2025 In-state linebacker Eli Lee commits to Ohio State
COLUMBUS — The 2025 class keeps expanding for Ohio State one prospect at a time. Eli Lee has committed to the Buckeyes.
The three-star Akron (Ohio) Archbishop Hoban linebacker chose Ohio State over Iowa State, Pitt, West Virginia and others. Lee, a 6-foot-3, 215-pound prospect visited Ohio State over the weekend for the Penn State game.
Ohio State has played the long game when it came to Eli Lee. The Buckeyes were thorough in their evaluation of the in-state linebacker. He hasn’t missed an off-season recruiting event ever since he’s been in high school. Lee camped in Columbus multiple times over the last two summers and put his skill set to work in front of the Buckeyes’ coaching staff — and against nationally ranked prospects.
And it all paid off as he’s now a committed prospect.
“I’ve really just grown up watching Ohio State and I’ve been a fan since forever,” Lee told Lettermen Row. “That’s just been my college football team, it’s close to home and I love the coaching staff.
“I love the team, I love all the coaches. Everything about the environment of Ohio State is just awesome.”
It was the combined efforts of defensive coordinator Jim Knowles and James Laurinaitis on why the Buckeyes were aggressive with Lee. The relationship between Laurinaitis and Lee really took off this summer after the two worked together multiple times at the recruiting camps.
Lee then visited Columbus for the SummerFest event in July where a number of 2025 prospects were in town before the August dead period kicked in.
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“I love Coach Laurinaitis,” Lee said. “I loved camping with him and being coached by him. It’s been awesome getting to know him and Coach Knowles. Seeing how they coach and what they think of me was important.”
Eli Lee is now the fourth commit in the Buckeyes’ early top-five 2025 recruiting class. He is the second in-state prospect committed to the class and joins four-star Bellefontaine (Ohio) quarterback Tavien St. Clair.
Four-star Cocoa (Fla) wide receiver Jayvan Boggs and four-star Baltimore (Md) St. Frances Academy cornerback Blake Woodby round out the class for now.
Eli Lee has grown up and spent Saturdays in the fall glued to the TV to watch Ohio State play. He has seen a number of wins and a few tough losses. Now, he is going to be a part of that tradition he has grown up loving.
Eli Lee has committed to Ohio State.
