Ohio State is set to host two transfer portal targets on official visits this weekend.
The Buckeyes will host California linebacker Kaleb Elarms-Orr and UCLA safety Kamari Ramsey on official visits this weekend, as both could help fill positions of need on defense.
Elarms-Orr is the Buckeyes’ top linebacker target in the portal thus far. He has two seasons of eligibility remaining. The 6-foot-2, 230-pound linebacker played in 11 games last season for the Golden Bears and collected 92 total tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, one sack, one fumble recovery and six quarterback hits. He also recorded one interception and five pass breakups.
OSU hopes Elarms-Orr will be a fit for the Buckeyes to provide depth at the least at linebacker, with Tommy Eichenberg departing for the NFL and Steele Chambers also a possibility to go pro despite having one year of eligibility remaining. Cody Simon has announced he’ll return for another season in Columbus, while C.J. Hicks, Gabe Powers and Nigel Glover are intriguing returners for the Buckeyes’ linebacker corps in 2024.
Ramsey will be visiting both OSU and Washington this weekend. He has three seasons of college eligibility remaining. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound safety started 11 games for UCLA this season and recorded 40 total tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, one interception and four pass breakups as one of the Bruins’ starting safeties.
Ohio State will lose at least one of its starting three safeties this offseason with Josh Proctor exhausting his eligibility, and Lathan Ransom could also enter the 2024 NFL Draft. Sonny Styles, Malik Hartford and Ja’Had Carter would be the only three returning safeties who played defensive snaps last season if Ransom moves on.
Both Ramsey and Elarms-Orr will be able to watch Ohio State’s bowl practices over the weekend, so they’ll be able to see how the defensive staff coaches firsthand.
The Buckeyes were also expected to host UTSA pass rusher Trey Moore on a visit this week, but OSU has since called off that visit.
Five-star 2025 safety Faheem Delane puts Ohio State in his top five
A priority Ohio State safety target has narrowed down his recruitment to five schools, and the Buckeyes made the cut. Five-star 2025 Maryland prospect Faheem Delane released a top five on Friday consisting of Ohio State, Virginia Tech, Alabama, LSU and Tennessee.
Blessed and grateful https://t.co/0YfwQ4PD22
— Faheem Delane (@faheemdelane) December 15, 2023
Delane is considered the top-ranked safety in the 2025 class per 247Sports' composite rankings. The 6-foot-3, 195-pound prospect last visited Columbus for the Michigan State game in early November, a visit that left a favorable impression on the standout safety.
"Buckeyeland brings that juice," Delane told Eleven Warriors after his visit. "Coach (Perry) Eliano said they need me and that I'd be coming in to play."
CJ Sibley earns an OSU offer
Ohio State has offered a fast-rising linebacker in the 2026 class. The Buckeyes were one of several schools to extend an offer to Georgia linebacker CJ Sibley this month, with defensive coordinator Jim Knowles extending Sibley a scholarship offer Wednesday.
# I am Very Blessed to Receive from The Ohio State University#GoBuckeyes @RustyMansell_ @CoachJimKnowles @Coach_Davis22 @CoachApp35 @On3Recruits @ChadSimmons_ @adamgorney @JeremyO_Johnson @RecruitGeorgia @RivalsJohnson @247Sports @Alex_B2C @buford_football pic.twitter.com/SjHnQoMWvg
— Cj sibley (@SibleyChaney) December 13, 2023
In the last two weeks, Sibley has picked up Division I offers from OSU, LSU, Texas, Colorado, Kentucky and Nebraska. Sibley attends Buford High School, where he is a high school teammate of Ohio State defensive line commit Eddrick Houston.
The 6-foot-1, 185-pound Sibley played sparingly for Buford this season but should have a more prominent role for the Georgia powerhouse moving forward.
Elijah Melendez puts OSU in his top eight
One of Ohio State’s top linebacker targets in the 2025 class has narrowed down his recruitment. Four-star Florida linebacker Elijah Melendez released a top eight on Thursday consisting of Ohio State, Michigan, Alabama, Miami, Penn State, USC, Georgia and Colorado.
Time is here, lets do it GOD is great pic.twitter.com/Tw1rzqeyeD
— Elijah melendez (@Babyman3J) December 14, 2023
Per 247Sports’ composite rankings, Melendez is considered the 146th-best prospect and the 17th-ranked linebacker in the 2025 cycle. Melendez visited OSU this fall for the Penn State game and was offered by the Buckeyes in August.
“It felt amazing,” Melendez told Eleven Warriors in September after receiving his OSU offer. “It was like a ‘Wow’ moment. Coach James Laurinaitis said I’m the most physical and explosive linebacker in the country. They really liked watching my film. Coach Knowles said he really likes me and is looking forward to seeing me play over the next year.”
Koi Perich to sign Wednesday
Ohio State's top remaining safety target in the 2024 class, four-star Minnesota prospect Koi Perich, announced he'll be signing his National Letter of Intent on Wednesday during the Early Signing Period.
Ill be signing at 2:30 on Dec 20th in the esko theater everyone is welcome pic.twitter.com/kOleMzK0hC
— Koi Perich (@koiperich3) December 14, 2023
Perich took an official visit to OSU last weekend, the last visit he made in his recruitment. He canceled his previously scheduled official visit to Florida State for this weekend, so his recruitment will be between the Buckeyes and Minnesota, the team he's been committed to since April. Both the Buckeyes and the Gophers did in-home visits with Perich this week, and his decision should be known within a few days. OSU feels confident about its chance of flipping the top-150 prospect, but it'll know for sure soon.
Armstrong twins, Damarion Witten make Army Bowl roster
Three Ohio State commits will be playing in the annual U.S. Army Bowl recruiting showcase at 8 p.m. at The Ford Center in Frisco, Texas on Monday.
The @USArmyBowl roster is locked and loaded! Tag the player you're hyped to watch in action. Let the countdown begin! #USArmyBowl #SigningDaySports pic.twitter.com/k6cORcdkMN
— Signing Day Sports (@SDSports) December 15, 2023
Offensive linemen Deontae and Devontae Armstrong and tight end Damarion Witten will be representing Ohio State in a game that features 80 high school players from around the country. The game can be streamed for free at WatchStadium.com.
