DJ Jacobs

Ohio State continues to build one of the most impressive foundations in the country for the future, and on Monday the Buckeyes delivered their loudest recruiting statement yet in the 2027 cycle by landing five-star defensive end DJ Jacobs, the nation’s top-ranked prospect in his class. Jacobs, rated No. 8 overall in the composite and No. 1 defensive end nationally — and the No. 1 overall player by 247Sports — chose Ohio State over an elite list that included Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Notre Dame, Oregon, Texas A&M and Miami, the very program the Buckeyes are preparing to face in the College Football Playoff at the Cotton Bowl.

The commitment is nothing short of program-altering. From Roswell, Georgia’s Blessed Trinity Catholic High School, Jacobs dominated his junior season with 102 tackles, 24 tackles for loss and 16 sacks, routinely overwhelming opposing offenses with a rare blend of size, speed and violence. At 6-foot-5 and roughly 230 pounds, he already possesses the physical profile of an NFL edge defender, and once he enters Ohio State’s strength and conditioning program under the guidance of legendary defensive line coach Larry Johnson, his ceiling is that of a future top-10 NFL Draft pick.

What makes Jacobs’ decision even more remarkable is the road it took to get there. Georgia had long been viewed as the favorite in his recruitment. His father, David Jacobs, was a standout defensive lineman for the Bulldogs from 1999–2001 before his career was tragically cut short by a stroke. His mother, Desiree Jacobs, is also a Georgia alum and former basketball player, and his godfather is former Bulldogs head coach Mark Richt. As recently as last week, Miami had surged to the front, with most analysts projecting Jacobs to end up with the Hurricanes.

Yet when the moment came, Jacobs chose Columbus.

“Coach Day and Coach Johnson just treated me like family,” Jacobs said during his commitment announcement. “This is a big moment for me, so I definitely trust them with everything in my future.”

That trust is well placed. Ohio State’s defensive line development under Johnson is unmatched in college football, and Jacobs becomes the first five-star defensive commitment of the 2027 class for the Buckeyes, joining fellow five-star Jamier Brown on offense. His pledge pushes Ohio State’s 2027 class to nine total commitments, now ranked No. 3 nationally, and gives the Buckeyes their fourth defensive commitment in the class alongside Quinton Cypher, Eli Johnson and Angelo Smith.

Jacobs is more than just raw power. Scouts rave about his “cast-iron edge defender” traits — violent hands, elite burst, and quick-twitch athleticism that allow him to disrupt both the run and pass with equal authority. He also brings versatility as a multi-sport athlete, excelling on the basketball court at the high school and AAU levels. His younger brother, Dawson Jacobs, is already a four-star defensive lineman in the 2028 class, making this a family built for the trenches.

For Buckeye Nation, this commitment sends a clear message: Ohio State is not just recruiting well — it is recruiting at a championship level for years to come. Landing the nation’s premier defensive end in DJ Jacobs cements the Buckeyes as the standard on the recruiting trail and gives Ryan Day and Larry Johnson the kind of cornerstone defender that changes the trajectory of a program.