Dominic Kirks, a four-star Ohio native, is the first — and most likely — name to come up. Kirks, a Washington commit, is ranked No. 33 on the defensive line and No. 251 overall by the 247Sports Composite. While the Painesville, Ohio native has received nearly two dozen offers during his recruitment, none have come from Ohio State. However, with the Buckeyes trying to add another impact player at the position, Kirks could be on the way as Johnson tries to keep him at home and away from the Huskies.
Kirks had paid an unofficial visit to Ohio State for the Maryland game, and it appears that an OSU offer would be difficult to turn down for the in-state star. Still, the Buckeyes aren’t the only ones attempting to entice Kirks away from Washington, as USC is reported to be significantly involved in this as well. Between now and February, the 6-foot-4, 255-pound lineman will face a potentially difficult decision.
Dominick McKinley, a five-star defensive lineman, is another prominent name right now. A Texas A&M commit, the No. 6 DL and No. 27 overall player in the country in 2024, will likewise have to wait until February to sign his LOI and will be courted by all the major names until then. He recently had an in-home visit with Oklahoma, has an official visit with Tennessee slated for late January, and the Buckeyes are also reportedly ratcheting up their efforts with the Louisiana native.
Before committing to the Aggies in September, Ohio State was one of McKinley’s original five candidates, and he paid an official visit to Columbus in June. The Buckeyes were the most geographically distant of his preferred institutions (the others being A&M, Texas, LSU, and Oklahoma), but Johnson was able to establish a solid connection with McKinley, giving Ohio State a fighting chance in his recruiting. With LJ training him hard once more and the possibility of early playing time with the Buckeyes, a miracle late flip is not out of the question.
Whatever happens with Kirks and McKinley, the Buckeyes have serious depth issues along the defensive line that the transfer portal will not solve. Even at a school like Ohio State, no big names are leaving to become backups. Eventually, you’ll need to start winning on the recruiting trail and bringing in larger classes at the position, with four or five guys — if not more — already in 2025. That will become increasingly difficult as rumors of Johnson’s retirement become more prevalent each year.
There is still time for LJ to pull a rabbit out of his hat this season, but things might get out of hand soon if the defensive line issues aren’t resolved quickly.
