Ohio State looking to add two 5-star safeties to top-ranked 2025 class

Ohio State has already assembled one of the nation’s best defensive back recruiting classes, but they’ve still got a couple more targets in mind.

Ryan Day, Tim Walton and Matt Guerreri have assembled a group that includes two of the nation’s top three cornerback recruits — five-stars Devin Sanchez and Na’eem Offord — as well as four-star cornerback Blake Woodby, blue-chip safety DeShawn Stewart and fast-rising prospect Cody Haddad. Their goal is restore to the Buckeyes to their status as BIA or “Best in America.”

To do that, they’re also looking to close on a pair of elite safeties in Cleveland (Ohio) Shaker Heights star Trey McNutt and Maryland-based five-star Faheem Delane. McNutt was in Columbus over the weekend with a handful of coveted visitors. And coming out of that trip, the Buckeyes look to be the team to beat, according to LettermenRow.com recruiting insider Alex Gleitman.

“I think Ohio State wants to take four safeties in this class — they play a three-safety defense — so the more they can get the better,” he said during On3’s Inside Scoop recruiting show on Monday. “As far as this class, they’re going to lose a couple [current players] after this year, and Caleb Downs is probably a 3-and-out guy following the 2025 season. So they probably want to restock at the safety position, and they’ve got Cody Haddad and DeShawn Stewart in the class. And I think the last two guys they’re targeting for those two remaining spots are Trey McNutt and Faheem Delane.

… I think right now Ohio State is in the driver’s seat for both of those guys. Trey McNutt is an Ohio State legacy, his father played for the Buckeyes in the early 2000s and he plays at Shaker Heights in the Cleveland area, a very Buckeye-friendly area. … Texas A&M, Oregon, USC, I know those three schools at a minimum are very much in the mix. But I would be surprised if Ohio State isn’t the pick for McNutt when it’s all said and done, though. He’s got them at the top of his list, and Ohio State has him at the top of their board as well.”

More on Buckeyes recruiting

Ohio State has been recruiting at an elite level under Ryan Day‘s watch, and the 2025 class looks to be no different for the Buckeyes.

Less than two months into the new year, the Buckeyes already have commitments from three of the nation’s top 20 recruits in the On3 Industry Ranking and currently hold the nation’s No. 1 class.

In total, the Buckeyes have 13 commitments already on the board, seven of whom rank among the top 100 nationally and 11 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 13 commitments, nine are on that side of the ball and five are in the secondary. Their class also includes top-75 EDGE Zahir Mathis, four-star EDGE London Merritt, four-star linebacker Tarvos Alford, 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. 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.