2025 4-star DL Maxwell Roy commits to Ohio State over Michigan. What we know
Four defensive linemen into the 2025 recruiting class, Larry Johnson and Ohio State added another interior lineman Monday.
Maxwell Roy, a four-star defensive lineman out of Philadelphia, committed to Ohio State, choosing the Buckeyes over programs such as Rutgers and Michigan.
Thank you to all the people who’ve been a part of my journey, a special thanks to my family and friends who have always been there for me through my highs and lows. Thank you to God for putting me on a path to find home. Buckeyes nation I can’t wait to get to work!! #rushmen 🌰 pic.twitter.com/0eZsNhZlEo
— Maxwell Roy (@MaxwellRoy8) July 1, 2024
"Thank you to all the people who’ve been a part of my journey, a special thanks to my family and friends who have always been there for me through my highs and lows," Roy wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. "Thank you to God for putting me on a path to find home. Buckeyes nation I can’t wait to get to work!!"
With Roy, Ohio State has two commits from St. Joseph's Prep in the 2025 class along with three-star running back Isaiah West. West said Roy has been his "best friend since freshman year."
"I think he's pretty close to me," West said. "And if it's me and the staff, I feel like we're kind of winning the battle right now.
Roy joins four-star defensive ends Zion Grady and Zahir Mathis, and four-star defensive linemen London Merritt and Trajen Odom in Ohio State's 2025 class.
Mathis, out of Imhotep Institute, is also from Philadelphia.
Roy, an incoming senior at St. Joseph's Prep in Philadelphia, is the No. 229 prospect and the No. 26 defensive lineman in the 2025 class.
Roy had an official visit at Ohio State June 14-16 after an official visit with Rutgers and before an official visit at Michigan.
Maxwell Roy commitment analysis: What it means for Ohio State
Johnson and Ohio State are preparing for the Buckeyes' defensive line room to get much younger heading into 2025.
Heading into 2025, Ohio State will likely have four starting positions to fill after Jack Sawyer, J.T. Tuimoloau, Tyleik Williams and Ty Hamilton leave. Caden Curry,Kenyatta Jackson Jr. and Hero Kanu will also be NFL draft eligible after 2024, along with Mitchell Melton.
Regardless of the status of those draft eligible linemen, the Buckeyes will not have much experience up front, a group that is expected to be headlined by former five-star Eddrick Houston.
But with the 2024 depth pieces potentially taking center stage in 2025, Ohio State needed a large class of defensive linemen to develop. The Buckeyes added Grady and Mathis for the ends, and Odom for the interior along with Merritt, who can play both inside and outside.
Roy fits the mold of a traditional Ohio State defensive tackle prospect, standing at 6-foot-3, 270-pounds.
And especially with an unproven interior with players like Kayden McDonald, Will Smith Jr., Jason Moore, Eric Mensah and Dominic Kirks looking to make their mark, Roy's path to playing time may not be that ling.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Maxwell Roy, 2025 4-star DL, commits to Ohio State over Michigan
