When Justin Hill stepped onto the field to participate in the Under Armour Next Camp in Canton Sunday, all four schools still alive in his recruitment were represented.
The four-star in-state 2025 prospect wore wristbands representing Ohio State, Alabama and USC. Following his workout, Hill carried around an Oregon backpack. Those are the finalists fighting for his commitment over the next few months, as the Winton Woods product says he will commit on July 3, his birthday.
“I want to break it down a little more,” Hill told Eleven Warriors of his recruitment. “I’m just trying to figure out where I want to be and try to be as 100 percent transparent with all the schools that are recruiting me, for sure.”
The 6-foot-3, 220-pound Hill says he’s scheduled official visits to all four schools, with his Ohio State visit scheduled for May 31. OSU has always been at the forefront of his recruitment, with Hill consistently speaking with Ryan Day, Jim Knowles and James Laurinaitis and occasionally Larry Johnson.
“I talk to them a lot,” Hill said of OSU. “A couple times a week. I don’t want to involve my whole life with my recruitment and I think coaches respect that and understand. So we talk a couple of times a week and I really like that.”
OSU’s staff has consistently put on a full-court press for the in-state prospect, recently sending secondary coach Tim Walton to Winton Woods for a brief check-in with the talented edge rusher.
“It makes me feel like a priority,” Hill said of OSU sending multiple defensive coaches to recruit him. “I want to go somewhere where I’m needed not wanted. It’s just nice to know their whole staff knows me and acknowledges me.
“For example, the last time I was at OSU, I walked into the defensive meetings to say goodbye to the coaches and everyone got up and shook my hand. There was at least 15 of them in there. That was really important to me to know that they acknowledged me.”
The Buckeyes have always been toward the top of Hill’s list. He grew up an Ohio State fan and appreciates the pipeline from Winton Woods to Columbus, most recently cornerback Jermaine Mathews, running back Miyan Williams and defensive tackle Jerron Cage. Hill has been a frequent visitor on campus over the past year, taking his most recent visit earlier this month for the Buckeyes’ spring game.
It’s probably fair to call Ohio State the favorite to land Hill with a little more than two months to go before his decision, but Hill will keep an open mind, take his visits and do his due diligence throughout his process.
“Really just finding my home vibe,” Hill said of what he’s looking for in his recruitment. “Relationships are there, trust is building for sure. Development, I know I can get developed by any school I have in my list right now. So really it’s just that and getting the little things together and making sure where I go is going to be the same as when I’m visiting right now and it won’t get switched up when I’m there.”
Hill isn’t your traditional recruit in that it’s hard to label him as a certain position, because his greatest asset is his versatility. Though Ohio State hasn’t utilized the Jack position in Jim Knowles’ defense much as of late, Hill’s skillset is perfect for it. He could also be deployed as a traditional linebacker or an edge rusher.
“I feel like I’m dangerous because I’m versatile,” Hill said. “I can disrupt from any side of the field whether I’m dropping back in coverage or blitzing inside or outside, or playing sideline to sideline as a linebacker. I feel like I can be a game disruptor for sure. They acknowledged that and want me to play everything.”
Hill’s performance Sunday showcased why his top four schools are all heavily pursuing him, as the Ohio prospect won the majority of his one-on-one reps, rushing from both the edge and as a defensive tackle.
His first rep of the day was the most impressive, as he launched Notre Dame offensive line commit Owen Strebig into the air mid-rep.
Four-star 2025 edge prospect and priority Ohio State target Justin Hill is impressive, to say the least. pic.twitter.com/Kd7avmYZZN
— Garrick Hodge (@Garrick_Hodge) April 28, 2024
"Really I was just reading it, I had a two-yard split off the edge," Hill said of that impressive first play. "I read that he was playing that back technique, watching for my speed. So I showed speed and tried to get up under his shoulder and it happened. He's a hell of a player and we were working at it all day."
Hill’s recruitment is nearing its end, and Ohio State will be right in the thick of things until he’s ready to make an announcement.
“I really just want somewhere where I’m happy,” Hill said of what he’s looking for in a school. “Say I’m buried in the depth chart or I’m injured, whatever the case may be, I want to be happy where I’m at going to work and playing the sport I love.”
