Analyzing impact of Tunmise Adeleye committing to Ohio State

COLUMBUS — The country’s top-ranked recruiting class has added another major piece: Tunmise Adeleye has committed to Ohio State.

A standout defensive lineman from Katy (Texas) Tompkins High School who earned unanimous first-team All-District selections as a sophomore and a junior, Adeleye is set to play his senior season at the IMG Academy in Florida. The highly-regarded lineman visited Ohio State in June last year, and while he had multiple other visits to the school planned, he never made it back to Columbus since then. That apparently didn’t matter as Adeleye and Buckeyes defensive line coach Larry Johnson remained in constant contact, building a relationship that carried the recruitment through multiple trips to programs like Florida, Miami, Texas A&M and others.

“Larry Johnson is an elite defensive coach who knows how to mold not just great linemen, but men of character,” Adeleye told Lettermen Row previously. “It’s really simple for them to remain in my top schools moving forward. Just continue to win and continue to build a relationship with me and my family.”

The relationship never slowed. And now Adeleye is the latest highly-ranked player to commit to Ryan Day in the Class of 2021.

Lettermen Row is breaking down Adeleye’s decision and what it means for Ohio State, the Big Ten and the national recruiting landscape.

What Tunmise Adeleye gives Ohio State on field

Tunmise Adeleye is not a prototypical defensive end prospect, but he has rare explosiveness and violent hands that help make up for the lack of length usually reserved for big-time pass rushing prospects. Adeleye is 6-foot-3, 250-pounds and built in a similar mold as former Ohio State lineman Jashon Cornell, who spent a good majority of the 2015 cycle as the country’s top-ranked overall player when he emerged from the Minnesota prep scene.

There are a number of analysts who believe that the future for Tumise Adeleye is at defensive tackle, though he strongly believes that he’s a defensive end in college. Apparently Larry Johnson agrees with that sentiment and is eager to give Adeleye the chance to prove it.

The future is bright for Adeleye, and that is the case no matter which spot he plays along the defensive line in Columbus. He’s a versatile athlete who has high upside and can be a multiyear contributor for Ohio State, especially when he’s able to fully reap the benefits of the strength and conditioning program run by Mickey Marotti.

What pickup means for Ohio State 2021 recruiting class

The Buckeyes now have three defensive linemen committed for 2021, as Adeleye joins 5-star defensive end Jack Sawyer and 4-star interior lineman Michael Hall. It’s a position group that should include five or even six signees when it all shakes out for Larry Johnson. The timing of the addition along with Adeleye’s national appeal should go a long way toward helping the Buckeyes when it comes to the last few players they’re chasing along the defensive line.

Knowing that Sawyer, Hall and Adeleye are locked and loaded for Ohio State will provide confidence for top targets like J.T. Tuimoloau and Demeioun Robinson that they’re going to be a part of a historically great group of talents if they chose to join the mix.

Adeleye is set to play his senior season at the talent-filled IMG Academy in Bradenton (Fla.), and in his time there he has grown close to a number of top recruits — including former Florida Gators commitment Kamar Wilcoxson and top Ohio State target J.C Latham, the country’s No. 1-ranked offensive tackle. Adeleye was very seriously considering Florida, Alabama, Oklahoma and many others from among his 30-plus scholarship offers.

How Tunmise Adeleye impacts recruiting rankings

Adeleye becomes commitment No. 16 for Ohio State. He also expands the lead for the Buckeyes as the country’s top-ranked class. The country’s sixth-ranked strongside defensive end according to the 247Sports.com composite rankings, Adeleye now gives the Buckeyes 11 players ranked inside of the nation’s top-100 prospects and becomes the second player from Texas to pick Ohio State this cycle.

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