Four-star defensive end Kenyatta Jackson commits to Ohio State

COLUMBUS – Ohio State has landed its first defensive lineman commitment in the Class of 2022. Four-star prospect Kenyatta Jackson Jr. announced his pledge to Larry Johnson and the Buckeyes on Tuesday.

Jackson is the No. 78 overall player and No. 7 EDGE player in the national composite rankings, and he rates as the No. 108 overall player and No. 11 EDGE prospect per On3.

“It came down to my relationship with the staff, the history behind the school, and their development of defensive ends,” Jackson told On3’s Chad Simmons. “Those things, my visits there, and my gut led me to pick Ohio State.”

Jackson’s recruitment came down to a three-way race between Ohio State, Oklahoma and Alabama. The Crimson Tide came into the picture pretty strongly in the fall, but this was mostly a Buckeyes vs. Sooners battle.

It was anticipated that Jackson would visit Oklahoma and Ohio State one more time each this fall after visiting each in the summer. However, that visit to Norman never happened. Jackson took an official visit there in mid June, but he never returned. In the meantime, he visited Ohio State twice – on an official visit on June 25 and for an unofficial visit in late July for the Buckeyes’ recruiting barbecue.

Johnson also visited Jackson last week during the Buckeyes’ off week, and the deal was sealed on his commitment.

Those visits helped Jackson continue to build a strong relationship with Johnson, whose track record of developing players such as Joey Bosa, Nick Bosa and Chase Young is a key reason for why Jackson chose the Buckeyes. He informed Johnson last Tuesday about his decision, and he can’t wait to work with the longtime guru.

“He has done so much with defensive linemen, players believe in him, and he is the greatest defensive line coach in college football history,” Jackson said.

The 6-foot-5, 235-pounder is a long, explosive pass rusher who also had the opportunity to become an outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme at the college level. Johnson and the Buckeyes are hoping to use the athleticism, body control and quick first step off the ball that Jackson possesses as the next player in the mold of a current defensive end such as Jack Sawyer or Javontae Jean-Baptiste.

Jackson hails from Chaminade-Madonna Prep where the Buckeyes continue to hit it big in Hollywood, Florida. Jackson joins high school teammate Ryan Turner in committing to the Buckeyes as the four-star cornerback pledged to Ohio State in May.