“Buckeyes Miss Again: Four-Star Edge Rusher KJ Ford Commits to Florida Over Ohio State in Latest Recruiting Blow”

The Ohio State Buckeyes, one of college football’s perennial powerhouses and a historic producer of elite defensive linemen, absorbed another recruiting disappointment on Friday as four-star edge rusher KJ Ford announced his commitment to the Florida Gators. Ford, one of the top defensive end prospects in the 2025 recruiting cycle, had been a coveted target for Ryan Day and defensive line coach Larry Johnson, who has long built a reputation for producing NFL-ready pass rushers. But despite Ohio State’s prestige, tradition, and the allure of developing under Johnson’s guidance, Ford ultimately chose to take his talents to Gainesville, dealing another significant blow to Ohio State’s defensive recruiting momentum.

This latest miss marks a concerning trend for the Buckeyes, who have now fallen short on several top defensive line targets in recent months. Ford’s decision to join Billy Napier’s Gators is particularly painful for Ohio State, which had poured considerable time and resources into his recruitment. The staff hosted Ford on multiple visits, pitched him on the program’s storied history of defensive line dominance, and made him a priority for the class. Yet, Florida managed to win him over with what insiders describe as a more personalized approach, a clear vision for his role in their defensive scheme, and a campus environment Ford felt more comfortable in.

KJ Ford, who hails from Powder Springs, Georgia, and plays at McEachern High School, is regarded as one of the most explosive edge rushers in the Southeast. Standing 6-foot-4 and weighing approximately 235 pounds, Ford boasts a blend of quickness, strength, and relentless motor that has drawn comparisons to former SEC greats. His skill set is tailor-made for today’s game, where disrupting the quarterback from the edge is paramount. Rivals and 247Sports both rank him as a top-150 national prospect and among the top 20 edge rushers in the 2025 class. His senior season is expected to further elevate his national profile, and Florida’s staff is no doubt thrilled to have landed such a cornerstone piece for their defensive future.

For Ohio State, this development adds to a growing list of high-profile defensive line misses that include names like Elijah Rushing, Dylan Stewart, and now Ford. While the Buckeyes continue to dominate in other positional recruiting battles—particularly at wide receiver, quarterback, and offensive line—the defensive side of the ball, especially up front, has seen less success recently. That’s a particularly troubling trend given the importance of elite pass rushers in the modern game and the Buckeyes’ defensive struggles in the College Football Playoff and other marquee matchups over the past few seasons.

What’s perhaps most puzzling is that this dry spell comes under the watch of Larry Johnson, a coach widely respected as one of the best developers of defensive line talent in college football history. Johnson has produced names like Joey Bosa, Nick Bosa, Chase Young, Sam Hubbard, and Dre’Mont Jones—players who have gone on to successful NFL careers. His resume speaks for itself, and his ability to mold raw talent into top-tier defenders is rarely questioned. Yet, whether it’s age, a shifting recruiting landscape, or other factors, Ohio State is not closing the deal on top defensive linemen with the same consistency it once did.

Some in the recruiting world have speculated that younger, more digitally native coaches on staffs like Florida, Georgia, and Alabama are outpacing Ohio State in terms of relationship-building and NIL guidance. Today’s top recruits are not just looking for tradition and on-field success; they are also searching for a program that understands the business aspect of college football. The Gators, under Napier, appear to have revamped their recruiting department to align with this new reality, creating stronger ties with families and being transparent about opportunities both on and off the field. This strategy seems to have resonated with Ford and his camp.

From Ohio State’s perspective, this moment could serve as a wake-up call. Despite their brand power and elite coaching staff, the Buckeyes can no longer simply rely on legacy and past success to land the nation’s top talent. Recruiting has become increasingly competitive, and schools that adapt to the changing landscape—embracing NIL collectives, employing dynamic young recruiters, and offering clearer developmental pipelines—are gaining the edge. Ford’s decision to pick Florida is emblematic of that shift.

It’s also worth noting that Ohio State is not without options going forward. The 2025 recruiting cycle is far from over, and there are still several high-end defensive line prospects on the board. The staff will likely pivot quickly to other targets, hoping to salvage what has become a tenuous defensive line class. Names like Zion Grady, Damien Shanklin, and Darrell Johnson remain uncommitted, and the Buckeyes will look to double down on those relationships. Still, the margin for error has become razor-thin, and fans are growing restless as they watch Ohio State come up short in one recruiting battle after another in the trenches.

Beyond the Xs and Os, there’s also the narrative factor. Recruits pay attention to which programs are winning these head-to-head battles. Momentum matters, and the more a school like Florida continues to beat Ohio State for top-tier defenders, the more difficult it becomes for the Buckeyes to reverse that trend. Perception in recruiting is powerful, and if Ohio State wants to remain a destination for elite defensive talent, it must win these battles—not just show up to compete.

KJ Ford’s commitment also has broader implications for the college football landscape. For Florida, it marks another major recruiting win in what has been a resurgent cycle under Napier. After an underwhelming first couple of years, the Gators seem to be turning the corner on the trail, stacking blue-chip talent across both sides of the ball. Ford’s commitment could also help Florida land other elite defenders in the region, as players often talk, and momentum in one commitment frequently snowballs into others. Napier’s aggressive strategy, combined with an upgraded support staff and aggressive NIL partnerships, is starting to bear fruit.

As for Ford himself, he now enters the college football pipeline as one of the most anticipated defensive prospects in the Gators’ 2025 class. Florida fans will be eager to see how quickly he can transition into a contributor at the next level, and many believe he has the tools to make an early impact. His burst off the line, ability to bend the edge, and high football IQ make him a candidate to earn rotational snaps as a freshman, particularly if Florida’s defensive front needs an infusion of pass-rushing juice.

In contrast, Ohio State must go back to the drawing board. The disappointment of losing out on Ford will sting, especially for a fan base that holds such high expectations year in and year out. But the Buckeyes have been in this position before and have often found a way to rebound. The challenge now is to regain recruiting momentum, reassert dominance on the defensive side of the ball, and ensure that the defensive line—the foundation of so many of their great teams—does not become a weak link in an otherwise elite roster.

In the end, KJ Ford’s decision to commit to Florida is more than just a single recruiting miss for Ohio State. It’s a reflection of where things stand in a fast-changing college football ecosystem. The Buckeyes remain a powerhouse, but the path to maintaining that status is evolving. Florida, with Ford in the fold, took a significant step forward on Friday. And Ohio State, left once again to regroup, must confront the reality that its dominance in defensive line recruiting is no longer a given.