Elite recruit spills the beans on the future of Ohio State football defensive line coach Larry Johnson with the Buckeyes
Larry Johnson has been a key assistant coach for the Buckeyes for over a decade. Ohio State’s defensive line coach’s future retirement has been talked about a lot lately, and we just got a clue on how long he’ll be around.
The Ohio State Buckeyes have high hopes for the class of 2027, with the players they want to bring in. Ohio State watched local product four-star DL Reinaldo Perez commit to Indiana this week, which wasn’t totally expected. However, when you look at the players the Buckeyes are trying to bring in at the same position, it makes sense.
Ohio State hosted five-star DL Marcus Fakatou last weekend out of Sierra Canyon (CA). The Buckeyes are trying to bring in both Fakatou and his teammate Kasi Currie in the class of 2027. Two top-five defensive linemen from one high school would be big additions for the Buckeyes.
Kasi Currie sounds like he wants to play for Larry Johnson at Ohio State
Ohio State is considered the leader for both players from California. Ohio State having Johnson as its defensive line coach is having a big impact in this one. Currie’s comments about him should be noted.
“He’s really like a father figure,” Currie said of Johnson recently via Adam Gorney of Rivals. “Going through this recruitment with him the whole time and all these messages and phone calls, he’s a great guy. The experience with him, he’s like the LeBron James of football.”
Johnson has been at Ohio State since 2014 and is still coaching the position at a high level at the age of 74. There have long been rumors of when Johnson will be hanging it up and leaving Ohio State, but don’t expect it to be anytime soon in the immediate future.
“I (went there) with my mom and she asked all those questions about him leaving and the way he put it, he’s not leaving any time soon,” Currie stated via Rivals.
If Johnson is telling top recruits he’s not leaving anytime soon, then that’s the plan. Ohio State has five-star EDGE DJ Jacobs in the class of 2027, a player Johnson would surely like to coach up and one day send off to the NFL. As long as Johnson’s health stays in a good spot, he’s going to be around.
Currie is a 6-foot-4, 315-pound defensive tackle who is ranked as the No. 5 defensive lineman and No. 55 player overall in 2027, per 247 Sports Composite. Currie and Fakatou are the top two players in the state of California who are uncommitted. If all goes right for the Buckeyes, they’ll be adding both.
Johnson has been Ohio State’s top assistant on the defensive side of the football. The day he hangs it up will be a big loss for the Buckeyes. Good news it doesn’t appear like it’ll be happening anytime soon.