Ohio State lands top defensive line target Karlos May

COLUMBUS – The Buckeyes have put a bow on their star-studded defensive line class, for now. Ohio State beat out Auburn and Georgia for four-star defensive lineman Karlos May. May, Birmingham (Ala.) Ramsay native, was the only uncommitted interior defensive line target on board for defensive line coach Larry Johnson and now he is a Buckeye. He joins a defensive line class that already includes five-star EDGE David Jacobs and defensive lineman Marcus Fakatou committed along with four-star EDGE Wyatt Smith. Auburn was viewed as the early leader for May. After all, he is an in-state prospect and the Tigers have done a good job of keeping those guys home in recent years. However, that did stop Larry Johnson from making the 6-foot-3, 330-pound May a priority. Johnson offered May on Sept. 3, 2025. May then made his first trip up to Columbus a few months later for the Penn State game on Nov. 1. From that point on, it was clear that Ohio State was going to be a factor in this recruitment. May returned to camp on April 4 for the Buckeyes’ annual Student Appreciation Day practice. He and his family spent the weekend in Columbus just learning more about the program. That spring visit led to May scheduling an official visit to Ohio State from June 19-21, the final official visit weekend of the summer. May took official visits to Auburn, Florida State and Georgia the first three weekends before finally visiting Ohio State. At that point, the Bulldogs were actually the school receiving the most buzz for May. Not in-state Auburn. The Buckeyes rolled out the red carpet for May and his family on his official visit which led to him committing to the coaching staff. Karlos May did stay true to his previously scheduled July 18 commitment date. However, Ohio State was always the pick after his official visit. He completes the star-studded class for Larry Johnson in 2027.