5-star DL Jahkeem Stewart's latest visit to Ohio State aided by top commits on campus

Ohio State is right in the thick of things for the top spot in the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings this cycle. The Buckeyes are currently No. 2 in the nation, but a commitment from a recent five-star visitor could bump Ryan Day and Co. to No. 1.

Reserve (La.) Edna Karr five-star defensive lineman Jahkeem Stewart was in Columbus to watch OSU’s win over Nebraska last weekend as the Buckeyes battle LSU, Oregon and USC for his commitment.

The 6-foot-5.5, 270-pounder didn’t see a dominant performance from the Big Ten power, but he was front and center for what was another exciting atmosphere inside The Horseshoe. According to Ohio State insider Matt Parker, Stewart was an early attendee on Saturday and had plenty of time to take everything in.

“I thought it was interesting that Jahkeem Stewart was one of the first recruits to walk out of the tunnel at Ohio Stadium and really embrace being at Ohio State, being in The Horseshoe,” Parker said on the latest edition of ‘The Inside Scoop’.

“It was Homecoming at Ohio State on Saturday, so that brings out a lot of the traditions at Ohio State, which recruits love to see, especially at a place like OSU, one of the most storied programs in college football. The atmosphere I thought was interesting, because he spent a lot of time with assistant defensive line coach LaAllan Clark, a Louisiana native…he’s been very pivotal in that recruitment for the Buckeyes. Of course Stewart spent a lot of time with DL coach Larry Johnson, one of the best to ever do it.”

Stewart was around some of Ohio State’s top commits

Perhaps a potential tipping point for Ohio State’s chances with Stewart was the time he was able to spend around two of the Buckeyes’ top commits in the 2025 class in Five-Star Plus+ quarterback Tavien St. Clair and four-star EDGE Zahir Mathis. St. Clair, the No. 2 recruit in the nation, has been a vocal recruiter and is now on Stewart, the No. 2 uncommitted prospect in the cycle.

Stewart will be back in Columbus for an official visit at the end of November to watch Ohio State take on rival Michigan to close out the regular season. Before then, he’ll log OVs to each of his other three finalists. Day, Johnson and the OSU staff will continue to push for the 6-foot-5.5, 270-pounder until he returns to campus next month.

“Members of that Ohio State 2025 class that were there, trying to get Stewart into the fold. I love that you saw him have an open weekend and take advantage of it and make his way to Ohio State, knowing that he’s going to be back on campus Nov. 30 for the Michigan game for his official visit,” Parker said.

Following his reclassification from 2026, Stewart is the No. 15 overall prospect and No. 3 DL 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-ranked player in Louisiana.