Ohio State makes final four for West Coast linebacker Madden Faraimo
COLUMBUS — Ohio State consistently and routinely makes top school lists for prospects all across the country. And the Buckeyes have found themselves on another one.
Four-star San Diego (Calif) J Serra Catholic linebacker Madden Faraimo included Ohio State on his final four schools. Notre Dame, Oregon and USC are the other three finalists for the 6-foot-3, 225-pound linebacker.
Faraimo is the No. 113 overall prospect and the No. 13 linebacker according to On3. The On3 Industry Rankings are a bit different with Faraimo at the No. 54 overall prospect and the No. 5 linebacker. Both metrics have him as a top 10 California prospect, however.
He spoke with On3’s Hayes Fawcett about why the Buckeyes were one of his four finalists.
“THE Ohio State offers an opportunity to be part of a football program that young players dream of,” he said. “It feels surreal to imagine myself in a Buckeyes uniform. I know the opportunity at Ohio State stretches me from a character standpoint because I’d be further from my family.”
Lettermen Row is reminded of how the recruitment played out for four-star Bellflower (Calif) St. John Bosco linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa. The Buckeyes were in the thick of it, but he chose Notre Dame.
Buckeye Board
At one point, Ohio State was pushing hard for Faraimo. He camped at Ohio State last summer and the connection between him and linebackers coach James Laurinaitis is strong.
But others have moved past him. The Buckeyes already have one committed linebacker in three-star Akron (Ohio) Archbishop Hoban talent Eli Lee. They are trending for four-star Port St. Lucie (Fla) Vero Beach linebacker Tarvos Alford.
And then behind those two, it’s a Texas-sized party led by four-star McKinney linebacker Riley Pettijohn and four-star Dallas Skyline linebacker Elijah Barnes.
Other Contenders (via Hayes Fawcett)
Notre Dame: Notre Dame is unique from the other schools because of its foundation in faith, which is an important aspect of my life. The University is highly respected academically and I would be honored to play under Coach Freeman’s leadership.
Oregon: Oregon’s program and what I anticipate the lifestyle to be, seems to align with me. I don’t need a lot to be a hard worker but they have everything I need to be the best player and teammate I could be.
USC: The University is highly respected academically and though the football program has been challenged in recent years, I am very confident in the coaching staff Coach Riley has built. It would be an honor to play for a school close to home as well.
