\n Cross another defensive end target off the board for Ohio State. <\/p>\n
\n\tOn Friday, Duncanville (Texas) four-star defensive end KJ Ford committed to Florida over Ohio State and Texas A&M.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n\t\tBREAKING: Four-Star EDGE KJ Ford has Committed to Florida, he tells me for @rivals<\/a><\/p>\n The 64 245 EDGE from Duncanville, TX chose the Gators over Ohio State & Texas A&M<\/p>\n Going to make a statement in the SEChttps:\/\/t.co\/vI9jwNpCnm<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/30H1WGKDSn<\/a>\n\t<\/p>\n \t\u2014 Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) July 12, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n \n\tFord\u2019s recruitment reached a fever pitch this summer, culminating in three high-profile official visits: Gainesville on June 6, College Station on June 13 and Columbus on June 20. However, since four-star defensive end Trenton Henderson committed to LSU over Florida on July 2, Ford became the Gators\u2019 top priority at edge rusher. Florida landed him nine days later, leaving Texas A&M and Ohio State as second and third-place finishers.\n<\/p>\n \n\tFord\u2019s pledge to Florida continues a disappointing trend of defensive end misses for Larry Johnson this offseason, as the Ohio State defensive end coach has seen four-stars Luke Wafle<\/a> (USC on June 19), Carter Meadows<\/a> (Michigan on June 29) and Landon Barnes<\/a> (Ole Miss on June 30) commit elsewhere.\n<\/p>\n \n\tAs it stands, Johnson has one defensive end committed in the 2026 class: California four-star Khary Wilder<\/a>. He has also landed pledges from three-star defensive tackles Cameron Brickle of Florida and Jamir Perez of Cleveland.\n<\/p>\n \n\tLooking ahead, Johnson and the Buckeyes remain in the mix for Alabama four-star defensive lineman Emanuel Ruffin<\/a>, as well as four-star Georgia defensive lineman Deuce Geralds<\/a>. 247Sports sees Ohio State, Alabama and LSU sees the top contenders for Ruffin, and Ohio State, Michigan, Ole Miss and LSU as the top contenders for Geralds.\n<\/p>\n