BREAKING: High 4-star LB Tarvos Alford stays with the Buckeyes At the end of March, the Buckeyes got on the board with another 2025 commitment on the defensive side of the ball and it was another big one. Linebacker Tarvos Alford from Vero Beach (Fla.) announced that he had committed to Ohio State. Alford made his announcement at his high school and picked the Buckeyes over Miami, Florida, Florida State, UCF and Tennessee, his other finalists.
"The brotherhood," Alford told Bucknuts at the time when asked why he picked the Buckeyes. "The atmosphere is different there."
Alford had been recruited by the Buckeyes for a long time both by defensive coordinator and then linebackers coach Jim Knowles as well as current Ohio State linebackers coach James Laurinaitis. Both stopped to see Alford in mid-January at his high school as well as again the last week in January. Also recruiting Alford for the Buckeyes had been assistant Sam McGrath and of course Ryan Day.
Alford also told Bucknuts at the time, it had been a hard decision.
“It’s been hard because each school is great,” he said. “But this is where God is leading me to.”
The 6-foot-2 and 210-pound Alford has a list of scholarship offers that, in addition to Ohio State, includes Miami, Tennessee, Florida, Penn State, UCF, South Carolina, Auburn, Kentucky, Indiana, West Virginia, Iowa State and a number of others.
While Alford had announced his commitment, his recruitment was not over. He said he planned to make official visits to Ohio State from May 31 to June 2, Florida State from June 7 to 9, UCF from June 14 to 16 and Miami from June 21 to 23.
“I’ve checked with the coaches and made sure it was OK at all respective programs,” Alford said.
So Alford’s recruitment went on. And as the football season progressed, Miami in particular made a big push for Alford to flip.
But in the end, it is the Buckeyes that have won out, as Alford has announced this afternoon that he is staying with the Buckeyes.
Alford is a 4-star prospect in the 247Sports Composite. He is the country’s No. 103 overall 2025 prospect, the No. 8 linebacker and the No. 15 prospect in Florida.
Bucknuts scouting guru Mark Porter has offered his evaluation and thoughts on Alford:
“The athletic ability is, to me, what jumps off the screen. His speed and change of direction, he might be one of the more athletic linebackers I’ve seen (Ohio State) recruit in the middle for a while. The explosion and athletic ability, it wouldn’t shock me if he played out at Sam (linebacker). He has like maybe strong safety athletic ability.”
Leave a Reply