One of Ohio State’s top linebacker targets in the 2025 class has narrowed down his recruitment.
Four-star California prospect Madden Faraimo released a top four on Friday consisting of OSU, USC, Oregon and Notre Dame.
NEWS: Four-Star LB Madden Faraimo is down to 4 Schools!
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) February 23, 2024
The 63 235 LB from San Diego, CA is ranked as a Top 65 Recruit in the 25 Class
Where Should He Go?https://t.co/Nz3AQhFODx pic.twitter.com/iNPFcfGspW
According to 247Sports’ composite rankings, Faraimo is the No. 38 prospect and the No. 4 linebacker in the 2025 class.
“The Ohio State offers an opportunity to be part of a football program that young players dream of,” Faraimo told On3. “It feels surreal to imagine myself in a Buckeyes uniform. I know the opportunity at Ohio State stretches me from a character standpoint because I’d be further from family.”
In Faraimo’s junior season, he recorded 101 tackles, five tackles for loss, two sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Ohio State hopes to get the California standout on campus sometime this spring or this summer, which would be his first trip to Columbus since last June.
Jaedon Harmon earns Ohio State offer
James Laurinaitis has made his first offer to a prospect since taking over as Ohio State’s full-time linebacker coach. Four-star 2025 Georgia linebacker Jaedon Harmon received it on Wednesday.
#AGTG BLESSED to receive an offer from THE Ohio State University!! #GoBucks @JLaurinaitis55 @SWiltfong247 @RustyMansell_ @adamgorney @JeremyO_Johnson pic.twitter.com/CNz6QSmEJo
— Jaedon Harmon 4 LB (@JaedonHarmon10) February 22, 2024
The 6-foot-1, 215-pound Harmon is considered the 150th-ranked prospect and the 19-best linebacker in the 2025 class. He’s earned more than 30 Division I offers, including Auburn, Boston College, Cincinnati, Clemson, Duke, Florida, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisville, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, Mississippi State, Missouri, NC State, Nebraska, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Pittsburgh, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, UCF, USC and Vanderbilt.
Harmon racked up 80 tackles, eight tackles for loss, five sacks, one interception, three pass breakups and five quarterback hits as a junior.
Vernell Brown III puts Buckeyes in top 11
An Ohio State wide receiver target has narrowed down his recruitment. Four-star Florida wide receiver Vernell Brown III released a top 11 on Thursday consisting of Florida, Ohio State, Syracuse, Florida State, Alabama, Tennessee, Miami, Clemson, Stanford, Louisville and UCF.
Wheres ????@Hayesfawcett3 @CoachVB_ESM @JonesHSFootball pic.twitter.com/0td3I7PHtP
— Vernell "Trey" Brown III1 (@VB3_9) February 22, 2024
Brown has visited OSU several times throughout his recruitment and earned his offers from the Buckeyes over the summer.
“It feels amazing,” Brown told Eleven Warriors after receiving the offer in June. “Ohio State is the cream of the crop as it pertains to developing and producing the wide receiver position. To earn an opportunity to become part of that meant a lot and reiterates that I am one of the top guys at the position in my class."
As it stands, Florida is the perceived favorite for Brown heading into spring visits, so the Buckeyes will likely need to get him back on campus to have a chance in this recruitment. Ryan Day and Brian Hartline both stopped at his high school in January to see him during the active period.
“I can play both inside and outside,” Brown said of his on-field ability. “I have always worked to be really good at both and be a guy that can be moved around to play both. My versatility is the best aspect. I can play any skill position on both sides of the ball at a high level.”
Jaime Ffrench and Nasir Wyatt schedule spring visits to OSU
A pair of top targets for the Buckeyes in the 2025 class have locked in spring visits for Ohio State.
Five-star wide receiver Jaime Ffrench Jr. has long been a coveted target of Hartline and Ohio State and will make his return to Columbus on March 30. Both Day and Hartline visited Ffrench in January.
“The interest in Ohio State is high right now, definitely in that top three range,” Ffrench told Eleven Warriors after the visit. “I’m working to get back on campus soon.”
Four-star linebacker Nasir Wyatt is another prospect expected to be on campus this spring, with Wyatt scheduled to be in Columbus on March 9. Other spring visits Wyatt will take include USC, Miami and Tennessee.
