Ohio State moves up in On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings

Ohio State has been making splashes on the 2025 recruiting trail and 2024 transfer portal throughout the month of January, but the Buckeyes clearly weren’t quite done with the 2024 cycle.

Painesville (Ohio) Riverside four-star defensive lineman Dominic Kirks committed to Ohio State on Saturday. The former Washington commit decommitted from the Huskies a day before taking an official visit to Ohio State earlier this month.

With this addition, the Buckeyes moved up two spots to No. 3 in the 2024 On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings.

Kirks is the nation’s No. 227 overall prospect and No. 25 defensive lineman in the 2024 cycle according to the On3 Industry Ranking — a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He is also the No. 11 recruit in Ohio.

“I am an Ohio kid and I love my state, so I get to stay close to home and play for Ohio State,” Kirks told On3. “Ohio State has that brotherhood. I am a big family guy and they treat their players with tough love and care. That is what I am looking for.

“I am about development, competitiveness and family. I will get that at Ohio State. Ohio State is a great fit for me.”

Kirks said that Ohio State defensive line coach Larry Johnson’s resume factored into his decision.

“Coach Johnson is that guy. He did a great job with me. He has talked to me about the fit, the work I need to put in and he has been completely transparent. Coach Johnson is not just a coach. He is a teacher too. He is about family and he wants to pour into his players.

“I love that he expects so much. I know Coach Johnson will develop me on and off the field. He will teach me so many life lessons. Coach Johnson has experience, he has wisdom and I cannot wait to learn from him.”

Ohio State’s top-5 class

Ohio State signed 20 prospects in December. Kirks joins Buford (Ga.) five-star EDGE Eddrick Houston and Stafford (Va.) Mountain View three-star DL Eric Mensah on the defensive line.

Eight top-150 prospects highlight another outstanding haul for Ryan Day and Co. Headlining the class, of course, is Hollywood (Fla.) Chaminade-Madonna Five-Star Plus+ wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, the No. 1 overall prospect in the country.

Elite talent is littered throughout the class. Springfield (Ohio) five-star Aaron Scott and Cleveland Glenville four-star Bryce West are the No. 3 and No. 8 cornerbacks in the cycle, respectively. Fairburn (Ga.) Langston Hughes four-star quarterback Air Noland is the No. 5 signal-caller, while the likes of San Antonio Veterans Memorial four-star running back James Peoples, Sunbury (Ohio) Big Walnut four-star linebacker Garrett Stover and New Palestine (Ind.) four-star IOL Ian Moore are all top-10 players at their positions.