Ohio State Adds 3rd OL To 2020 Recruiting Class As Local OT Jakob James Announces Buckeyes Commitment

After multiple visits from head coach Ryan Day and offensive line coach Greg Studrawa to his high school, Jakob James added an Ohio State offer Monday and wasted no time when he committed to the Buckeyes on the spot.

The 6-5, 275-pound offensive tackle from Cincinnati Elder took to Twitter and shared his instantaneous decision to stay home at OSU — calling the opportunity “a dream come true” as he became the seventh member of Day’s 2020 recruiting class.

“Thank you to Coach Day, Coach Stud and to the rest of the Ohio State coaching staff for not only the offer but for accepting my verbal commitment to play football at The Ohio State University,” a note posted to James’ tweet read. “It is an honor and a privilege that I have grown up learning about, having a family that have both worn the Scarlet and Grey and are fans as well. As a kid, being an Elder Panther and playing football in The Pit is all I ever wanted to do. The next step is becoming part of a legacy and tradition that is OSU Football and Buckeye Nation…something I can’t wait to uphold and fulfill. Lastly, I would like to thank my teachers, coaches, and most importantly my entire family for their incredible support and belief.”

James becomes Ohio State’s third offensive linemen for the next cycle, joining Cincinnati St. Xavier five-star offensive tackle Paris Johnson (6-7, 285) and Montvale (N.J.) St. Joseph Regional four-star center Luke Wypler (6-3 1/2, 285). Scottsdale (Ariz.) Chaparral’s four-star duo of quarterback Jack Miller and running back Darvon Hubbard round out the group with Rockwall, Texas, four-star wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Sammamish (Wash.) Eastside Catholic four-star wide receiver Gee Scott.

The addition of James fills a growing need for OSU along the line of scrimmage after Day and Studrawa only signed two — Buford, Ga., five-star center Harry Miller and Mentor, Ohio, four-star offensive tackle Ryan Jacoby (6-5, 270) — in the 2019 recruiting class. Huntington (W.Va.) Spring Valley four-star offensive tackle Doug Nester remains committed to Ohio State for the current cycle but is unsigned as National Signing Day approaches Feb. 6.

James frequently visited the Buckeyes for games in the fall, but had to wait for an offer until after he completed his junior season at Elder. James earned scholarships from Kent State (Jan. 18), Minnesota (Jan. 17), Penn State (Jan. 16), Buffalo (Jan. 15), Duke (Jan. 14), Tennessee (Jan. 11), Purdue (Dec. 11), Michigan (Nov. 28), Nebraska (Nov. 27), Pittsburgh (Oct. 15), Missouri (Sept. 4), Kentucky (Aug. 27), Lousiana State (May 22), West Virginia (May 9), Marshall (May 9), Indiana (April 26), Boston College (April 25), Iowa State (April 25), Toledo (April 24), Louisville (April 5) and Cincinnati (March 29).