BOOOOM! Nation’s No. 2 safety commits to Ohio State, Buckeyes move up to No. 1 class
Ohio State is deep in the weeds of official visit season, and these last two weekends have both proved fruitful with the Buckeyes landing a pair of major commitments amid hosting dozens of the nation’s top players. After adding a massive in-state target last week in running back Bo Jackson following his OV, Ryan Day’s group once again made the most of their time on campus with the players with yet another huge addition — this time on defense.
On Sunday, four-star 2025 safety Faheem Delane announced this commitment to Ohio State. The elite defensive back out of Maryland chose the Buckeyes over Oregon and LSU, as the nation’s No. 2 safety and No. 34 player nationally, per the 247Sports Composite, joins a loaded cycle for secondary coaches Tim Walton and Matt Guerrieri
As a junior at Our Lady of Good Counsel (Olney, MD), Delane recorded 69 tackles and 18 pass breakups, good enough to be named an All-Met selection by the Washington Post. The do-it-all defender helped lead to the Falcons to a WCAC Championship victory this past season, and will look to bring that athleticism, versatility and championship pedigree to the next level.
“I like to blitz off the edge, play man-to-man and zone, I love to do it all, but mostly I love to blitz off the edge and play man because my best qualities are just sticking with receivers and covering them,” Delane told Eleven Warriors. “Either way, safety or cornerback, I definitely feel comfortable at both positions. I think I could play both at a high level.”
Delane’s pledge gives Ohio State 14 total commitments in its 2025 class, a group that is now ranked as No. 1 in the country — despite having seven less commits than No. 2 Notre Dame. The Buckeyes’ average player rating of 95.14 also ranks atop the nation, with seven top-100 players already committed, including Delane, as well as three composite five-stars. That trio of five-stars is the same amount as the next six best recruiting classes (Notre Dame, Clemson, USC, Alabama and Oklahoma, in that order) combined.
Looking at the secondary in particular, Ohio State could not be off to a more perfect start in this cycle. The Buckeyes hold commitments from the top two cornerbacks in the country in Devin Sanchez (No. 1 CB, No. 4 Natl.) and Na’eem Offord (No. 2 CB, No. 6 Natl.) and now add the No. 2 safety in Delane. That isn’t even including the other pair of talented safeties in Ohio State’s class in DeShawn Stewart and Cody Haddad, as well as the continued pursuit of No. 1 safety Trey McNutt, an Ohio native.
