Rising 2025 DL Landon Rink visiting Ohio State

SEC programs have set the pace in the recruitment of Cypress (Texas) Cy-Fair three-star defensive lineman Landon Rink, but a Big Ten powerhouse is also pushing hard to land his commitment.

Ohio State offered the 6-foot-2, 265-pounder in September. This week, Rink finally made his way to Columbus to visit the Buckeyes.

📍📍📍 @samspiegs @MikeRoach247 @adamgorney @SWiltfong247 @MarshallRivals pic.twitter.com/ovQxzUc04W

— landon rink 4🌟 (@landonrink) March 18, 2024

The visit to Ohio State is off the heels of Ryan Day and the Buckeyes staff making their way to the Lone Star State in January to visit Rink. Defensive line coach Larry Johnson is ready to turn up the heat in OSU’s pursuit, too.

“My No. 1 thing is development and that’s Ohio State’s thing,” Rink told On3 last month. “With Coach LJ, arguably the best DL coach all-time, he’s put out the most first-rounders like Chase Young, he’s a legend, and that’s a big piece for me. He’s also a great guy, he’s family-oriented, and I’d love to play in a program with rich history and a great culture.”

An official visit to Ohio State is on the cards for May 31, as are OVs to Penn State, Texas A&M and Oklahoma. Texas is another program that has made some major headway throughout Rink’s recruitment. Pulling Rink out of Texas may be a challenge, but that’s nothing new to Day, Johnson and Co.

“Coach LJ and I talk every day,” Rink said. “Coach Day flying down here to see me from Ohio State meant a lot. He’s an awesome guy and when he was here, he FaceTimed Kirk Herbstreit so he could talk to my mom, so he’s a great dude.”

Rink is the No. 389 overall prospect and No. 34 DL in the 2025 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He’s also the No. 64 player in Texas.

Ohio State Class Breakdown

In total, the Buckeyes have eight commitments already on the board, six of whom rank among the top 100 nationally and seven who check in as blue-chip (four and five-star) recruits.

Early in the 2025 cycle, defensive coordinator Jim Knowles and his staff have gotten busy. Of OSU’s eight commitments, five are on that side of the ball and three are in the secondary. Ohio State holds commitments from the nation’s top two cornerback recruits — Five-Star Plus+ CB Na’eem Offord and five-star corner Devin Sanchez. Their class also includes top-60 EDGE Zahir Mathis, top-100 cornerback Blake Woodby and in-state standout linebacker Eli Lee.

On the offensive side, OSU has already locked up its quarterback in the class with elite passer Tavien St. Clair, who ranks No. 2 nationally at the position in the On300. He’s joined by elite local four-star offensive tackle Carter Lowe and Cocoa (Fla.) four-star wide receiver Jayvan Boggs.