Please respect my decision✌️ #Committed
— Jaylen.Johnson (@JaylenJohnson21) January 7, 2020
Thank you to all the coaches that took their time to recruit me. pic.twitter.com/P1JKPXPY1T
Thank you to @OhioStateFB especially Coach @ryandaytime Coach @CoachWash56 Coach @markpantoni and everyone associated with THE Ohio State University for this amazing opportunity. I promise to make the most of it. #GoBucks #NoFly ✌🏽 pic.twitter.com/AdZhDQ3oW8
— Jaylen.Johnson (@JaylenJohnson21) January 7, 2020
The 6-foot-3, 210-pound Johnson had 61 tackles and forced a fumble in 14 games for the state champion Lancers last season.
He had three tackles in La Salle’s 34-17 win over Massillon Washington in the Division II state championship game in December.
Lancers coach Pat McLaughlin told WCPO.com Johnson will play the safety/linebacker hybrid position called the Bullet at Ohio State.
"He's a good leader," McLaughlin told the site. "He's a smart football player. He played multiple positions. He was fast and physical and got to the ball. He was always around the ball. I think when you talk to some of the coaches who played against him he's one of those guys you always have to account for on the field and know where he's at. Make sure he's accounted for in the pass game and in the run game."
Ohio State's 2021 class ranks No. 1 in the country per 247Sports Composite rankings and already contains five in-state members: Pickerington North defensive lineman Jack Sawyer, Richfield Revere offensive lineman Ben Christman, Massillon Washington receiver Jayden Ballard, Ironton linebacker Reid Carrico and Johnson.
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For the 2020 class, Ohio State signed six players from Cincinnati in December for the class of 2020 after not signing more than three since 1990.
That included Jake Seibert, a kicker from La Salle.
The last position player from La Salle to sign with Ohio State was receiver DeVier Posey in 2008.
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