One of the top offensive tackles in the 2025 class is back on the market.
Four-star Alabama prospect Micah DeBose decommitted from Georgia on Friday, a commitment that had stood since Jan. 16. But the divorce seemed to be a long time coming, as DeBose took plenty of other visits this fall, including to Ohio State, LSU, Auburn, and Alabama. Those four will likely be in the thick of things for the talented Alabama product, along with Florida State and Michigan.
Wheres home? https://t.co/jhbBocMvH4
— Micah DeBose (@MicahDebose) December 22, 2023
Per 247Sports’ composite rankings, DeBose is considered the 26th-best prospect and the fourth-rated offensive tackle for the 2025 class. He was born in Cleveland and lived in Ohio for the first eight years of his life before moving to Alabama. His visit to OSU came on Nov. 11 for the Buckeyes’ contest against Michigan State.
“I think the visit went well,” DeBose told Eleven Warriors after attending Ohio State’s 38-3 win over the Spartans. “The fans and coaches are so different, and I love that. Just the culture and the O-H-I-O (chants) were really fun to me. Talking to the coaches, I talked to coach (Corey) Dennis, coach (Justin) Frye, coach (Ryan) Day and coach Mike (Sollenne), they’re all great people. I’ve talked with them about football a lot, but my visit wasn’t just all about football. It was about how my daily life is going and getting to know me more on a personal level. Overall, my visit to Ohio State was great and I will be back sooner than later.”
On the visit, DeBose had an extensive talk with Ohio State offensive line coach Justin Frye. While DeBose helped lead C F Vigor High School (Mobile, Alabama) to a 7-3 record, he wasn’t thrilled with his individual performance this year.
“We talked about how my season went,” DeBose said of his conversation with Frye. “We talked about ways I can improve myself and my team while also improving my leadership. I personally don’t think I did well as a player this year, so he told me my thoughts can be venom or they can be fuel. So I didn’t do well, in my opinion, so am I going to sit down and let it linger, or get it over it and try to do better?”
DeBose is one of OSU’s top targets at offensive tackle for the 2025 class, along with David Sanders, Carter Lowe, Avery Gach and Matty Augustine, just to name a few.
He told 247Sports Friday he plans on returning to OSU for another visit.
Byron Louis puts OSU in top 10 schools
Four-star Florida 2025 running back Byron Louis, one of Ohio State’s top running back targets for the 2025 class, narrowed down his recruitment to 10 schools on Wednesday. The Buckeyes made Louis’ top 10 schools list, which also includes Miami, Penn State, Georgia, Wisconsin, Alabama, Tennessee, USC, Florida State and Oklahoma.
365 #AGTG #Next #NLI pic.twitter.com/wZ3mIrZp7L
— Byron Louis (@byronlouis_) December 21, 2023
Louis visited OSU in June and again in the fall for the Buckeyes’ games against Penn State and Michigan State. The 5-foot-10, 180-pound product is the former high school teammate of Ohio State wide receiver Brandon Inniss.
“It’s always amazing when I come here, I love it here,” Louis told Eleven Warriors following his June visit. “I’m actually staying with Brandon right now. Of course, it’s a family and brotherhood here. But everyone has to put their own work in.”
This season for American Heritage (Fort Lauderdale, Florida), Louis ran for 1,224 yards on 160 carries while scoring 18 touchdowns.
DJ Pickett leaves Buckeyes off top five
One of the top safeties in the 2025 class has left Ohio State off his trimmed-down school list. Five-star Florida prospect DJ Pickett released a top-five on Thursday consisting of Alabama, Georgia, Miami, Michigan and Oregon.
Top 5. pic.twitter.com/eOx6Hnc3y4
— DJ (@DJPICKETT5) December 21, 2023
Pickett earned an OSU offer in April 2022, then visited Columbus later that summer for a recruiting camp. Both parties have since focused on other options. Pickett is considered the seventh-ranked overall prospect and third-best defensive back in the 2025 class.
Ohio State has plenty of other talented safety prospects to consider for the next cycle, including Dorian Brew, Faheem Delane, Jonah Williams, Messiah Delhomme, Anthony Sacca, Jadyn Hudson and Ethan Long.
