue to develop relationships throughout the whole staff, as they have a new DC. I want to see the educational aspects of my major (sports medicine).”

Also helping the cause here for Ohio State is that Eleazer grew up watching the program and following the results that Larry Johnson’s defensive lines have produced.

“I’ve only been up there once, but I definitely have watched them a lot growing up,” he explained. “I’ve seen their D-Linemen, and a lot of guys at other positions, thrive and go to The League. Personally, I know one of their d-linemen, Trajen Odom. He’s from Raleigh and played on the same youth team as me. It’s a school that I’ve always liked and was in my top five before I even got to high school.”

Hear more from our sit down with the big-time edge rusher on our Southern Swing recruiting tour.