Better Know a Buckeye: Brody Lennon’s Playmaking and Pass-Catching Ability Make Ohio State’s Tight End Room Even Deeper

One of eight in-state products in Ohio State's 2025 class, Gilmour Academy (Gates Mills, Ohio) four-star tight end Brody Lennon also became the second tight end in the cycle for the Buckeyes, joining fellow four-star Nate Roberts.

How He Became a Buckeye

After getting Roberts – Ohio State's top target at tight end – in the fold, Keenan Bailey knew he would only add a second tight end to the class if he found the right fit. That was exactly what Lennon became, even though it was late in the cycle.

After an impressive performance at OSU's recruiting camp in mid-June 2024, Lennon received an offer from the Buckeyes, one that he dreamed of as he grew up an Ohio State fan after his dad was once a Buckeye.

"It felt amazing, I always grew up an OSU fan and my dad went there," Lennon told Eleven Warriors of his offer at the time. "Coach Bailey felt I had a good camp, and I already had a workout with him in May, so it was more just so the other coaches could see me."

Quickly, he lined up a visit to Columbus, which came after official visits to Kentucky and Missouri. But, as he admitted, the OSU offer changed Lennon's recruitment quite a bit, both in notoriety and the fact that he received his dream offer.

Less than two weeks after receiving the offer, Lennon committed to Ohio State, a decision that seemed inevitable and was only a matter of when, not if, the Northeast Ohio product would choose the Buckeyes.

High School Years

Lennon began to get varsity snaps as a sophomore at both tight end and the defensive line. Lennon totaled five catches for 71 yards while also recording 38 tackles (seven tackles for loss) and four sacks in eight games in 2022.

In his junior season, Lennon caught 32 passes for 750 yards with 11 touchdowns. He also had 95 tackles (30 tackles for loss) and 13 sacks, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery as a defensive end.

Ohio State TE commit Brody Lennon (81.4 IGA Score) max speed of 21.1 mph ranks in the 92nd percentile among 7,900 tight end prospects in our database. #ReelSpeed

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— Reel Analytics (@RAanalytics) July 20, 2024

As a senior, Lennon collected 30 receptions for 601 yards and 13 total touchdowns.

Brody Lennon are you serious?! The Ohio State commit with an incredible TD catch! @GALancerAD 21 CVCA 21 pic.twitter.com/bnaYaTAWnA

— Jacob Hansen (@JacobHansen_12) November 16, 2024

Time and time again, the 6-foot-4, 225-pound tight end proved his versatility throughout his high school career. He lined up on the outside as a receiver, on the line of scrimmage as an in-line tight end and even in the backfield at times in high school. His pass-catching ability is his strongest trait, but his big frame could enable him to become a very good blocker at the next level. 

Immediate Impact

In arguably the best tight end room in the country, with the likes of Max Klare, Will Kacmarek, Jelani Thurman, Benett Christian and Roberts, Lennon's first year as a Buckeye will likely be a redshirt year, especially after enrolling during the summer. He recognizes that, but also won't hold back about his best traits.

“My yards after the catch, my toughness, physicality and I think my leadership on the field,” Lennon said when describing his best on-field attributes.

That said, he has plenty of talent to lean on while he learns the speed of the college game, whether it's making plays with the ball in his hands or as a blocker, both in the passing game and on the ground.

Long-Term Impact

After learning from his peers and improving both his body and his performance on the field as a football player, Lennon will have a chance to earn more playing time in future seasons. While he is a developmental prospect, it's clear that Keenan Bailey and company saw something in Lennon to offer him a scholarship late in the process last year.

Klare and Kacmarek could both be gone next season, while Christian and Thurman are also upperclassmen, giving Lennon an opening to start climbing the depth chart in 2026 and compete for a bigger role in 2027.

While Bailey will continue to bring in talented players at tight end, like fellow freshman Roberts, Lennon's ability as a pass-catcher and strength as a blocker gives him a well-rounded skill set that should lead to playing time down the road.

Player Comparison: Marcus Baugh

After barely playing in his first two seasons as a Buckeye, Baugh became a productive tight end as an upperclassman, totaling 52 catches for 573 yards and seven touchdowns in his final two years at Ohio State.

The 6-foot-4, 246-pound tight end developed his body while working on his skill set early on in Columbus to make an impact for the Buckeyes later on in his OSU career, the same route the similarly sized and skilled Lennon will have to take to eventually help his beloved Buckeyes on the field.