Ohio State Lands Nation’s Top Recruit DJ Jacobs in Major Recruiting Coup
Just days before their College Football Playoff showdown with Miami in the Cotton Bowl, Ohio State scored a massive win off the field. The Buckeyes landed a commitment from DJ Jacobs - the No. 1 overall player in the 2027 class and the top-ranked edge rusher in the country.
Jacobs, a five-star phenom out of Georgia, had been trending toward Miami for weeks. The Hurricanes were widely seen as the frontrunner.
But Ohio State never backed off, and a late-November visit to Columbus proved to be the turning point. The Buckeyes made their final push ahead of Jacobs’ commitment announcement and ultimately flipped the momentum, pulling off a major upset on the recruiting trail.
At 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds, Jacobs brings the kind of raw talent and physical tools that programs dream about. He’s explosive, powerful, and already plays with a level of polish that’s rare for a high school junior.
His junior season numbers speak volumes: 102 tackles, 24 tackles for loss, 16 sacks, and two forced fumbles in just 11 games. And that wasn’t a fluke - he put up 112 tackles, 35 tackles for loss, and 12 sacks as a sophomore.
This commitment gives Ohio State its ninth pledge in the 2027 class and its first on the defensive line. It’s a big one. Jacobs is the type of prospect who could make an immediate impact as a freshman, especially in a program that doesn’t shy away from putting young talent on the field early.
Of course, Ohio State’s work isn’t done. With National Signing Day nearly a year away, other programs - including Miami - aren’t likely to stop recruiting Jacobs. The Buckeyes will have to stay aggressive to keep him in the fold.
As for what they’re getting, the scouting report is glowing. According to 247Sports Director of Scouting Andrew Ivins, Jacobs is a “cast-iron edge defender” who combines size, speed, and strength in a way that makes him a nightmare for opposing offenses.
He’s violent at the point of attack, uses his hands well, and plays with a relentless motor. His ability to anticipate the snap, shoot gaps, and close in pursuit makes him a constant threat off the edge.
Jacobs is also versatile - he can play in both odd and even fronts, line up in a two- or three-point stance, and create mismatches across the line. While he still has room to grow technically, his effort and energy are already elite. And with his frame, there’s plenty of room to add muscle without losing that twitchy athleticism.
In short, this is the kind of player who can anchor a defense and change the trajectory of a program. Ohio State just added a future difference-maker - and possibly the face of its 2027 class.