Legendary Ohio State recruiter is chasing unique talent who breaks the usual mold of a Buckeyes star
Ohio State defensive line coach Larry Johnson has long been recognized as one of college football’s premier developers of elite talent. With a career spanning decades, Johnson has mentored a staggering number of NFL-bound defensive linemen, including Joey and Nick Bosa, Chase Young, and Tyquan Lewis. His resume boasts 15 NFL draft picks during his […]
Ohio State defensive line coach Larry Johnson has long been recognized as one of college football’s premier developers of elite talent. With a career spanning decades, Johnson has mentored a staggering number of NFL-bound defensive linemen, including Joey and Nick Bosa, Chase Young, and Tyquan Lewis.
His resume boasts 15 NFL draft picks during his tenure at Ohio State and nine first-round selections overall. Even before arriving in Columbus, Johnson was a force at Penn State, where he coached six first-round picks and was named Rivals.com National Recruiter of the Year in 2005-06.
Caleb Tucker, a four-star defensive lineman in the 2028 class, is a sophomore in high school but is already turning heads. Listed at 6-foot-5 and 355 pounds, Tucker is ranked No. 31 nationally in the initial Rivals 100 and has drawn interest from top programs like Ohio State, Oregon, and Notre Dame. Despite his youth, Tucker has already received nearly 20 scholarship offers, and Johnson is calling.
Ohio State targets Caleb Tucker in 2028 class
Now in his early 70s, Johnson remains a key figure in Ohio State’s recruiting efforts, especially along the defensive front. While his reputation has been built on developing twitchy edge rushers and disruptive interior linemen, he’s currently pursuing a prospect who breaks the mold.
Tucker visited Ohio State in June and came away impressed with Johnson’s coaching style and the Buckeyes’ defensive line play. “It was a great visit with Coach Johnson,” Tucker said. “I like how he works out with the defensive linemen, teaches techniques and how he’s been doing this for a very long time.”
Though he wasn’t able to attend the high-profile Texas game due to his own schedule, he watched the Buckeyes’ win afterward.
“I thought it was a pretty good game,” Tucker said. “I thought it was going to be a better score with Ohio State, but they actually played a pretty good game against a pretty good team. I like how their D-line moves. They’re fast. They’re twitchy.”
Tucker doesn’t have a confirmed visit scheduled for this season, but he’s tentatively planning to attend the Nov. 1 matchup against Penn State. His teammate, four-star linebacker Roman Igwebuike, has already locked in his visit for that game.
As for Ohio State’s current and future outlook at defensive tackle, the position remains a focal point of concern. The Buckeyes are set to start Eddrick Houston and Kayden McDonald in 2025, both of whom bring size and experience. However, the depth behind them is thin.
Backups like Jason Moore, Will Smith Jr., Tywone Malone, and Eric Mensah have yet to establish themselves as reliable rotational pieces. Head coach Ryan Day has acknowledged the need to potentially add another tackle via the transfer portal.
Looking ahead, the Buckeyes are actively recruiting to bolster the position, but the pipeline isn’t as robust as it once was. Johnson’s recent recruiting success has leaned more toward defensive tackles than ends, but the overall depth and impact talent at both spots have waned slightly in recent years.
Still, Johnson’s legacy and coaching acumen continue to attract top-tier talent. If Tucker ultimately chooses Ohio State, he could represent a new kind of interior presence—massive, powerful, and potentially dominant—who might help reshape the Buckeyes’ defensive identity in the years to come.
