In November 2024, the Ohio State Buckeyes experienced significant changes in their 2025 recruiting class as two highly-touted defensive ends, Zahir Mathis and London Merritt, decommitted from the program.
On November 18, 2024, four-star defensive end Zahir Mathis announced his decision to reopen his recruitment. Mathis, a 6-foot-6, 225-pound prospect from Philadelphia’s Imhotep Institute, had been committed to Ohio State since January 10, 2024. In his announcement, Mathis expressed gratitude towards the Ohio State coaching staff, stating, “I appreciate Coach Day, Coach Johnson and all the coaches at Ohio State. They are still a top school for me. This is a life decision. Please respect my decision!”
Following his decommitment, Mathis has kept his options open, scheduling official visits with UCLA, Florida State, and Michigan. He continues to maintain relationships with Ohio State and Penn State. Michigan appears to be a frontrunner due to Mathis’s strong connections with head coach Sherrone Moore and defensive line coach Lou Esposito. Mathis is particularly impressed with Michigan’s history of developing edge rushers, which aligns with his playing style.
Just over a week later, on November 26, 2024, four-star defensive end London Merritt also decommitted from Ohio State. Merritt, a 6-foot-3, 250-pound prospect from IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, had been committed to the Buckeyes since March 29, 2024. In his announcement, Merritt stated, “This was not an easy decision.”
Merritt’s decision followed several visits to other programs, including North Carolina and Colorado. Notably, he made a surprise official visit to Colorado in October and returned for a subsequent trip, leading to speculation about his commitment status. With his decommitment, Colorado emerged as a potential landing spot for the talented pass-rusher.
These decommitments left Ohio State with four defensive linemen committed in the 2025 class: Zion Grady, Trajen Odom, Jarquez Carter, and Maxwell Roy. The Buckeyes have been proactive in addressing these departures, hosting potential additions such as five-star defensive tackle Jahkeem Stewart, Penn State defensive end commit Chaz Coleman, and UCLA defensive end commit Epi Sitanilei.
The decommitments of Mathis and Merritt underscore the fluid nature of college football recruiting, where verbal commitments are non-binding until official signing periods. For Ohio State, these developments highlight the importance of maintaining strong relationships with committed players and having contingency plans to address unexpected changes in the recruiting landscape.
As the Buckeyes continue to navigate the complexities of recruiting, the focus remains on securing top talent to uphold the program’s competitive standards. The departures of Mathis and Merritt present challenges, but also opportunities for Ohio State to identify and attract other elite prospects to bolster their future defensive front.
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