Elite 2025 EDGE Zahir Mathis names top five schools

Philadelphia Imhotep Institute four-star EDGE Zahir Mathis has narrowed his recruitment down to five schools.

The 6-foot-5, 230-pounder announced on Tuesday that he is down to Ohio State, Florida State, Texas, Tennessee and South Carolina.

Mathis is the No. 54 overall prospect and No. 6 EDGE 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 top-ranked player in Pennsylvania.

Of his five finalists, the blue-chipper took June visits to Ohio State, Tennessee and South Carolina. He discussed his interest in the Buckeyes with Lettermen Row, pointing to OSU’s successful history with players at his position, as well as D-line coach Larry Johnson.

“It was great to get out here on the campus and everything like that with ‘Larry Legend,’” Mathis said after his trip to Columbus in June. “Had a perfect time. He coached me up, did me justice, everything like that. Had some good reps on 1-on-1s, ups and downs and everything like that.”

“I learned a lot. He helped me out with my technique. I had bad footwork, so he helped me out with that. Stance-wise, helped me out. He helped me get off the ball faster and everything like that.”

Mathis has continued to rise in the 2025 cycle and is nearing the top-50 overall in the On3 Industry Ranking. He was a part of On3’s 2025 Prospect Watch List when released back in August 2022 and also impressed at Baltimore Under Armour Next Camp earlier this summer.

“Mathis still has room to grow into his 6-foot-5 frame, but his athleticism jumps out. It showed up Wednesday at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, and it’s clear on tape, too,” Lettermen Row’s Andy Backstrom wrote of Mathis this summer. “He can track down ball carriers, off the edge or from behind. And his length and leverage help him in the pass rushing department.”

According to the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine (RPM), Penn State was the early favorite as the in-state program, but did not make Mathis’ cut. The Nittany Lions had Mathis on campus for an unofficial in April. The Buckeyes and South Carolina have the next two highest RPM odds.

Mathis has an On3 NIL Valuation of $71K. 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.