Ohio State added a major defensive piece to its 2022 recruiting class Tuesday as four-star defensive end Kenyatta Jackson committed to the Buckeyes live on CBS Sports HQ. Jackson, a product of Chaminade-Madonna Prep in Hollywood, Florida, chose Ohio State over Oklahoma and Alabama.
Listed at 6-foot-5 and 231 pounds, Jackson helped lead Chaminade-Madonna to back-to-back Class 3A state championships. He posted more than 20 sacks over his first three years of high school. The industry standard 247Sports Composite ranks Jackson as the No. 78 overall player in the nation and No. 7 edge defender in his class.
Jackson is a major defensive addition to Ohio State’s 2022 recruiting class, ranking as the seventh top-100 commit and highest-ranked lineman on either side of the ball. His addition pushes Ohio State to the nation’s No. 5 recruiting class despite only holding 15 committed players.
Jackson has a lengthy legacy in college football as his grandfather Rudy Barber and uncles Rudy Barber Jr. and Kantroy Barber all played in the NFL. 247Sports Southeast Recruiting Analyst Andrew Ivins had this scouting report on Jackson:
Built almost like an action figure with thick neck, broad shoulders and round biceps. Exceptional reach owning over an 80-inch wing span. Big hands. Should be able to eventually get up to 260 pounds or more. A disruptive edge player that uses his power and quickness to make things extremely difficult for opposing offensive tackles. Plays with a terrific forward lean, keeping his momentum downhill. Heavy hands allow him to displace blockers and get after the quarterback. Doesn’t disappear against the run. Squeezes his way through gaps and into the backfield with nimble lateral movements. Gives a persistent effort in pursuit, working his way across the field to drop a ball carrier. Has a bit of an upright posture to him, but keeps a low pad level and knows how to consistently find leverage.
