Eric Boggs
The Glenville pipeline to Ohio State remains as strong as ever. On Friday, three-star 2026 defensive tackle Jamir Perez flipped his commitment from Florida to the Buckeyes, just weeks after pledging to the Gators in mid-May. While his initial commitment to Florida caught some by surprise—given Ohio State and Larry Johnson had been among his top suitors when they extended an offer this spring—the Buckeyes never took their foot off the gas. That persistence paid off with another key in-state win.
Perez’s reengagement with the Buckeyes was evident almost immediately after his Florida commitment. He made two return trips to Columbus in June, attending both a summer camp and an official visit. His interest in Ohio State clearly hadn’t faded, and after officially decommitting from Florida in early July, he wasted no time locking in with the Scarlet and Gray. His flip gives Ohio State its 21st commitment in the 2026 class and bolsters a defensive line group that is starting to take shape.
The 6-foot-4, 330-pound Perez is the third defensive tackle to commit to the Buckeyes in this cycle, joining Damari Simeon and Cameron Brickle, both of whom committed last week. He also becomes the fourth defensive lineman overall, along with edge rusher Khary Wilder. Most notably, Perez is now the second Glenville product in the class, teaming up with linebacker Cincere Johnson, who committed just days earlier. That duo adds to a growing list of Tarblooders-turned-Buckeyes in recent years, including Damarion Witten, Bryce West, and Arvell Reese—proof that the Glenville-to-Columbus connection is alive and thriving.
Ohio State is still eyeing one more defensive tackle in this class, with four-star Georgia prospect Deuce Geralds at the top of the board. Geralds could be the final piece for the Buckeyes’ interior line in 2026. With three tackles already in the fold, the focus now shifts to adding another defensive end or two to pair with Wilder. The top remaining target is four-star KJ Ford out of Texas, who is scheduled to make his college decision next Friday. He’ll choose from Ohio State, Florida, and Texas A&M.
From a roster-building standpoint, Perez fits a specific and valuable mold. At 6-foot-4 and 330 pounds, he projects as a true nose tackle—exactly the type of presence that new defensive coordinator Matt Patricia has leaned on in the past. During his time with the New England Patriots, Patricia built his fronts around massive interior players like Vince Wilfork, and Perez brings similar physical traits to the table. He’s already shown dominance at the high school level, using his size and strength to overwhelm blockers and disrupt the run game.
To reach his potential in Columbus, Perez will need to continue refining his technique and not rely solely on his size to win battles. Fortunately, he possesses better-than-expected athleticism for a player of his stature, giving him upside in both odd and even fronts. He may not be a day-one contributor, but under Larry Johnson’s guidance, he has all the tools to become a key part of Ohio State’s defensive line rotation in the years to come.
Ranked as the No. 679 overall player and the No. 74 defensive lineman in the 2026 class by 247Sports’ composite rankings, Perez is a long-term investment with significant upside. More importantly, he’s another in-state talent choosing to stay home, reinforcing both Ohio State’s developmental strategy and its enduring recruiting ties to one of the most important high school programs in the state.
