Ohio State trending for 4-star LB Tarvos Alford ahead of commitment

Port Saint Lucie (Fla.) Vero Beach four-star linebacker Tarvos Alford is set to come off the board at the end of the month.

On March 30, Alford will choose between Florida, Florida State, Miami, Ohio State, Tennessee and UCF. One of those programs is trending heavily for his pledge in the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine (RPM).

Ohio State has appeared to have momentum in Alford’s recruitment for months. The Buckeyes have a 91.2% cushion in the On3 RPM and could be on the cusp of adding another top-100 recruit to the No. 2 class in the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings.

“From my first visit to Ohio State, I felt like it was somewhere I could call home. The coaches really treat me like family. They have shown they truly want me and I like the feeling I have up there,” Alford told On3 last month.

On March 10, Alford confirmed that he’s locked in an official visit with the Buckeyes. He’s also set to return later this month for an unofficial visit on March 23, just one week before he announces his decision.

“Tarvos Alford will commit on March 30. He has a top six, but this is coming down to Miami and Ohio State. He is from Vero Beach (Fla.) and has visited Coral Gables multiple times, but the buzz is with the Buckeyes,” On3 Director of Recruiting Chad Simmons wrote.

Alford is the No. 72 overall prospect and No. 8 LB 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 No. 9 player in Florida.

Ohio State Class Breakdown

In total, the Buckeyes have eight commitments already on the board, six of whom rank among the top 100 nationally and seven who check in as blue-chip (four- and five-star) recruits.

Early in the 2025 cycle, defensive coordinator Jim Knowles and his staff have gotten busy. Of OSU’s eight commitments, five are on that side of the ball and three are in the secondary. Ohio State holds commitments from the nation’s top two cornerback recruits — Five-Star Plus+ CB Na’eem Offord and five-star corner Devin Sanchez. Their class also includes top-60 EDGE Zahir Mathis, top-100 cornerback Blake Woodby and in-state standout linebacker Eli Lee.

On the offensive side, OSU has already locked up its quarterback in the class with elite passer Tavien St. Clair, who ranks No. 2 nationally at the position in the On300. He’s joined by elite local four-star offensive tackle Carter Lowe and Cocoa (Fla.) four-star wide receiver Jayvan Boggs.