2024 DL Eric Mensah flips commitment from Virginia Tech to Ohio State

Stafford (Va.) Mountain View three-star defensive lineman Eric Mensah has flipped his commitment from Virginia Tech to Ohio State.

The 6-foot-3, 265-pounder committed to the Hokies on July 17, but flipped to the Buckeyes after taking a game visit to Columbus on Sept. 9.

Mensah is the No. 884 overall prospect in the 2024 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He’s also the No. 87 defensive lineman and No. 19 player in Virginia.

For more Ohio State recruiting intel, check out Lettermen Row.

Assistant head coach Larry Johnson led Ohio State’s recruitment on Mensah. He was offered by the Buckeyes during his game visit last weekend. He’s the 22nd pledge to join the Buckeyes’ 2024 recruiting class, which ranks No. 2 in the nation, per the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Ranking.

“A couple of Lettermen Row sources mentioned that Mensah and his family were blown away by the visit,” wrote Lettermen Row’s Matt Parker. “Mensah and his family closely watched the defensive line throughout the game and in particular during warm-ups where they could see how Johnson and the unit really performed up close.”

Mensah does not currently have an On3 NIL Valuation. The On3 NIL Valuation is the industry’s leading index that sets high school and college athletes’ projected annual value (PAV). The NIL valuation does not act as a tracker of the value of NIL deals an athlete has completed to date. It rather signifies an athlete’s value at a certain moment in time.

Ohio State locking down elite 2024 recruiting class

To no surprise, the Buckeyes once again have a star-studded cast currently set to head to Columbus next season. Ohio State has a whopping five five-star recruits, the most of any program this cycle.

Hollywood (Fla.) Chaminade-Madonna Prep WR Jeremiah Smith is the top-ranked player in the nation, while Chicago St. Ignatius five-star DL Justin Scott and New Haven (Ind.) WR Mylan Graham flank as top-15 recruits. 

Fairburn (Ga.) Langston Hughes QB Air Noland recently acquired five-star status, while Buford (Ga.) DL Eddrick Houston is the latest to join the fray. Mensah is the third defensive lineman in the OSU class, joining Scott and Houston.

Of the now 22 commits in the class, 17 are blue-chippers, including 11 players ranked inside the top-150, according to the On3 Industry Ranking. It’s become common for Ryan Day and Co., yet the Buckeyes are still finding ways to impress on the recruiting trail.