New Ohio State defensive end Logan George remembers exactly where he was when he received the phone call that would change his life.
George was on his way to dinner with his family, then looked down to see Ohio State defensive line coach Larry Johnson giving him a ring. On that brief call, Johnson pitched George on the idea of continuing his development in Columbus and that he could refine his technique as a run stopper and pass rusher.
The 6-foot-4, 249-pound lineman who left Idaho State because of a coaching change had already been one of the most coveted transfers on the market, receiving interest from Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Missouri, Wisconsin and Nebraska. Ultimately, he chose the Buckeyes because he thought playing for Johnson was the best choice to better his career.
“Coach Johnson told me he could develop me,” George said. “I firmly believe he of all people could do that. So I decided to get better with him.”
George enrolled at OSU in January and was on campus for the Buckeyes’ final two College Football Playoff games. He helped give the team looks on the scout team and got a firsthand look at what he’d be experiencing himself in a few months.
“The biggest thing I took away was seeing how those guys practiced,” George said. “Just seeing how the offense did things particularly sharp, so it was a big influence on me and how I have to do things when I get here. I did the best I could to learn from Jack (Sawyer) and JT (Tuimoloau), just to see how they practiced and what they did and I was able to ask them for pointers.”
Johnson said the experience George gained in those few weeks on campus should benefit him in the long run.
“We felt like at that time we wanted to get him in early to come practice. He was available so we took a shot at him,” Johnson said. “He’s been a pleasant surprise to us all. He’s quicker than I thought he was. He’s got power, he’s got really strong hands to get off blocks and set the edge.”
It’s not often that Ohio State takes a gamble on a transfer from the FCS, but Ryan Day and Larry Johnson were optimistic that his skill set would transfer to the Power Four level. Beyond that, they had a little inside knowledge about what he could offer.
George hails from Pocatello, Idaho, the same hometown that produced former Ohio State defensive tackle Tommy Togiai. Ryan Day and Larry Johnson had relationships from Togiai’s recruitment with George’s high school football coach, former Highland High School head coach Gino Mariani, so they did their due diligence. The responses they received checked their boxes, and George passed the eye test on both film and on his visit to Ohio State.
“We watched the film and saw a player who played really hard, really physical and really tough,” Day said of George. “We brought him in and really liked his family and his support system and what they believe in. We felt it was the right fit. He did a nice job in those two weeks when we were preparing to play the last two games of the year and he’s taken it from there and did a nice job in the weight room. He’s a very serious guy, but he’s earned the respect of our team in a short period of time.”
They’re also hoping his play on the field speaks for itself. In 12 starts for Idaho State last season, George recorded 57 total tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. Per Pro Football Focus’ grades, George recorded an overall grade of 73 for the 2024 season (an above-average grade) and was graded 71.5 in run defense and 73.4 in pass rush. He played 648 total defensive snaps.
Through five Ohio State spring practices, George admitted he’s facing a bit of an adjustment period, which is to be expected from someone going from the FCS to playing for the defending national champions. The speed in particular at Ohio State is what George said amazes him. He’s also adjusting to the footwork required, OSU’s run fits and how the Buckeyes rush the passer.
But he’s relishing the opportunity to compete at the highest level and gain valuable experiences in one-on-one reps against Ohio State’s top offensive linemen.
“I’m excited to compete,” George said. “Every day in practice I get to compete against the best guys and as a byproduct you get better. That’s what I’m most excited about.”
As Day alluded to, George has already made a favorable impression on his teammates.
“Just a ball player,” Ohio State defensive end Caden Curry said of George. “I mean, he definitely is gonna be a great player here and he's just taking it day by day, too. We're all just working.”
It’s too early to know just how big of a role George, who has two seasons of eligibility remaining, will have this year for the Buckeyes. Perhaps he’ll crack the two-deep, but it’s a long shot he’ll start at either defensive end position given the presence of Curry and Kenyatta Jackson Jr.
But Ohio State is bullish on George making an impact on the Buckeyes sooner rather than later based on his attributes.
“The main thing is me going as hard as I possibly can and showing work ethic, I think that translates anywhere,” George said of his approach with OSU.
