Four-star EDGE London Merritt commits to Ohio State
COLUMBUS — Ohio State is on the eve of a massive recruiting weekend and the Buckeyes have already added to their 2025 class.
Four-star Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy EDGE London Merritt has committed to the Buckeyes.
The 6-foot-2, 255-pound edge rusher originally from Atlanta, Georgia, is the No. 21 EDGE and the No. 165 overall prospect in the On3 Industry Rankings.
“I wanted to choose a program that mirrors my hunger and pursuit for greatness and Ohio State is the perfect place for me,” Merritt told On3’s Hayes Fawcett.
Merritt has long been a target pursued by Ohio State and defensive line coach Larry Johnson. He’s been to campus four times now including this weekend and will make his official visit in June. Merritt spoke with On3 Director of Recruiting Chad Simmons before a slate of spring visits and spoke highly about the Buckeyes.
The Buckeyes have been recruiting him for two years and “going hard” since they extended an offer on Jan. 27, 2023. Merritt has built a strong connection with head coach Ryan Day as well as associate head coach/defensive line coach Larry Johnson, who is a key reason for his interest in the Big Ten program.
“He wants me to be great as a person,” Merritt told On3. “He wants me to be a great man. He wants to help me build great character.
“At the end of the day, he wants me to be the best player, best person and best man I can be.”
Ohio State has always been a major player in Merritt’s recruitment and now it landed his commitment. His role switches quickly now from recruit to commit and this weekend he will be working on getting others in the 2025 class, which ranks No. 1 in the On3 Team Industry Rankings.
Merritt is the second member of the defensive line class as well. He joins four-star Philadelphia (Pa) Imhotep Institute EDGE Zahir Mathis. The front seven is rounded out by three-star Akron (Ohio) Archbishop Hoban linebacker Eli Lee.
On the back end, the Buckeyes have a pair of five-star Plus+ cornerbacks committed in Na’eem Offord and Devin Sanchez. Four-star Baltimore (Md) St. Frances Academy cornerback Blake Woodby rounds things out for the defense.
Five-star Bellefontaine (Ohio) quarterback Tavien St. Clair and four-star Toledo (Ohio) Whitmer offensive tackle Carter Lowe round out the class for Ohio State.
The Buckeyes have a big need at defensive line this cycle and they just landed one of their top targets.
London Merritt has committed to Ohio State.
