Ohio State head coach Ryan Day hired Jim Knowles in December 2021 to right the wrongs of previous defensive coordinator Kerry Coombs. After leading the country in yards per play allowed in 2019 with Greg Mattison and Jeff Hafley running the defense, the Buckeyes finished 77th and then 43rd in yards per play under Coombs the next two seasons.
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Knowles had earned a reputation as one of the game’s top schematic minds while running defenses at Duke and Oklahoma State, but he received no grace period in Columbus. His units produced right away: Ohio State enters the fall with one of the most talented defenses in the country and finished 2023 second in The Athletic’s stop rate rankings and first in yards allowed per pass attempt.
But recruiting victories matter just as much as on-field ones at Ohio State, and Knowles’ tenure has been marked by some losses in notable battles for blue-chip defensive prospects, including five-star safeties Caleb Downs (Alabama) and KJ Bolden (Georgia) and five-star edge rusher Dylan Stewart (South Carolina).
The 2025 cycle has been another story, and Saturday was another good day for the future of Knowles’ defense. Five-star McKinney (Texas) linebacker Riley Pettijohn committed to the Buckeyes over in-state Texas and USC. His pledge gives the Buckeyes 11 top-100 commits, seven of which are on the defensive side of the ball.
Three of Ohio State’s four five-star commits in the class are on defense. Of Ohio State’s seven top-100 defensive commits, five are from the South, including the three five-stars: Devin Sanchez and Pettijohn are from Texas and Na’eem Offord is from Alabama Nick Saban’s retirement from coaching has left a void in the region, and the Buckeyes are being opportunistic about attacking it. Ohio State has two players from Alabama in the class and hope for at least one more in four-star defensive tackle Malik Autry.
This run is also an example of on-field success leading to recruiting success. Knowles has turned what was once the weakness of the team into a strength, and recruits, parents and coaches are taking notice.
“It’s a system people want to play in, and it’s obviously proven to be successful year after year,” said Ryne Morrison, head coach of four-star defensive line commit Maxwell Roy (and four-star RB commit Isaiah West) at St. Joe’s Prep. “As a high school kid the chance to play for a national championship-level program and in a defense that has proven to be a top-five defense and a coordinator who has called plays and been on the big stage, there’s not much more to it than that.”
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Now that Pettijohn is on board, here’s a look at what’s next for the Buckeyes on the recruiting trail.
D-line direction after Justin Hill and Damien Shanklin
Four-star defensive end Justin Hill seemed like a perfect prospect for the “Jack” position within Knowles’ defense, but the Cincinnati native committed to Alabama last week. Then four-star defensive end Damien Shanklin picked LSU on Friday. Knowles will have to show more of what his “Jack” position can do if Ohio State is going to win commitments from hybrid players like Hill.
Ohio State still has a few defensive linemen it can add to this class to round out what position coach Larry Johnson needs. Nose tackle Malik Autry is the name at the top of that list. He is currently committed to Auburn but is being recruited heavily by the Buckeyes. Florida four-star Jarquez Carter took an official visit to Ohio State in June and is making his commitment decision on July 18. He also visited Miami, Florida and Penn State this summer.
David Sanders Jr. decision coming
The biggest story of the 2025 cycle right now is five-star offensive tackle David Sanders Jr. The No. 2 overall prospect in the class visited Ohio State in June and has long been a priority target for offensive line coach Justin Frye and Day It seems like Sanders is finally ready to make a decision.
He will pick between Georgia, Nebraska, Ohio State and Tennessee on Aug. 17. That will be one of the biggest out-of-season Saturdays in Frye’s coaching career. A win would not only strengthen Ohio State’s hold on the No. 1 class in the cycle and bolster the line with an instant-impact player; it would also turn around the narrative that Frye can’t recruit at the highest level.
Wide receivers set to make decisions
As expected, Ohio State didn’t land the top wide receiver in the 2025 class. Dakorien Moore picked Oregon last week, but the Buckeyes are in the running for a host of other top receivers. Five-star Vernell Brown visited Columbus in June, along with four-star Phillip Bell, but neither have set a commitment date. Four-star receiver Daylan McCutcheon visited on the final weekend of May and will make his decision on July 13.
(Photo: Adam Cairns / Columbus Dispatch / USA Today)
