2025 LB Eli Lee commits to Ohio State Buckeyes

Akron (Ohio) Archbishop Hoban 2025 three-star linebacker Eli Lee has announced his commitment to the Ohio State Buckeyes.

The 6-foot-3, 215-pound Lee visited Ohio State for its 20-12 win over Penn State after being offered by the Buckeyes in early October.

“It was awesome and I was so excited,” Lee told Lettermen Row about his offer. “I was super happy and I just didn’t even really know what to think. I was just smiling and laughing.

“It’s an honor, I’m very blessed that [Ohio State] is interested in me and gave me the offer. It’s really crazy to think about.”

Lee is the nation’s No. 469 overall prospect and No. 46 linebacker in the 2025 cycle according to the On3 Industry Ranking — a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He is also the No. 10 player in Ohio.

Lee does not currently have a publicly listed On3 NIL Valuation. The On3 NIL Valuation is the industry’s leading index that sets high school and college athletes’ projected annual value (PAV). The NIL valuation does not act as a tracker of the value of NIL deals an athlete has completed to date. It rather signifies an athlete’s value at a certain moment in time.

Ohio State has put together an impressive 2024 class ranking No. 2 nationally in the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings.

But despite the focus on the home stretch of the current cycle, it’s not too early for schools to look to the future. Ohio State has already received commitments from three other prospects in the 2025 cycle: Bellefontaine (Ohio) No. 2 quarterback Tavien St. Clair, Baltimore St. Frances Academy four-star cornerback Blake Woodby and Cocoa (Fla.) four-star wide receiver Jayvan Boggs.