Ryan Day’s Ohio State had a big win after its disappointing exit from the playoffs. The four-star defensive lineman, who was reportedly close to committing to Mike Norvell’s FSU, is now Buckeye-bound through the transfer portal.

According to On3’s Hayes Fawcett report, UCF transfer DL John Walker has committed to Ohio State after spending the past three years with the Knights. Walker appeared in two seasons for the Knights and recorded 59 tackles, 40 of which came in the last season itself. Alongside that, he also had 1.5 sacks, one forced fumble, and two pass deflections in his time with the Knights. 

With two seasons of eligibility remaining, he committed to the Buckeyes after visiting Ohio State on January 5. The 6-foot-4, 324-pounder already hinted that he would be making his decision after he visited Columbus.

“Tomorrow is going to be my last visit,” said John Walker.  “I’m visiting Ohio State tomorrow. After that, I’m most likely going to be making my decision after Ohio State.”

Walker is a four-star prospect from Kissimmee High School in Osceola, Florida. His notable high school performance earned him rankings as high as the 11th-best defensive lineman in the 2023 class. In addition to that, he also earned all-state recognition during his junior campaign for totaling 77 tackles and 13 sacks, leading the school to a 9-3 season and to the second round of Florida’s 8A playoffs.

He concluded his high school football career with 175 tackles, 41 for loss, and 31 sacks. And this performance earned him 35 offers from top schools across the country, including Ohio State. The Buckeyes offered him very early in his high school career in November 2020, but that did not materialize. In 2022, he had an official visit to Columbus before announcing his commitment to the UCF Knights.

However, the Buckeyes are back three years later, landing a commitment through the transfer portal in a tough battle with Mike Norvell’s Florida State.

Mike Norvell’s FSU hosted John Walker

Pete Nakos on On3 reported that Florida State and Ohio State have been the top contenders in this recruitment, landing visits when Walker entered the portal. At this stage, Florida State hosted UCF’s DL John Walker on Saturday to boost its defensive line, keeping him as a top target in the transfer portal.

The DL met Warchant’s Matt LaSerre on his visit to Tallahassee and shared his experience upon visiting. “I had a great trip up here,” Walker said. “Had a great time with coach [Terrance] Knighton, with all the staff. Had a really good talk with all of them. I really had a good time.”

FSU also had a perk with Gus Malzahn. The FSU’s OC was UCF’s head coach in 2023, when Walker signed with the Knights as the highest-ranked player in the program. They kept the recruitment efforts tight, explaining the interest in Walker for the 2026 season. “They are trying to look for a dog, and they said I was one,” he said. “So they had shown a lot of interest in me, then a lot of love, so I enjoyed the visit.”

Top Stories

Andy Reid Fires Coach In Attempt to Rebuild Staff After Receiving HC Requests For Chiefs’ Coordinators

Sources: John Harbaugh Wasn’t Fired, Left Ravens After Refusing Major Staff Changes

Three Arrested in Cleveland For Burglary at Shedeur Sanders’ Home

Mike McDaniel Contract: How Much Do Miami Dolphins Owe the Fired Coach?

Bryson DeChambeau Releases Fresh Statement on His LIV Golf Future Post Brooks Koepka’s Exit

Jimmie Johnson Caught at Center of Fan Storm as NASCAR Controversial Rule Sparks Daytona Backlash

However, Walker kept things so clean that he would visit Ohio State before announcing his commitment. On his visit on Monday, January 05, he announced his commitment to Ohio State, keeping Norvell’s FSU in the rearview.