Ohio State will find out in just five days whether it will land two of its top defensive targets in the 2025 class.
Five-star cornerback Devin Sanchez and four-star defensive end Christopher Burgess are both set to make commitments on Saturday during the All-American Bowl broadcast on NBC in San Antonio. Both would be massive additions to the Buckeyes’ 2025 class.
OSU is considered the favorite for Sanchez, the No. 1-rated cornerback in 2025 per 247Sports’ composite rankings. Burgess’ likely destination is less certain five days before his decision, but the Chicago product dropped a final four of Ohio State, Alabama, Michigan and Notre Dame last week.
Let me know! https://t.co/WwmESropoj
— Christopher Burgess Jr (@ChrisBurgessJr) December 28, 2023
“The thing about Ohio State, coach Larry Johnson is like a legend,” Burgess told 247Sports. “He put Nick Bosa, Chase Young, Joey Bosa, those top picks in the leagues. It would be real inspirational to be coached by him.”
Burgess is considered the 147th-best prospect and the 18th-rated defensive lineman in the 2025 class. He’s visited OSU three times, including twice in the summer and once this fall for OSU’s home finale against Minnesota on Nov. 18. If Burgess commits to OSU, he’d be the first defensive lineman to join the Buckeyes’ 2025 recruiting class.
Justin Hill puts Ohio State in his top 10
One of Ohio State’s top linebacker and in-state targets in the 2025 class has narrowed down his recruitment. Four-star Ohio prospect Justin Hill released a top 10 on Monday consisting of Ohio State, Penn State, Oregon, Miami, Cincinnati, USC, Michigan, Alabama, Georgia and Kentucky.
BLESSED FOR EVERYTHING #HappyNewYear pic.twitter.com/zWpQ5JMhOE
— Justin J-Hill Hill (@justinnn10k) January 1, 2024
Hill, considered the 138th-best prospect and 13th-rated edge player in 2025, has visited Ohio State numerous times over the past year. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound product registered 36 tackles (16 for loss), 13 sacks, two forced fumbles and six pass deflections in his junior season at Winton Woods. He was offered by OSU in March after attending one of the Buckeyes’ spring practices.
Onis Konanbanny includes Buckeyes in top 10
Hill wasn’t the only 2025 defender to include OSU in a New Year’s Day top-10 list. Four-star cornerback Onis Konanbanny released a top schools list of his own Monday that includes Ohio State, Florida State, Penn State, Oklahoma, North Carolina, Tennessee, LSU, Michigan, Oregon and USC.
WhereWeGoinnnnnn #AGTG #THE10 pic.twitter.com/2Smcd3UE8E
— s "" '25 (@KonanbannyOnis) January 1, 2024
Konanbanny, considered the 253rd-ranked prospect and 28th-best cornerback in the 2025 class, was offered by OSU in late April. In his junior year, Konanbanny recorded 20 tackles (two for loss) and six pass deflections in six games played.
Caiden Woullard contacted by OSU
With the season now officially over, Ohio State will have plenty of time to re-engage potential transfer portal targets in January. A potential target may reside in-state.
Per 247Sports, Ohio State has contacted former Miami (Ohio) defensive end Caiden Woullard, who is interested in the Buckeyes.
“I had a call with coach Johnson a couple days ago,” Woullard told 247Sports on Thursday. “It went well. He said they watched my film and liked what they saw and said they would get back to me.”
Woullard had a terrific season for the RedHawks, recording 41 tackles (12 for loss) with 9.5 sacks. He’ll have one season of eligibility remaining. Since entering the portal, Woullard has picked up offers from the likes of Louisville, Oklahoma, Mizzou, Kansas, Mississippi State, Texas A&M, Minnesota, Indiana and Kansas.
Cam Ward declares for the NFL Draft, DJ Uiagalelei transfers to Florida State
Two of the top available transfer quarterbacks came off the board Monday. Washington State transfer quarterback Cam Ward spurned Miami and opted to enter the NFL Draft outright, while Oregon State transfer DJ Uiagalelei committed to Florida State.
— Cameron Ward (@Cameron7Ward) January 1, 2024
Lets Get to Work !! #NoleFamily pic.twitter.com/qL93Yv8eSM
— DJ Uiagalelei (@DJUiagalelei) January 1, 2024
Ward and Uiagalelei were both briefly connected to Ohio State during their time in the transfer portal, but nothing serious materialized with either. The Buckeyes’ most likely transfer quarterback option is former Kansas State signal-caller Will Howard, who has been heavily connected to OSU in the past week.
