Elite 4-star safety Faheem Delane commits to Ohio State Buckeyes

Olney (Md.) Good Counsel four-star safety Faheem Delane has committed to Ohio State.

Delane chose the Buckeyes over LSU, Oregon and more than 30 others offers.

He joins a class that already includes the No. 2 and No. 3 cornerbacks in the 2025 recruiting class and stacks up as one of the best defensive secondary groups in the nation.

The 6-foot-2, 200-pounder ranks No. 44 overall and is the No. 3 safety in the 2025 cycle according to the On3 Industry Ranking — a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He’s also the top-rated player in Maryland.

Buckeyes’ production of elite defensive backs is key

Delane has been to Columbus on more than a half-dozen occasions and has connected with Ohio State’s defensive coaching staff, led by Jim Knowles.

“They have an impressive defensive back history and they run a safety-driven defense with three safeties on the field at all times,” he told On3’s Chad Simmons in December. “That provides an opportunity to play and with coach (Jim) Knowles coming from Oklahoma State, they had a great defense over there and this year, Ohio State had one of the best – if not the best – defense. They definitely have something going on for them on the defensive side of the football.”

More on Ohio State recruiting

Early in the 2025 cycle, defensive coordinator Knowles and his staff have gotten busy. Of OSU’s 13 commitments, eight are on that side of the ball and four are in the secondary. Ohio State holds commitments from two of the nation’s top cornerback recruits — Five-Star Plus+ CBs Na’eem Offord and Devin Sanchez. Their class also includes top-75 EDGE Zahir Mathis, four-star EDGE London Merritt, four-star linebacker Tarvos Alford, four-star cornerback DeShawn Stewart, in-state standout linebacker Eli Lee and fast-rising Cleveland-area safety Cody Haddad.

On the offensive side, OSU has already locked up its quarterback in the class with elite passer Tavien St. Clair, who ranks No. 5 nationally at the position in the On300. He’s joined by Toledo (Ohio) Whitmer four-star offensive tackle Carter Lowe, four-star tight end Nate Roberts, and four-star wide receiver De’zie Jones.

The Buckeyes also picked up a commitment from four-star athlete Bo Jackson earlier this week, with him expected to play running back at the next level.