Ohio State Poaches Touted Player Away From SEC Program

Ohio State Poaches Touted Player Away From SEC Program originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

Some Fourth of July events come with celebrations. Others come with flipping a prized recruit away from the SEC. Ohio State pulled off one of the most talked-about recruiting wins this holiday weekend. 

Glenville’s Jamir Perez, a 6-foot-4, 330-pound defensive tackle, flipped his commitment from Florida to the Buckeyes on Friday. The homegrown star gave the Gators a surprise verbal pledge in May but didn’t stop listening when Ohio State came calling again.

Defensive line coach Larry Johnson led the charge. He had built a strong relationship with Perez from the start. Ohio State offered him earlier this spring, and despite the Florida commitment, Johnson and the Buckeyes never gave up.

Perez visited Columbus twice last month. First for a camp, then for his official visit. That second trip sealed the deal. “It was a great experience,” Perez told reporters. “Being with the other recruits and just being with Coach Johnson and Coach Day overall was a great experience.”

Perez, ranked No. 61 among defensive linemen nationally, becomes Ohio State’s 21st commit in the 2026 class. He joins two other defensive tackles, Damari Simeon and Cameron Brickle, who committed last week.

#BOOM Jamir Perez delivered some 4th of July fireworks for Ohio State as the Glenville defensive tackle flipped his commitment from Florida to the Buckeyes on Friday. https://t.co/mgZFoQWqaqpic.twitter.com/R8MepKaeE1

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) July 5, 2025

For Perez, the Glenville connection mattered too. Former Tarblooders like Troy Smith, Marshon Lattimore, and Ted Ginn Jr. thrived at Ohio State. Now, Perez looks to follow in their footsteps alongside Glenville teammate Cincere Johnson, a four-star linebacker also committed to OSU.

“Just the family vibe,” Perez said. “The former Glenville players being there plus Cincere going there that just helped me make more of a decision.”

The Buckeyes now hold a top-five class nationally, according to Rivals. For Ryan Day and his staff, this one wasn’t just another win. It was a reminder: Ohio kids still dream of suiting up inside The Shoe.

Related: Ohio State Dealt Unfortunate Recruiting News on Tuesday

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 8, 2025, where it first appeared.