Ohio State makes final cut for five-star defensive lineman Matayo Uiagalelei
COLUMBUS — Matayo Uiagalelei is one of the most coveted high school prospects in the country and he just made a note of who’s going to get final consideration for his pledge.
The five-star Bellflower (Calif) St. John Bosco defensive lineman announced that Ohio State is one of three schools that Uiagalelei will consider leading up until signing day.
Oregon and USC were the other schools on his list.
Uiagalelei has long been linked to Ohio State because of his relationship with defensive line coach Larry Johnson.
“Larry Johnson, he’s definitely been one of the top defensive line and defensive ends guys in college football for like the last decade,” Uiagalelei told Scott Schrader of WeAreSC. “You can just see how many guys he has put in the league. And it makes me think, ‘Man, I might want to go there if I see that.’
If the 6-foot-5, 265-pound defensive lineman were to commit to Ohio State he would join a defensive line board that has both talent and depth.
Four-star Fort Washington (Md) DeMatha Catholic defensive lineman Jason Moore is the highest-rated defensive line commit in the Buckeyes class right now. Moore checks in as the No. 56 overall prospect in the On3 Consensus Rankings. Uiagalelei is No. 23 in the Consensus and would immediately bolster Johnson’s haul.
Defensive tackle Kayden McDonald and defensive lineman Will Smith Jr. round out the class.
Ohio State is also waiting to hear from a pair of five-star EDGE prospects in Keon Keeley and Damon Wilson. Keeley is the No. 3 overall prospect and Wilson checks in at No. 4. Ohio State is in consideration for both prospects and both of them are nearing their decisions.
The Buckeyes are also waiting to hear from four-star Indianapolis (Ind) Lawrence Central edge rusher Joshua Mickens.
The early signing period is 13 days away and for Ohio State, USC and Oregon, it might have to wait all 13 days to find out which one is going to land Matayo Uiagalelei.
