Ohio State’s top-ranked recruiting class soared in June. Are there more big wins to come?

June was a near-perfect month for Ohio State as it continued its tremendous recruiting momentum through the end of the official visits.

The Buckeyes took over the No. 1 spot in the 247Sports Composite and never slowed down. Ohio State has 19 commitments in the class of 2025, the latest of which was four-star top-100 edge prospect Zion Grady on Monday. The class’s total composite score is 297.68, which is already higher than the final classes of 2024 and 2023, with fewer commitments. In 2024, Ohio State finished fifth nationally with 23 signees and a score of 289.10. In 2023, Ohio State had 21 signees and a 290.72 rating.

That’s just additional context for how good the class of 2025 is. And it’s not done yet, with 10 top 100 commitments and counting. The rest of the summer will include some key recruiting decisions that could cement Ohio State as the top-ranked class come December.

Let’s look back at what happened in June and what could be next.

New additions this month

• S Faheem Delane: Four stars, No. 34 overall and No. 2 safety
• WR Quincy Porter: four-star, No. 49 overall and No. 8 wide receiver
• Edge Zion Grady: four-star, No. 66 overall and No. 6 edge rusher
• RB Bo Jackson: four-star, No. 81 overall and No. 5 running back
• RB Isaiah West: three stars, No. 529 overall and No. 45 running back
• WR Bodpegn Miller: three-star, No. 575 overall and No. 90 wide receiver
• OL Jake Cook: three-star, No. 619 overall and No. 39 offensive lineman inside

Biggest position upgrade: Running back

Running backs were a necessity in this class, and the position coach change came at such a crucial time when Tony Alford left for Michigan during spring training. New coach Carlos Locklyn entered his first June at Ohio State without any commitments and needed at least two to feel comfortable about the future. He got exactly that.

His first win was a major victory with Bo Jackson on June 4. The four-star Cleveland native is a potential Day 1 impact player that Locklyn needed to bring in. He had a relationship with Jackson from the time he recruited him to Oregon. Combine that with head coach Ryan Day’s consistency in recruiting Jackson, and the Buckeyes were able to secure the No. 5 seed in the state.

Shortly after Jackson’s decision, West, a three-star, also committed. He comes from Philadelphia powerhouse St. Joe’s Prep – which is also the alma mater of defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, Biletnikoff Award winner Marvin Harrison Jr. and former quarterback Kyle McCord – and Ohio State believes he has plenty of upside.

Getting Jackson and West is a huge win for Locklyn this month. Ohio State should enter the 2025 season with four running backs on scholarship, leaving room for one more if the coaching staff wants to enter the transfer portal next winter.

Emergency position: attack line

The biggest need in the 2025 cycle was always going to be on the offensive line, and Justin Frye got off to a good start with offensive tackle Carter Lowe. Lowe, from Toledo’s Whitmer High School, is a four-star prospect and the No. 7 tackle in the class. Ohio State needed him, and Frye did a good job getting him. But Frye’s shortcomings in recruiting aren’t about talented local players. It was out-of-state recruiting.

Over the past three cycles, Ohio State has received commitments from 10 offensive linemen, seven of which were from Ohio. To Frye’s credit, they were among the best players in the state. But to build a strong and deep offensive line, the Buckeyes must also recruit well nationally. The top non-Ohio signee under Frye was 2024 four-star Ian Moore, an Indiana prospect ranked No. 182 nationally.

The goal of this cycle was to add more depth and talent. The Buckeyes have lost several key targets, including four-stars Micah Debose and Jackson Lloyd, who committed to Alabama this month. The biggest name and perhaps most important free agent on Ohio State’s board is David Sanders Jr., the top tackle in the class and a top five prospect overall from Charlotte. The Buckeyes are fighting for him against Tennessee, Clemson and others.

Frye did receive a commitment on Sunday from Jake Cook, who was offered a scholarship this summer. Once the Westerville native knew this was coming, he left Louisville and committed to Ohio State during his official visit.

Cook is a developmental player who has some upside as an interior lineman. He’s a solid addition, but there’s little doubt that Frye has more work to do this summer.

Goals to watch

Malik Autry: Four-star, No. 180 and No. 21 defensive lineman

The Auburn commitment is an interesting prospect. He is a four-star prospect ranked No. 180 in the 247Sports Composite, but his ratings vary by recruiting site. He is a top-30 player with a five-star rating at 247Sports, but is ranked No. 157 on Rivals and just a three-star at On3. Regardless of his ranking, Ohio State is working hard to oust Autry from Auburn. He visited last weekend and was joined by fellow Alabama native Zion Grady, who is committed to the Buckeyes.

Justin Hill: Four-star, No. 72 overall and No. 7 edge rusher

The Cincinnati native is expected to announce his decision on July 3. If he chooses Ohio State, he would give the Buckeyes three of the top 10 edge rushers in the country. A win for Ohio State would also earn commitments from four of the top five players in the state and another top-100 prospect to add to the top class.

Marion Dye: Four-star, No. 150 overall and No. 14 edge rusher

Ohio State has room for a lot of defensive linemen, and Dye is also one to keep an eye on. The No. 3 prospect in Indiana visited the weekend of June 14, and Ohio State is battling Big Ten foes Michigan and Purdue, plus Tennessee, for Dye. He has not set a fixed date.

David Sanders Jr.: Five-star, No. 2 overall and No. 1 offensive tackle

No commitment date has been set for Sanders, but this is the biggest recruitment to watch right now. If Ohio State lands Sanders, Frye will have shut down all talk about his recruiting woes.

Jordon Davison: Four-star, No. 96 and No. 6 running back

Davison visited powerhouse Mater Dei in California last weekend and has not set a firm date. I’m not sure the Buckeyes need three running backs in this class. As I said above, I think it’s best to enter 2025 with four young running backs and take an experienced running back out of the portal to get to five. Still, Davison is considering Ohio State, along with rival Michigan, Oregon and Alabama.

Riley Pettijohn: Four-star, No. 31 overall and No. 4 linebacker

Ohio State already has two linebacker commitments, but it could use three in the event it loses both Sonny Styles and Cody Simon after this season. Pettijohn is a talented player from Texas and visited Ohio State on May 31. Ohio State is trying to pull him away from Texas and Texas A&M in the state. He has not set a fixed date.

Vernell Brown III: Four-star, No. 39 overall and No. 6 wide receiver:

Brown would be the perfect addition to an extremely talented receiving corps at Ohio State. He visited in May with the top receiver, Dakorien Moore. The Florida native is being heavily recruited by Florida and Miami, who don’t want another elite receiver coming to Columbus. He hasn’t set a firm date, but he would be a strong addition to the class if he chooses the Buckeyes.

(Top photo of Ryan Day: Ben Jackson / Getty Images)