Ohio State faces some pressing gaps to fill this offseason after seeing a wave of talent exit for the NFL Draft—and perhaps no area is more concerning than the defensive line, particularly at defensive tackle.
Head coach Ryan Day acknowledged the issue head-on, noting that the Buckeyes would likely need to dip into the transfer portal to address the need. And that’s exactly the route they appear to be taking.
Ohio State is now reportedly one of four programs in the running to land Syracuse standout Maraad Watson, joining a high-profile race alongside Texas, Tennessee, and Georgia. While none are Big Ten rivals, Texas and Tennessee are fresh off College Football Playoff appearances—adding even more weight to the competition.
Watson, a rising star who logged 31 tackles, two tackles for loss, and a sack as a freshman in 2024, earned Freshman All-American honors for his performance. Originally a three-star recruit out of Irvington, New Jersey, he was ranked the No. 96 defensive line prospect in his class by 247Sports’ composite rankings.
Despite his under-the-radar recruitment, Watson made an immediate impact at Syracuse—quickly proving he belonged on a bigger stage. A move to a national powerhouse like Ohio State feels like a natural next step, especially with the lure of a more competitive program—and likely, a stronger NIL package.
With Tyleik Williams and Ty Hamilton off to the NFL, bringing in Watson would help Ohio State soften the blow and add a proven young playmaker to a defensive front that’s in need of reinforcements.
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