Four-star running back Jordan Lyle flips from Ohio State to Miami
COLUMBUS — Ohio State is faced with another departure from its 2024 class as the early signing period opens up in less than two days.
Four-star Fort Lauderdale (Fla) St. Thomas Aquinas running back Jordan Lyle has decommitted from the Buckeyes and flipped to Miami.
Lyle made an official visit to Miami this past weekend.
The 6-foot, 190-pound running back is the No. 2 running back in the country and the No. 39 overall prospect according to On3. No other recruiting service is as high on the South Florida running back except for Rivals, who has Lyle as the No. 5 running back and No. 79 overall prospect.
Lyle committed to Ohio State on April 29 in a decision that wasn’t expected by many outside of the Woody Hayes Athletic Center.
“Really what led me to Ohio State was the genuine love and development of the players that I saw,” Lyle told On3. “The coaches are extremely great people that want the best out of you and I would love to be around people like that. When I went up there on a visit, the practice had so much energy and emotion. I would definitely want to see myself in that type of environment. Ohio State has always been a dream school of mine since Zeke (Elliot) played. I can’t wait to join the Buckeye Nation.”
Ohio State running back Tony Alford was down in Fort Lauderdale last week to see Lyle play in his state semifinal game. Alford stayed through the weekend and spent time with Lyle and his family in their home on Sunday.
The Buckeyes are now down to two running backs in the 2024 cycle. Four-star San Antonio (Texas) Veterans Memorial running back James Peoples and three-star Pickerington (Ohio) North running back Sam Williams-Dixon. Both of those pledges are viewed as locks to the Buckeyes’ class, however.
Lyle is the second departure from the Buckeyes’ 2024 class within the last few weeks. Five-star Chicago (Ill) St. Ignatius defensive lineman Justin Scott flipped from Ohio State to Miami on Nov. 29.
The Buckeyes are now down to 21 total commits to their 2024 class, which now ranks third nationally. Ohio State is unlikely to pursue another 2024 running back with the early signing period two days away. It will instead navigate through the available names within the transfer portal.
Dallan Hayden is expected to return to Ohio State in 2024. Evan Pryor and Chip Trayanum have transferred to Cincinnati and Kentucky, respectively. TreVeyon Henderson is yet to announce his plans for the NFL or another year in Columbus. And well-respected running back Miyan Williams has declared for the NFL draft already.
