The Buckeyes won't have any seniors lining up along the defensive line this coming season, but the interior portion of the line is likely the biggest recruiting need for 2017. Things didn't work out especially well this past cycle as Ohio State missed on several top targets. However, the need at the position could be alleviated a bit depending on what happens with Dre'Mont Jones and Jashon Cornell; both of whom could easily find themselves at tackle.
Defensive end shouldn't be nearly as big of a need, and right now it appears Urban Meyer and Larry Johnson are focusing on a few of America's top players at the position.
Fortunately, the Buckeyes already have two of the country's top defensive tackles committed; though it could be a bit of a chore to hang on to them. All in all, we are expecting a defensive line class that should end up with 4-5 signees. Potentially three defensive tackles and one or two defensive ends.
JOSHUA KAINDOH • DE • BRADENTON, FL (IMG ACADEMY) • COMPOSITE RANKING: NO. 18
The nation's top weak-side defensive end originally hails from Maryland, but Joshua Kaindoh is now a part of a loaded IMG Academy squad. The five-star was in Columbus last summer and named Penn State his leader shortly thereafter.
Right now, it appears the recruitment of the 6-foot-6, 250-pounder is wide open. Penn State is the current crystal-ball leader but the Buckeyes, along with Florida State and a number of other schools, appear to be in it for the long haul.
DARNELL EWELL • DT • NORFOLK, VA (LAKE TAYLOR) • COMPOSITE RANKING: NO. 146
The Buckeyes will look to strike at Lake Taylor again this cycle for one of their top remaining defensive tackle targets. Darnell Ewell, at 6-foot-3 and 300 pounds, definitely has the look of more of a space-eating lineman that Ohio State has struggled with over the past couple recruiting classes.
Ewell, whose recruitment has been one of the more quiet ones thus far, was in Columbus last September with teammate and 2016 signee Wayne Davis. Per the reports from Lord Birmingham, Ohio State was in a great spot at the time.
The 6-foot-3, 300-pounder was spotted on the Buckeyes' sideline pregame and got some one-on-one attention from Zach Smith, who covers Virginia recruiting for the Buckeyes. As it stands, Ewell's crystal ball reads 100 percent Ohio State, and from talking to people close to the recruitment, his first trip to check out the Scarlet and Gray was an unmitigated success.
The Buckeyes remain in great shape for the nation's 10th-ranked tackle.
CAM SPENCE • DT • BRADENTON, FL (IMG ACADEMY) • COMPOSITE RANKING: NO. 190
Last year it was Malik Barrow who went from playing defensive tackle at IMG to signing with Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes. Cam Spence is another huge piece of the next wave of defensive linemen in Bradenton. Like Kaindoh, Spence made his way to IMG via the state of Maryland.
Spence named the Buckeyes his leader way back in 2014, but he now lists Ohio State, Penn State, Tennessee, Florida, and Maryland as some of the schools that are standing out. In a recent interview with 247Sports.com's Ryan Bartow, Spence indicated that he plans to graduate early and a decision could come by the end of the summer.
COREY MALONE-HATCHER • DE • SAINT JOSEPH, MI (SAINT JOSEPH) • COMPOSITE RANKING: NO. 184
The recruitment of Corey Malone-Hatcher is shaping up to be a battle of the usual Midwestern powers as Ohio State, Michigan, and Notre Dame were identified as three schools working the hardest for him.
The No. 4 player in the state of Michigan ventured south to Columbus to check out Ohio State as they took on the Spartans in late November. Since then, Kerry Coombs has checked in on the four-star who also was in attendance for Notre Dame's junior day last month.
Outside of the Midwest, Alabama and Oklahoma are also being mentioned as potential destinations.
AUBREY SOLOMON • DT • LEESBURG, GA (LEE COUNTY) • COMPOSITE RANKING: NO. 107
On December 7th, the Buckeyes extended an offer to Georgia's Aubrey Solomon. In late December, the nation's 5th-ranked tackle listed Ohio State as his leader. Despite being named as the leader, the Buckeyes aren't listed on Solomon's crystal ball. Picks have bee submitted for Georgia, Ole Miss, and Florida.
Top 10:
— Aubrey Solomon (@AubreySolomon91) December 9, 2015
1. Ohio St.
2. FSU
3. Tennessee
4. Flordia
5. Ole Miss
6. Alabama
7. Auburn
8. UGA
9. Penn. State
10. Kentucky
As we saw last with the 2016 class, stealing these types of players from the SEC schools has proven to be a tall task. The Buckeyes landed Stephen Collier from Lee County High School back in 2014.
DERRIUS MULLINS • DT • COLUMBUS, OH (ST. FRANCIS DE SALES) • COMPOSITE RANKING: NO. 719
While he's not as heralded as some of the other names, a local product put on a quite a show at the Best of the Midwest Combine in Indianapolis last week. Mullins is definitely a player to watch as his recruitment has the potential to blow up in the coming weeks.
MULLINS WOULD BE A PURE POWER PLANT ON THE INSIDE. – Bill Greene, Scout.com
Birm touched on him a bit this week, but the three-star has been hearing from Luke Fickell and the Buckeyes, though no offer has been extended. He currently has offers from Indiana, Pittsburgh, West Virginia, and others. Mullins lists the Hoosiers as his favorite school and a commitment could be coming soon.
Other names are certainly on the radar and more will be popping up during the spring and summer camp circuits. Canadian prospect Luiji Vilain, who now plays for Episcopal High School in Alexandria, VA, was offered by the Buckeyes just a few short weeks ago. The 6-foot-3, 250-pound defensive end was in attendance for last summer's Friday Night Lights event.
Robert Beal, the nation's 3rd-ranked weak-side defensive end, decommitted from Notre Dame last week. Ohio State extended an offer nearly a year ago, but it appears that Georgia and Florida State are currently battling it out at the top of his list.
With Jerron Cage and Haskell Garrett already having committed, one of the biggest chores for the staff will be keeping them committed. Garrett hasn't even visited Columbus yet and Cage has families ties to South Bend. Both recruitments will be ones to watch between now and February.
