2025 four-star defensive end de-commits from Ohio State

Ohio State saw a major piece of its 2025 class decommit on Monday, and the Buckeyes will host 2026 four-star Ohio QB Saturday.

The Buckeyes are set to host Indiana in what is a matchup between two top five schools. While some may doubt the Hoosiers because of their schedule, there is no questioning the importance of this weekend’s game for Ohio State.

Because of this, many of the headlines surrounding the team will focus on the weekend’s game, and rightfully so. However, Ohio State will continue to make the recruiting headlines as well, as the team learned all too well Monday recruiting never stops and holds few certainties.

In case you missed Ohio State making the recruiting headlines Monday, Land-Grant Holy Land has you covered.

Four-star DE decommits from Ohio State

Ohio State was the subject of an unfortunate update to the 2025 recruiting class on Monday, as the team learned four-star defensive edge commit Zahir Mathis (Philadelphia, PA / Imhotep Institute) reopened his recruitment and de-committed from the Buckeyes.

In Mathis’ announcement he titled it a, “life decision” and said that Ohio State will remain a top school for him. However, the Buckeyes are likely out of it for Mathis now, and Big Ten foe and hometown school Penn State are the new early favorites to land him. Penn State was the only other school to receive an official visit from Mathis, other than Ohio State.

Ohio State holds commitments from four-star edge Zion Grady, four-star defensive linemen Maxwell Roy, London Merritt, and three-star linemen Jarquez Carter and Trajen Odom. The Buckeyes are also still targeting a pair of defensive linemen in five-star Jahkeem Stewart and four-star Malik Autry, both of who are reportedly scheduled to visit Ohio State on Nov. 30 for the Michigan game.

The Buckeyes still hold claim to the top spot in the 2025 247Sports Class Rankings, but the gap between them and second place Georgia narrowed significantly due to the loss of Mathis.

Mathis is the No. 6 edge in the 247Sports Composite Rankings and he is the No. 76 overall prospect. He is also the No. 3 recruit out of Pennsylvania.

Ohio State set to host four-star Ohio QB

Ohio State is set to host a handful of prospects this weekend as it gears up to play Indiana in what looks to be a top 5 matchup. The visitor list for this weekend’s game will likely grow as the week progresses, and on Monday another up and coming prospect added his name to the list.

Rising 2026 four-star quarterback Nathan Bernhard (Ashland, OH / Ashland) confirmed on Monday that he will be in attendance for this weekend’s game.

The Ohio signal caller holds scholarship offers from the likes of Akron, Duke, Indiana, Iowa State, Louisville, Michigan State, Penn State, Toledo and West Virginia, but he does not yet hold one from Ohio State. If this weekend’s visit goes to plan, he may leave Columbus with more than just a good impression.

Ohio State currently holds just two commitments in next year’s class with five-star wide receiver Chris Henry Jr. and the new addition of fellow WR Jaeden Ricketts, who committed to the Buckeyes last weekend.

Five-star QB Jared Curtis is still Ohio State’s top target at the position in next year’s class, but Bernhard now makes for another viable option for the Buckeyes. Bernhard is the No. 24 QB in the 247Sports Composite Rankings and is the No. 345 overall prospect. He is also the No. 16 recruit out of Ohio.

Quick Hits

• Ohio State is not only making headlines on the college football recruiting front, as Jake Diebler and the Ohio State men’s basketball team is also hitting the trail. The Buckeyes made the top five schools for 2025 five-star power forward Caleb Wilson, who will likely be announcing his decision in the next month or two. Alongside the Buckeyes, Tennessee, Kentucky, North Carolina and UCF made his top schools.