One of Ohio State’s top defensive tackle targets in the 2025 class will make his college decision this week.
Four-star Florida defensive tackle Jarquez Carter will announce his commitment on Thursday and choose from a group that includes OSU, Penn State, Miami, UCF, Penn State and Florida.
Committing July 18th, At Newberry high school.
— Jarquez Carter (@JarquezCarter) June 24, 2024
The 6-foot-2, 284-pound prospect took an official visit to Columbus in June, one of several visits he made to Columbus in his recruitment. A few days ahead of the announcement, it’s unclear exactly which direction Carter is leaning, but while there’s been a lot of smoke with Miami over the past few weeks, there’s some cautious optimism Ohio State could end up being the pick on Thursday.
If Carter joins the 2025 class, he’d be the sixth defensive lineman to commit to OSU, joining Zahir Mathis, London Merritt, Zion Grady, Trajen Odom and Maxwell Roy. While he’d be the third interior player committed to OSU this cycle, Carter’s commitment wouldn’t alter the Buckeyes’ pursuit of Malik Autry, or Jahkeem Stewart if he reclassifies to 2025.
Per 247Sports’ composite rankings, Carter is considered the No. 395 prospect and the No. 42 defensive lineman in the 2025 class.
Carter recorded 67 tackles, 37 tackles for loss, nine sacks and 15 quarterback hurries while leading Newberry High School (Newberry, Florida) to a 9-3 record last season. As a sophomore, Carter totaled 78 tackles, 23 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, eight quarterback hits, two pass breakups and a forced fumble.
“I see myself moving around the whole line, kind of like an Aaron Donald type,” Carter told Eleven Warriors in February. “I’d say my get-off and how I use my hands (makes me dominant on the field).”
Will Conroy leaves OSU off top five
An in-state offensive lineman in the 2026 class has released a top five that doesn’t include Ohio State.
Three-star Cleveland prospect Will Conroy put out a top five Monday consisting of Arizona State, Michigan, Oklahoma, Miami and Oregon. It’s early in Conroy’s recruitment, but the Ducks are believed to be the frontrunners in this one.
Conroy was offered by OSU in January and said Ohio State was his leader at the time.
“I’ve wanted this offer all my life and have wanted to play for the scarlet and gray. I have an opportunity to do that after the offer,” Conroy told Eleven Warriors in January. “Obviously, I’m still looking at other schools, but coming from this state and knowing what the rivalry is all about, a lot of other people may look at this game as just another game to them, but it’s The Game. Growing up that’s something special and if I decide to come here, I’d hope to spread the rivalry because we’re not looking too hot for the past three years.”
While it’s unusual to see an in-state product with an OSU offer eliminate the Buckeyes from consideration this early, there are no shortage of intriguing offensive line prospects both in-state and nationally for the Buckeyes to target in the 2026 cycle.
Daylan McCutcheon commits to Florida State
As expected on Saturday, four-star Texas prospect Daylan McCutcheon committed to a school not named Ohio State, giving his verbal to Florida State.
With at least one wide receiver spot still up for grabs in the 2025 class, Ohio State’s top targets to complete the current cycle are Phillip Bell and Preston Bowman. There have also been a few quiet rumblings nationwide that five-star 2026 wide receiver commit Chris Henry Jr. is considering reclassifying to 2025, but that is far from a certainty, as Henry said last month that he was not planning to reclassify at the time.
A quick programming note: I am taking one final vacation this summer, starting on Tuesday, before things ramp up at Big Ten Media Days next week. The rest of the Eleven Warriors team will have you covered on any major recruiting news that breaks in the meantime, but this will be the lone Hurry-Up of this week.
