Ohio State holds off familiar recruiting foe for elite linebacker prospect on National Signing Day
The Ohio State Buckeyes had a solid National Signing Day, seeing only expected flips and commits trickle through much of the day. The biggest two questions of the day had to do with 5-star offensive tackle David Sanders and 4-star linebacker Tarvos Alford. Sanders won't make an announcement until later this week, but Alford made […]
The Ohio State Buckeyes had a solid National Signing Day, seeing only expected flips and commits trickle through much of the day. The biggest two questions of the day had to do with 5-star offensive tackle David Sanders and 4-star linebacker Tarvos Alford. Sanders won't make an announcement until later this week, but Alford made his decision known.
Fortunately for the Buckeyes, Alford decided against flipping his commitment from the Buckeyes to the Miami Hurricanes. The elite linebacker recruit from Vero Beach in Florida was close to staying local despite committing to the Buckeyes at the end of March. Ultimately, Miami's late push fell short.
The Buckeyes also landed linebacker Riley Pettijohn from Texas, and he was considered an even better prospect than Alford. Both players could enter the roster and compete for playing time in 2025. With Cody Simon and possibly Sonny Styles leaving the starting lineup, the time to compete is sooner rather than later.
On3's Steve Wiltfong felt the Buckeyes were going to hang onto him about 30 minutes before Alford's announcement, but that had changed within 15 minutes of his first statement. Ohio State has lost several key flips to Miami in recent years, and Alford was almost the latest.
This was a very impressive example of keeping a premier program with a huge NIL fund at bay in a key race.
Here's Andrew Ivins' scouting report on Alford.
Tackle machine that floats around the second level looking for opportunities to shoot in and make stops. Has added some good mass since he first emerged on the recruiting scene as a freshman and is now believed to be hovering around 6-foot-2, 215 pounds with some additional length in the arms. Follows his blocking keys to the action and will meet ball carriers with plenty of force in the hole, usually unloading through the hips. Has proven to be an above-average athlete on passing downs that can drop back and cover up a zone. Projects as a potential multi-year starter and possible impact player at the Power Four level that can stuff the stat sheet and help slow down the run, like he did in high school where he racked up 114 stops as a junior in one of Florida’s larger classifications. Freelance play style can put him in some bad positions at times, but gap-closing speed and overall physicality could lead to plenty of success on Saturdays after a developmental year or two.
Here's On3's personal profile on Alford.
Tarvos "TJ" Alford does it all for his grandfather. While other members of his family mean a lot to him, it's his grandfather that made him who he is today – one of the best players in the country. "He was like a second father to me," Alford told TCPalm.com. "Growing up, my dad worked a lot to pay the bills. When he was at work, I was always at grandad’s house. He used to make me work. I hated it at the time, but it helped shape me into who I am today and make me into the young man I am in this world." Alford earned multiple postseason honors after the 2023 season after leading Vero Beach with 114 tackles to go along with1 12 tackles for loss, four sacks, six passes defended and an interception. "TJ does everything really well," Vero Beach coach Lenny Jankowski said. "You take his size and you combine it with his athleticism. You look at it from a recruiting piece, it's a hot description right now. they call it position versatility. He has it. His speed, athleticism, size, strength and all the intangibles. As talented as he is, he has a huge upside. He has the ability, and he wants to be great. He has all of those characteristics. He's the total package."
