Ohio State has landed another defensive lineman for its 2024 class.
The Buckeyes flipped three-star Virginia prospect Eric Mensah on Friday from Virginia Tech, nearly one week after he took an official visit to Columbus for the Buckeyes' home opener against Youngstown State.
#gobuckeyes @R2X_Rushmen1 @ryandaytime @MVHS_SPORTS @TheViewFootball @Rivals @RivalsFriedman @247recruiting @247Sports #blessed pic.twitter.com/6RDk4gdrWM
— Eric Mensah (@EricMen85258722) September 15, 2023
The Mensah File
- Class: 2024
- Size: 6-3/290
- Pos: DL
- School: Mountain View (Stafford, Virginia)
- Composite Rating: ★★★
- Composite Rank: #802 (#53 edge)
Per 247Sports' composite rankings, Mensah is considered the 802nd-best prospect nationally and the 53rd-best edge player in the 2024 class. Mensah has been on OSU's radar for a bit, as the 6-foot-3, 290-pound defensive lineman camped with the Buckeyes over the summer, impressing Larry Johnson and the rest of the coaching staff. He committed to Virginia Tech in July, but switched to Ohio State in September after being offered last weekend while on his official visit.
Mensah is the 22nd OSU commit in the 2024 class and the third defensive lineman, joining Eddrick Houston and Justin Scott. He's the first recruit from Virginia to join OSU's 2024 class, and the first Virginia prospect to commit to OSU since TreVeyon Henderson and Tyleik Williams in the 2021 cycle. Considering Williams and Mike Hall are both draft eligible after this season, OSU needed to secure more depth on the interior defensive line, and have added plenty in Scott, Mensah and potentially Houston, who could play either inside or outside in Columbus.
The Buckeyes likely will still want to take at least one more defensive lineman in the 2024 cycle, particularly a defensive end. Uncommitted targets still on the board include Booker Pickett Jr. and Ernest Willor Jr., though OSU will still try and work on flipping Dylan Stewart and Marquise Lightfoot from now until National Signing Day.
With the commitment of Mensah, Ohio State (303.36 points total) remains steadfast as the No. 2 ranked recruiting class nationally per 247Sports' rankings, trailing Georgia (315.95) by nearly 12 recruiting points.
| Pos | Name | Rating | Rank | Size | School |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WR | JEREMIAH SMITH | ★★★★★ | #2 NATL | #1 WR | 6-3 | 198 | Chaminade-Madonna Prep (Opa Locka, Florida) |
| DT | JUSTIN SCOTT | ★★★★★ | #14 NATL | #3 DL | 6-4 | 310 | St. Ignatius (Chicago, Illinois) |
| WR | MYLAN GRAHAM | ★★★★★ | #17 NATL | #6 WR | 6-1 | 170 | New Haven (New Haven, Indiana) |
| QB | AIR NOLAND | ★★★★★ | #22 NATL | #3 QB | 6-3 | 195 | Langston Hughes (Fairburn, Georgia) |
| DL | EDDRICK HOUSTON | ★★★★★ | #23 NATL | #4 DL | 6-3 | 265 | Buford (Buford, Georgia) |
| CB | AARON SCOTT | ★★★★ | #43 NATL | #4 CB | 6-0| 170 | Springfield (Springfield, Ohio) |
| CB | BRYCE WEST | ★★★★ | #50 NATL | #5 CB | 5-11 | 177 | Glenville (Cleveland, Ohio) |
| RB | JAMES PEOPLES | ★★★★ | #85 NATL | #7 RB | 5-10 | 192 | Veterans Memorial (San Antonio, Texas) |
| WR | JEREMIAH MCCLELLAN | ★★★★ | #104 NATL | #17 WR | 6-0 | 190 | Christian Brothers College (St. Louis, Missouri) |
| OT | IAN MOORE | ★★★★ | #128 NATL | #7 IOL | 6-5 | 295 | New Palestine (New Palestine, Indiana) |
| LB | GARRETT STOVER | ★★★★ | #143 NATL | #11 LB | 6-0 | 195 | Big Walnut (Sunbury, OH) |
| RB | JORDAN LYLE | ★★★★ | #173 NATL | #13 RB | 6-0 | 180 | St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Laderdale, Florida) |
| LB | PAYTON PIERCE | ★★★★ | #198 NATL | #18 LB | 6-1 | 225 | Lovejoy (Lucas, Texas) |
| S | JAYLEN McCLAIN | ★★★★ | #260 NATL | #24 S | 6-0 | 185 | Seton Hall Prep (West Orange, New Jersey) |
| TE | MAX LEBLANC | ★★★★ | #267 NATL | #14 TE | 6-4 | 222 | Baylor School (Chattanooga, Tennessee) |
| CB | MILES LOCKHART | ★★★★ | #348 NATL | #27 CB | 5-10 | 185 | Basha (Chandler, AZ) |
| TE | DAMARION WITTEN | ★★★★ | #349 NATL | #19 TE | 6-4 | 215 | Glenville (Cleveland, OH) |
| OT | DEONTAE ARMSTRONG | ★★★★ | #415 NATL | #32 OT | 6-6 | 280 | St. Edward (Lakewood, OH) |
| OL | DEVONTAE ARMSTRONG | ★★★ | #448 NATL | #27 IOL | 6-5 | 297 | St. Edward (Lakewood, OH) |
| OL | MARC NAVE | ★★★ | #655 NATL | #44 IOL | 6-5 | 315 | Central Catholic (Toledo, OH) |
| RB | SAM WILLIAMS-DIXON | ★★★ | #752 NATL | #72 ATH | 5-11 | 203 | Pickerington North (Columbus, OH) |
| DT | ERIC MENSAH | ★★★ | #802 NATL | #53 Edge | 6-3 | 290 | Mountain View (Stafford, VA) |
| Prospect Rating Data: 247Sports | |||||
Mensah brings strong interior presence to OSU's 2024 recruiting class
In his junior season at Mountain View High School (Stafford, Virginia), Mensah turned in an outstanding campaign where he recorded eight sacks and forced three fumbles.
The interior defensive lineman was adept at creating havoc in the opposing team's backfield, as he consistently shed blocks to blow up running plays and record tackles for loss. Often, he'd find ways to make tackles while still being partially blocked. Occasionally, he'll even chase down ball carries from a few yards out, as his speed is above average for someone of his size.
Mensah could project as a three-technique or another position on the interior defensive line at the collegiate level, but may need a few years with OSU's strength and conditioning program before he's ready to see the field.
