BOOOOM! Four-star DL Damari Simeon commits to Ohio State

The Buckeyes land their 18th member of the 2026 class with four-star defensive tackle, Damari Simeon.

BOOM! Ohio State started the weekend off with some big time news, landing the 18th member of its 2026 class by way of New Jersey native, Damari Simeon.

Announcing Friday evening, Simeon gives position coach Larry Johnson his first defensive tackle commit of the cycle, and fills a void this coaching staff will continue to address moving forward.

A 6-foot-3, 275 pound defensive lineman out of St. Augustine Prep, the Buckeyes add a four-star talent thought to be the No. 201 player nationally and 26th-best at his position per the 247Sports Composite. Holding nearly 40 offers to his name, Simeon narrowed it down to a final four of Michigan, Penn State, Texas, and Ohio State, and the Buckeyes landed a major addition to a class that is taking off lately.

Ohio State may only have two commits along the defensive line right now, but with several targets set to decide in the near future, it does look as if LJ is starting to heat up and prove he still has what it takes to battle the other top programs in the country for these highly touted defensive line prospects so many schools are after. Simeon sits just outside the top-200 nationally, and his list of potential suitors show he is a true big-time player.

Receiving his offer from Ohio State back in February, it didn’t take long for the coaching staff to shoot up the ranks of top suitors. Though his recruitment wasn’t part of a very long lasting relationship, it clearly was a meaningful one.

Taking official visits to his top four schools starting in late May, Simeon started with Michigan, but gave the Buckeyes the last visit. Ohio State did enough to win out in the end.

From here, Johnson and the rest of the coaching staff will keep hard at work to ensure they add more top targets to their defensive line haul in the 2026 class, but it cannot be overstated how important landing Simeon is for this current cycle. A player with a great motor and plenty of skills to be technically sound up front, the Buckeyes are adding a guy that can rush the passer, but also be stout in the run game.

Simeon joins four-star EDGE Khary Wilder as the first two commits along the defensive line for Ohio State in this cycle, with both having joined the fold this month. The Buckeyes are also a heavy favorite to flip three-star DL Jamir Perez — a Glenville native — from Florida, and remain in the running for a number of other big names including Carter Meadows, KJ Ford, Landon Barnes, Emanuel Ruffin and a few others.