Ohio State had a massive recruiting weekend from June 21-23 and it’s beginning to pay off. First, three-star interior offensive lineman Jake Cook pledged to Ryan Day’s squad. On Monday, four-star EDGE rusher Zion Grady committed to the Buckeyes. Grady is the 19th commitment to the Buckeye’s 2025 class and the third for Larry Johnson‘s defensive line, joining four-star EDGE Zahir Mathis and four-star defensive lineman London Merritt.
247Sports considers Grady to be the 10th-best EDGE recruit in the nation. Additionally, he’s the 75th-best recruit overall and sixth-best from the state of Alabama. The Buckeyes beat out Tennessee and Florida State for Grady’s commitment. Plenty of experts were logging predictions for SEC powers Alabama and Georgia to get him, however.
BREAKING: Four-Star EDGE Zion Grady has Commmitted to Ohio State, he tells me for @on3recruits
The 6’4 245 EDGE from Troy, AL chose the Buckeyes over Tennessee & Florida State
“Go Bucks #Rushmen #sliverbullets”https://t.co/kyYz6xkpXJ pic.twitter.com/wu6MfmeUvt
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) June 24, 2024
Four-Star EDGE Zion Grady Picks Ohio State
Coming from Enterprise High School, Grady stands at 6′-4″ and weighs 235 pounds. He’s able to play wherever on the defensive line and was incredibly productive over his last two years. As a junior in 2023, Grady amassed 87 tackles, 24 tackles for loss, 22 QB hits, 11 sacks, and an interception. He was even better as a sophomore. In 2022, he recorded 108 tackles, 27 QB hits, 22 sacks, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and even blocked three field goals. He was named the Alabama Class 5A Lineman of the Year.
He projects to be more of an outside linebacker in a 3-4 system, not unlike what Jack Sawyer has been doing for the Buckeyes of late. Grady has a great first step off the snap and can use his length to win (34-inch arms). He was able to find plenty of success with his speed and reaction time as he often overpowered offensive linemen at the jump.
247Sports, in their report at the beginning of June, noted that Grady is likely a multi-year starter for a Power 4 program. However, he will likely need a year of development and building onto his frame.
Grady committed with the succinct quote, “Go Bucks. #Rushmen #Silverbullets.”
