PA’s top defender, ex-Penn State target, decommits from Ohio State as Signing Day nears

One of the top-ranked defenders in the 2025 recruiting cycle may now be back in play for Penn State football. On Monday afternoon, Imhotep (PA) four-star edge rusher Zahir Mathis announced he was decommitting from Ohio State.

“After much consideration, I’ve decided to reopen my recruitment and decommit from Ohio State,” Mathis wrote on X. “I appreciate Coach [Ryan] Day, Coach [Larry] Johnson, and all the coaches at Ohio State. They are still a top school for me. This is a life decision. Please respect my decision!”

The No. 76 prospect nationally, Mathis is the No. 6 defensive end and the No. 3 recruit in Pennsylvania for the 2025 recruiting class in the 247Sports Composite Rankings. Sitting behind Missouri quarterback commit Matt Zollers and Michigan tight end pledge Andrew Olesh, Mathis is the top in-state defender for the cycle.

Mathis chose the Buckeyes over the Nittany Lions last January. But James Franklin and the Penn State football staff continued to pursue the Imhotep edge rusher throughout the spring and summer.

The Nittany Lions hosted him for an official visit in June and then again for an unofficial visit at July’s Lasch Bash. Mathis only made two trips to Columbus during that time, including his official visit, which wasn’t until October 25.

Will Penn State football make a renewed push for Zahir Mathis?

© Dan Rainville / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

While Zahir Mathis had been at the top of the Nittany Lions’ big board for most of the 2025 recruiting cycle, the situation has changed since we last saw Franklin and his staff openly pursue the ex-Ohio State commit this summer.

Penn State football already has three commitments at defensive end in its class, led by Mill Valley (KS) four-star Jayden Woods, who is the No. 7 player at the position in 2025, per 247Sports.

Most recently, the Nittany Lions plucked Warren G. Harding edge Chaz Coleman from Buckeye State, a prospect ranked No. 19 at the position by On3 but considerably lower by 247Sports.

With less than a month until early National Signing Day, we’ll see if Mathis is inclined to stay close to home or if he’s interested in pursuing programs that have been further off his radar.

The early National Signing period for the class of 2025 begins on Wednesday, December 4, 2024, and closes on Friday, December 6, 2024.

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