Five-star defensive lineman Daevin Hobbs announces commitment date, Ohio State named finalist

COLUMBUS — Daevin Hobbs is one of the last remaining national prospects in the 2023 cycle to find a home.

But that’s going to change soon.

The five-star Concord (N.C.) Jay M Robinson defensive lineman announced Wednesday that he plans to make a commitment on Nov. 25, his mother’s birthday.

Hobbs also released his final six schools that included Tennessee, Alabama, Michigan, Georgia and North Carolina.

Ohio State also was included in the final list of schools for On3’s No. 23 overall prospect.

The relationship between Hobbs and the Buckeyes has been a quick development down the stretch for the 2023 cycle. He picked up his offer from Ohio State on Sept. 29. Hobbs quickly set up an unofficial visit to Columbus where he watched the Buckeyes dismantle Rutgers on Oct. 1.

Hobbs recapped his visit with On3 Director of Recruiting Chad Simmons.

“It was really fun,” said Hobbs, the No. 23 overall prospect and No. 3 defensive lineman in the 2023 On300. “Me and my family got up there Friday. We walked all over around the campus. It was nice. We rode the scooters. We had fun up there. And then the game day atmosphere was pretty cool. I liked their band and all their pregame traditions they do.”

Hobbs told Simmons that his relationship with Ohio State defensive line coach Larry Johnson took off after that game-day visit. The two were able to watch film and hash out a plan for what Hobbs could become if he chose the Buckeyes.

“I like his philosophies,” Hobbs said. “They make a lot of sense. I like the way he goes about doing his business and then, I like the way he teaches the d-lineman hands, how hands are important and stuff.

“He was talking about how they wanted to develop me into a Bosa, Chase Young-type of player,” Hobbs added.”

Breaking down contenders for Daevin Hobbs

Ohio State is a named finalist for Daevin Hobbs’ pledge, but the intel points to a few teams as the front runners in his recruitment.

Hobbs is fresh off an unofficial visit to Tennessee where he watched the Volunteers upset previously-undefeated Alabama.

Going into that weekend, North Carolina was the then leader according to the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine, but Tennessee has quickly taken the top spot.

“It shows that [Tennessee is] a top team too and they can compete with other top teams,” Hobbs told Simmons. “So there’s that and then I would say just I mean just make things I mean there’s so that They can compete on the highest level with other top five teams.”

Hobbs has two upcoming official visits: Alabama and Georgia. His official visit with the Crimson Tide is scheduled for this weekend and then his trip to Athens is on Nov. 4.