Ohio State Buckeyes trending for two top-60 defenders

Ohio State‘s 2024 recruiting class currently ranks No. 2 in the 2024 On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings and No. 1 in the Big Ten. According to the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine, the Buckeyes are in the lead to add two talented defenders to their group.

They are Buford (Ga.) five-star defensive lineman Eddrick Houston (74.6%) and Chicago (Ill.) Kenwood Academy four-star EDGE Marquise Lightfoot (74.2%). Lightfoot took an official visit to Ohio State this weekend, while Houston will be in Columbus on the weekend of June 17.

“I watched practice and really saw how coach Larry Johnson works with his players,” Houston told On3’s Chad Simmons on May 17 about his last visit to the Buckeyes. “He would coach J.T. Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer, but still make time to come over and explain things to me. That really stood out to me. He and coach Ryan Day make me feel like a priority for them. They have shown a lot of interest in me, they produce a lot of top defensive linemen and Ohio State showed me a lot on this visit. I really got a good look at them and saw a lot that I did not see on my first visit. It is a top school in the Big Ten, so it is a school I am definitely still considering.”

Houston is the No. 15 overall prospect and No. 4 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. 3 player in Georgia.

For more Ohio State recruiting intel, check out Lettermen Row.

The 6-foot-3, 255-pound recruit recently took official visits to USC from May 19-21, Clemson from June 2-4 and Georgia from June 9-11. In addition to an official to Ohio State, Houston will be at Alabama from June 23-25.

Meanwhile, Lightfoot is the No. 65 overall prospect and No. 5 EDGE 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. 3 player in Illinois.

On3 rates Lightfoot higher than other recruiting services, according to the Industry Comparison. Per the 2024 On300, he is the No. 60 overall prospect in the country. Lightfoot took an official visit to Georgia on June 4 and will be at USC (June 18) and Miami (June 26) in the coming days.

Ohio State’s 2024 class contains two five-stars, nine four-stars and two three-stars. It is led by Hollywood (Fla.) Chaminade-Madonna Prep Five-Star Plus+ wide receiver Jeremiah Smith and New Haven (Ind.) five-star wide receiver Mylan Graham.