On3's No. 7 DL Damari Simeon commits to Ohio State

Egg Harbor Township (N.J.) St. Augustine Prep four-star defensive lineman Damari Simeon has committed to Ohio State, he announced on Friday.

He chose the Buckeyes over Penn State, Michigan and Texas.

Simeon is the No. 189 overall prospect and No. 20 DL in the 2026 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He’s also the No. 3 player in New Jersey.

On3 ranks the 6-foot-2, 275-pounder higher than other recruiting services. He checks in as the No. 65 recruit, No. 7 DL and No. 2 player in the Garden State, per the 2026 On300.

Ohio State got Simeon’s final official visit on the weekend of June 20. In what was a lowkey recruitment, Simeon quickly locked in a decision date after returning from Columbus and has now chosen Ryan Day and the Buckeyes.

Back in the winter, Simeon previewed what would play a role in his eventual decision when speaking with On3’s Chad Simmons. Ohio State clearly checked those boxes and has now brought in a big-time member to its 2026 recruiting class.

“The most important factors to me and my family for deciding on a school are academics, player development, the coaches and program tradition,” Simeon said.

“I have to get a feel for everything in person … no matter how much research you do, seeing everything in person gives you the best feeling about the school and the program. I try to look for things that differentiate a school from the others and what the school can provide that others can’t.”

Ohio State now has 18 commits in its 2026 class. The Buckeyes check in at No. 5 in the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings, behind just USC, Notre Dame, Texas A&M and Georgia. Simeon is the fifth top-100 prospect in the class, per the On300. He’s also the second D-line commitment of the month for OSU, joining four-star Khary Wilder, who pledged on June 10.

Scout’s Take on Damari Simeon

Simeon made a major move in the On300 rankings last fall and he remains an outlier for On3’s scouting and rankings team. He previously drew hefty praise from National Scout Cody Bellaire:

“Damari Simeon is truly one of the freakier movers along the defensive line we have seen this season. At 6-foot-2, 275 pounds, Simeon’s burst and lateral ability are off the charts. He is able to destroy blockers as soon as the ball is snapped but also has the balance and body control in order to work down the line of scrimmage if the play is away from him. His ability to play with such low pad level and get underneath blockers pads allows him to manhandle offensive linemen with ease and it allows him to basically live in opposing backfields on every down. He has one of the highest floors in the entire country due to his ability to displace blockers consistently.”