Ohio State in good position for a pair of defensive prospects

Ohio State has largely put the finishing touches on a top-5 recruiting class for the 2024 cycle, but there is still a little more work left for Ryan Day and his staff before National Signing Day in February.

Painesville (Ohio) Riverside four-star defensive lineman Dominic Kirks was at one time committed to the Washington Huskies. He decided not to sign with the Huskies in December, instead setting up an official visit to Ohio State for mid-January — a visit he took this weekend. After the departure of Washington head coach Kalen DeBoer to Alabama, Kirks decommitted from Washington.

Ohio State recruiting insider Matt Parker joined The Inside Scoop football recruiting show to discuss Ohio State’s recruitment of Kirks.

Ohio State hosts Dominic Kirks

“That decommitment happened before he began his official visit at Ohio State,” Parker said. “This is a prospect that Ohio State has been interested in for a while now, dating back all the way to 2023. There’s been some injury concerns with Kirks . . . now Ohio State is in a little bit of a position where they simply need bodies in their defensive line room. Even with J.T. Tuimoloau coming back, and Jack Sawyer and Tyleik Williams and Ty Hamilton — those guys are only there for one more season. Then after that, it’s kind of a who’s who. You need depth. Dominic Kirks presents a really good depth piece.

“He’s currently on his official visit to Ohio State, that wraps up Sunday afternoon,” Parker continued. “Lettermen Row’s Alex Gleitman put in a pick for the Buckeyes to land Kirks. We’ll see — there are some other contenders that are in the mix. Kirks took an official visit to USC. Michigan is interested, Michigan State is interested. But it’s notable that he did not sign in December with the Huskies, and now he’s decommitted and back on the market.

“I do like where Ohio State stands with the in-state prospect. It is a little bit different any time an in-state prospect is getting attention from Ohio State, and I think that might accelerate this recruitment. Ohio State could add a third defensive lineman for its 2024 class, joining Eddrick Houston and Eric Mensah.”

Buckeyes pushing for Tarvos Alford

Port Saint Lucie (Fla.) Vero Beach four-star linebacker Tarvos Alford is one of the premier defensive prospects in the 2025 recruiting class. At one time, Florida was thought to be the favorite for the in-state recruit. But Gators linebackers coach Jay Bateman departed Florida for Texas A&M after spending two season on the staff, and that left some room for the Buckeyes.

“I absolutely think that Ohio State can capitalize here,” Parker said. “It starts off with the relationship between TJ Alford, James Laurinaitis, Jim Knowles and Ryan Day. The Buckeyes really sunk their teeth into this recruitment in June 2023 when Alford showed up for a recruiting camp in Columbus and had a private workout with Jim Knowles and James Laurinaitis. Any time that happens, any time that an Ohio State coach pulls aside a kid for a private workout at these recruiting camps where hundreds of kids are there, that’s a pretty big deal. That’s pretty significant.

“Ever since then, the relationship between Alford, his family and Ohio State has blossomed into this really positive thing. Alford was on campus for, I believe, the Michigan State game in November 2023. Spent a lot of time with Laurinaitis and Knowles, and that was one of the better games for Ohio State linebackers.

“I just put in a prediction on Sunday for Ohio State to land Alford into the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine with a confidence level of 65%,” Parker added. “Alford has confirmed with me that he’s going to take a visit to Ohio State during spring ball. So all signs are pointing towards the Buckeyes getting this thing done early.”