Four-star Defensive Tackle Maxwell Roy Commits to Ohio State

By Garrick Hodge on July 1, 2024 at 6:00 pm
Maxwell Roy
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Larry Johnson has won a big recruiting battle against Ohio State's archrival.

Ohio State landed the commitment of four-star 2025 defensive tackle Maxwell Roy on Monday, converting on a priority defensive line target who was seen publicly as a Michigan lean until only recently.

The Roy File

  • Class: 2025
  • Size: 6-3/270
  • Pos: DT
  • School: St. Joseph's Prep School (Philadelphia, PA)
  • Composite Rating: ★★★★
  • Composite Rank: #229 (#26 DL)

Roy took his Michigan official visit on June 21, but OSU made a huge push for the 6-foot-3, 270-pound prospect within the last week and ultimately convinced him to begin his collegiate career in Columbus instead. He made an official visit to OSU on June 14 and he also visited Rutgers on May 31.

Johnson has been on a heater recruiting defensive linemen as of late, securing the commitment of four-star defensive end Zion Grady on June 24 and Trajen Odom on Friday while already having Zahir Mathis and London Merritt committed. With Roy in the fold, OSU now has 22 commits and five defensive linemen committed in the 2025 class.

It's not likely the Buckeyes stop there, though. OSU is still pursuing more defensive linemen, including Malik Autry and Jarquez Carter for the interior. Should five-star 2026 defensive tackle Jahkeem Stewart reclassify to 2025 as expected, Ohio State will also be heavily in that recruitment this fall.

Roy attends St. Joseph's Prep School in Philadelphia, a school all too familiar with Ohio State fans by now. Roy's current teammate, three-star 2025 running back Isaiah West, committed to OSU in June. Former Buckeyes Marvin Harrison Jr. and Kyle McCord and recent transfer safety addition Keenan Nelson Jr. also attended St. Joseph's Prep.

OSU offered Roy in May 2023 and has since made several visits to campus, including last fall for the Maryland game.

Pos Name Rating Rank Size School
CB DEVIN SANCHEZ ★★★★★ #5 NATL | #1 CB 6-2 | 170 North Shore (Houston, Texas)
CB NA'EEM OFFORD ★★★★★ #6 NATL | #2 CB 6-1 | 185 Parker (Birmingham, Alabama)
QB TAVIEN ST. CLAIR ★★★★★ #10 NATL | #3 QB 6-4 | 210 Bellefontaine (Bellefontaine, Ohio)
S FAHEEM DELANE ★★★★ #35 NATL | #2 S 6-2 | 195 Good Counsel (Olney, Maryland)
WR QUINCY PORTER ★★★★ #47 NATL | #7 WR 6-3 | 190 Bergen Catholic (Oradell, New Jersey)
LB TARVOS ALFORD ★★★★ #48 NATL | #5 LB 6-2 | 210 Vero Beach (Vero Beach, Florida)
OT CARTER LOWE ★★★★ #51 NATL | #6 OT 6-5 | 290 Whitmer (Toledo, Ohio)
DE ZAHIR MATHIS ★★★★ #62 NATL | #6 Edge 6-6 | 225 Imhotep Institute (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
DE ZION GRADY ★★★★ #71 NATL | #7 Edge 6-4 | 235 Enterprise (Enterprise, Alabama)
RB BO JACKSON ★★★★ #79 NATL | #4 RB 6-0 | 205 Villa Angela-St. Joseph (Cleveland, Ohio)
DE LONDON MERRITT ★★★★ #118 NATL | #14 DL 6-2 | 250 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Florida)
TE NATE ROBERTS ★★★★ #138 NATL | #6 TE 6-4 | 235 Washington (Washington, Oklahoma)
DT MAXWELL ROY ★★★★ #229 NATL | #26 DL 6-3 | 270 St. Joseph's Prep School (Philadelphia, PA)
S DESHAWN STEWART ★★★★ #245 NATL | #22 S 6-2 | 185 DePaul Catholic (Wayne, New Jersey)
DT TRAJEN ODOM ★★★★ #283 NATL | #31 DL 6-4 | 285 Weddington (Matthews, North Carolina)
WR DE'ZIE JONES ★★★★ #291 NATL | #39 WR 6-0 | 180 DePaul Catholic (Wayne, New Jersey)
S CODY HADDAD ★★★★ #380 NATL | #19 ATH 6-1 | 175 St. Ignatius (Cleveland, Ohio)
LB ELI LEE ★★★★ #382 NATL | #41 LB 6-3 | 230 Archbishop Hoban (Akron, Ohio)
RB ISAIAH WEST ★★★ #534 NATL | #45 RB 5-11 | 208 St. Joseph's Prep School (Philadelphia, PA)
WR BODPEGN MILLER ★★★ #584 NATL | #91 WR 6-4 | 180 Ontario (Mansfield, OH)
TE BRODY LENNON ★★★ #611 NATL | #32 TE 6-4 | 220 Gates Mills (Gates Mills, OH)
OL JAKE COOK ★★★ #627 NATL | #40 IOL 6-5 | 295 Westerville North (Westerville, OH)
Prospect Rating Data: 247Sports Composite

Roy provides sturdy inside presence for Ohio State

Per 247Sports' composite rankings, Roy is considered the No. 229 overall prospect and No. 26 defensive line prospect in the 2025 class.

With his frame, he'll be an interior defensive lineman at OSU and could potentially be a three-technique in Jim Knowles' defensive scheme. Roy has primarily played in a 3-4 base defense in high school, but he's shown the ability to thrive in a 4-3 scheme as well.

Roy has proven to be an excellent run defender and plugs running lanes quickly, even when he has to take on double teams. He's got a proven display of power pass rush moves, which has likely been aided by his experience as a wrestler. Roy has plenty of quickness for someone of his build and can chase down ballcarriers in the backfield.

Current starting defensive tackles Tyleik Williams and Ty Hamilton are both seniors, so Roy could have a chance to earn a spot in the rotation as a freshman. Even if it’s more likely he'll likely need a year or two to develop, he has the tools to be a future key contributor in OSU's defense.

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