Lettermen Lounge: Ohio State loses Justin Scott, hosting defensive line targets
COLUMBUS — Ohio State suffered one of the biggest losses on the recruiting trail in the 2024 cycle on Wednesday. Five-star Chicago (Ill) St. Ignatius defensive lineman Justin Scott flipped his commitment from Ohio State to Miami on Wednesday.
The loss stings certainly, but how did it happen exactly? That’s where the latest episode of the Lettermen Lounge begins.
Co-hosts Spencer Holbrook and Matt Parker dive right into the latest with Ohio State recruiting, which starts with Justin Scott flipping to Miami. The No. 2 defensive lineman and No. 10 overall prospect per On3 really flipped his commitment on Monday but made it public on Wednesday.
Scott had been committed to Ohio State since July in a decision that stunned the recruiting world. Before his commitment to Ohio State, schools like Miami, Notre Dame, Michigan and Georgia were the main contenders. Things were all good between the Buckeyes and Scott, but doubts and second thoughts crept into Scott’s mind recently.
The 6-foot-4, 315-pound defensive tackle was the Buckeyes’ highest-rated defensive commit and was one of three defensive linemen committed to Ohio State. Now, five-star Buford (Ga) EDGE Eddrick Houston and three-star Stafford (Va) Mountain View defensive lineman Eric Mensah make up the class.
Luckily for Ohio State, it has a few defensive linemen heading to Ohio State for visits. It all takes place from Dec. 8-10 with Carlon Jones, Ernest Willor and Middle Tennessee State transfer Marley Cook all heading to Columbus.
Jones, the No. 193 overall prospect via On3, and Willor, the No. 138 overall prospect via the On3 Industry Rankings, are both 2024 prospects. Jones was committed to Nebraska, but decommitted earlier this week. His official visit to Ohio State next weekend will be his debut visit as well. Willor hasn’t been on campus since 2021.
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The Buckeyes have plenty of defensive line concerns, but they also have offensive line narratives to control as well. Four-star Coopersville (Mich) IOL Gabe VanSickle decommitted from Northwestern last Tuesday and then on Thanksgiving Day committed to Ohio State. VanSickle is the No. 253 overall prospect and the No. 14 IOL per On3.
He is the fourth offensive lineman committed to the Buckeyes’ class, and offensive line coach Justin Frye is trying to make sure VanSickle isn’t the last.
Five-star Bradenton (Fla) IMG Academy offensive tackle Jordan Seaton is yet to take his official visit to Ohio State. He hasn’t been on campus since The Game in 2022. Will the No. 1 offensive tackle per On3 ever make it to Columbus?
Check out all of that and more in the latest episode of the Lettermen Lounge. For past episodes and other video content, check out our YouTube page.
