Heat Check: Five-Star Offensive Tackle David Sanders Jr. Debuts As Ohio State’s No. 1 Target With Offensive Line Being A Top Focus in 2025 Class

The January version of Eleven Warriors’ recurring monthly recruiting editorial is always the most challenging to pen, with so many good options available being so early in the cycle.

Ohio State has dominated on the recruiting front early in the 2025 class, landing six commitments so far, including five-star cornerback Devin Sanchez, four-star defensive end Zahir Mathis, four-star quarterback Tavien St. Clair, four-star cornerback Blake Woodby, four-star wide receiver Jayvan Boggs and three-star linebacker Eli Lee.  

In our first edition of the new year, we’ve come up with six offensive players and six defensive players to top Ohio State’s recruiting board. 

As always, rankings are based on many factors, including roster needs for the Buckeyes in future seasons, the caliber of the player and how likely that player is to come to Columbus on National Signing Day.

As you can see from last year’s January edition of the Heat Check, it’s not an exact science and things get fluid fast, as only two targets from the first edition of the last recruiting cycle signed with Ohio State (though it would have been three if Justin Scott stayed committed). But we’ll try and one-up that (at least) this go-around.

The greatest roster needs for the 2025 class are offensive tackles, an elite safety prospect and defensive line, so all three are well-represented in the first ranking. 

David Sanders Jr. 

After swinging and missing on various elite offensive tackle prospects the past few recruiting cycles, Ohio State desperately needs to land a big fish in the 2025 class. There’s no better option than Sanders Jr., the No. 1-rated offensive tackle and No. 2 overall player per 247Sports’ composite rankings. Sanders last visited OSU for the Buckeyes’ spring game, and making him a top priority this summer is critical for Justin Frye.

Dorian Brew

Brew may be the first of these prospects to come off the board, as he’s set a commitment date for Jan. 24. Less than two weeks before his decision, the five-star prospect is trending toward Ohio State. Landing Brew would be another tremendous accomplishment for Tim Walton, who has already brought in Sanchez and Woodby at cornerback this cycle.

Carter Lowe

Have we mentioned Ohio State needs premier, reliable offensive tackles? The top-100 prospect resides in the Buckeyes’ backyard and is a priority target for Frye. The Toledo resident has visited Ohio State on numerous occasions, and the Buckeyes have returned the favor, stopping at his school as recently as Friday. OSU should be considered the frontrunner for Lowe, but the Buckeyes need to stay the course.

Faheem Delane

Former OSU safeties coach Perry Eliano did a nice job building a relationship with Delane. That responsibility will now fall to new safeties coach Matt Guerrieri and Walton. Much like offensive tackle, landing a premier safety has been a tall task for Ohio State the past few recruiting cycles and Delane would certainly fit that billing.  

Justin Hill

The Winton Woods product could play either defensive end or linebacker at Ohio State and is one of Ohio’s best prospects in the 2025 class. Like Lowe, the Buckeyes have built a longstanding relationship with the 6-foot-3, 220-pound product and have a great shot of winning out in this recruitment. 

London Merritt

Even with Mathis in the fold, the Buckeyes are going to need plenty of bodies at defensive end to replace Jack Sawyer and J.T. Tuimoloau after they finish their senior seasons at OSU in 2024. Merritt has been a frequent visitor to Ohio State and has consistently impressed Larry Johnson, and would be a terrific addition to the 2025 class. 

Trey McNutt

McNutt for Heisman, am I right? The Shaker Heights product has plenty of family ties to the Buckeyes being the son of former OSU cornerback Richard McNutt and the nephew of former Buckeye safety Mike Doss. He’s also a damn good football player, slotting in as the No. 2 safety in the 2025 class behind Delane. There’s no rush from McNutt to make a decision any time soon, but Ohio State will likely be in this recruitment until the end. 

Marquise Davis

With TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins both likely gone after next season, OSU will need multiple running backs in the 2025 class. There are a pair of very capable in-state tailbacks that would be perfect fits for the scarlet and gray. Davis came in second place for Mr. Football in Ohio after a terrific junior season for Cleveland Heights, rushing for 2,087 yards and 32 touchdowns in 2023. Davis has been a frequent visitor in Columbus and OSU has shown him he’s a priority.

Bo Jackson 

Just by his name alone, he’s destined to be a great running back. Like Davis, Jackson has long been recruited by OSU. They would make up a formidable one-two punch in the backfield in future seasons. Like with Davis, OSU is in a strong position to land the in-state product. 

Nate Roberts

There’s no secret about Ohio State’s top tight end target for 2025. OSU has consistently pursued Roberts even when the Oklahoma prospect was committed to Notre Dame, and OSU has started to surge in his recruitment since his decommitment. Roberts is a prolific pass-catcher and blocker. It would be a big win for Keenan Bailey if the Buckeyes can secure his commitment. 

Tarvos Alford

Florida schools will be stiff competition for the Sunshine State linebacker, but Alford has visited OSU several times over the past few months and is a priority target for Jim Knowles and James Laurinaitis. The Buckeyes could take several linebacker commitments in 2025, with Alford’s recruitment is a winnable one for Ohio State to land a top-75 prospect.

Jaime Ffrench

The five-star Alabama wide receiver commit already visited OSU earlier this fall while Nick Saban was still coaching the Crimson Tide. Following Saban’s retirement, there’s no reason the Buckeyes can’t win this recruitment, even if Kalen DeBoer runs a successful offense for wideouts. Brian Hartline has earned the benefit of the doubt time and time again in his OSU tenure, and Ffrench looks like the most likely Buckeye among the current five-star receivers in the cycle.

Honorable Mentions

As you’d expect in the January edition of the Heat Check, there are no shortage of honorable mentions to choose from.

I hated leaving off running back Jordon Davison, who grew up an Ohio State fan and has a serious interest in the Buckeyes, but OSU has always been cursed when recruiting prospects from Mater Dei for whatever reason. Running backs Byron Louis and Tory Blaylock also deserved strong consideration. 

Josh Petty, Micah DeBose, Douglas Utu, Brayden Jacobs, Avery Gach, Mason Short and Matty Augustine would all be terrific additions to the offensive line. 

Sticking in the trenches, other defensive line targets for Ohio State include Ari Watford, Javion Hilson (despite his Alabama commitment), Nasir Wyatt, Elijah Griffin, Nathaniel Marshall, Maxwell Roy, Trent Wilson, Myron Charles, Jarquez Carter and in-state product Brandon Caesar, Davis’ teammate at Cleveland Heights.

Madden Faraimo is another top Ohio State linebacker target, but that won’t be an easy recruitment to win. Other linebackers of interest include Zayden Walker, Tavion Wallace, Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng, Riley Pettijohn, Noah Mikhail, Elijah Barnes, Max Granville and Weston Port. 

This is more of a luxury than a necessity, but could you imagine an Ohio State cornerback corps built of Sanchez, Woodby, (potentially) Brew and five-star cornerback Na’eem Offord, the No. 1 ranked corner in 2025? Can’t rule it out the way Tim Walton has been recruiting as of late. Four-star Indianapolis cornerback Mark Zackery is another strong option at that position. 

Besides Delane and McNutt, five-star prospect Jonah Williams is another premier safety target of interest for the Buckeyes.