\n Coming from Massillon Washington High School, Deontay Malone knows championship culture. <\/p>\n
\n\tOn Sunday,\u00a0Malone chose to continue his football career with a program another Massillon graduate, Paul Brown, helped build into a title-winning powerhouse, committing to Ohio State as\u00a0the No. 11\u00a0prospect in Ohio and the No. 284\u00a0overall recruit in the 2027 class.\n<\/p>\n
\n\t\tCommitting to @OhioStateFB<\/a> means more than just playing football,it\u2019s about joining a family, a legacy of greatness. I\u2019m ready to work harder than ever, push past every limit, and represent the Buckeyes with pride and heart.\u2764\ufe0f@MTigerFB<\/a> @CoachNMoore<\/a> @CoachKent34<\/a> @247Sports<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/tAnnns5c9s<\/a>\n\t<\/p>\n \t\u2014 4\ufe0f\u20e3\u2b50\ufe0fdeontay malone (@deontaymalone6) June 14, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n \n\tMalone, a composite four-star cornerback<\/a>, received his Ohio State offer on Jan. 27. He announced his commitment after completing an official visit to Ohio State on Sunday.\u00a0Ohio State and Michigan State were the only\u00a0schools Malone officially visited before committing to the Buckeyes.\n<\/p>\n \t\tThe Malone File<\/p>\n \t\t\tClass: 2027<\/p>\n \t\t\tSize:\u00a06-0\/184<\/p>\n \t\t\tPos:\u00a0CB<\/p>\n \t\t\tSchool:\u00a0Massillon Washington\u00a0(Massillon, Ohio)<\/p>\n \t\t\tComposite Rating:\u00a0\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\tComposite Rank:\u00a0#284\u00a0(#33 CB)<\/p>\n \n\tMalone held 17\u00a0Division I offers entering this month, including Power Four opportunities from Ohio State, Michigan State, Auburn, Boston College, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, Pitt, Purdue and West Virginia. The 6-foot, 185-pound prospect has also impressed athletically in high school, recording a 4.43-second 40-yard dash, a 215-pound bench press and a 550-pound squat.\n<\/p>\n \n\tThat athleticism translated to all three phases for Massillon last season. Malone recorded 34 receptions for 498 yards on offense while adding 25 tackles, three interceptions, seven pass breakups, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble on defense. He also totaled 534 return yards on 24 combined kick and punt returns and scored nine total touchdowns for the Tigers.\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \n\tMalone becomes\u00a0the first\u00a0cornerback in Ohio State\u2019s 2027 recruiting class. The Buckeyes are hoping to soon add two more cornerbacks to the class, as fellow in-state cornerback Monsanna Torbert Jr.<\/a> visited alongside Malone this weekend while another four-star cornerback who visited Ohio State earlier this month, Jaden Carey<\/a>, is scheduled to announce his commitment on Wednesday.\n<\/p>\n \n\tHe also becomes the Buckeyes\u2019 seventh\u00a0defensive commitment in the cycle, joining five-star defensive end DJ Jacobs<\/a>, four-star defensive end Wyatt Smith<\/a>, four-star linebacker Prince Goldsby<\/a>, four-star safety Eli Johnson<\/a>, four-star linebacker Quinton Cypher<\/a> and three-star safety Angelo Smith<\/a>, the younger brother of star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith.\n<\/p>\n \t\tOhio State 2027 Football Commits (14)<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tPlayer<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tPos<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tHt\/Wt<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tStars<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tNatl Rank<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tPos Rank<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tHigh School<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tDJ JACOBS<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\tDE<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t6-5 \/ 235<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t4<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t1<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tBlessed Trinity Catholic (Roswell, GA)<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tJAMIER BROWN<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\tWR<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t5-11 \/ 192<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t23<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t4<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tBig Walnut (Sunbury, OH)<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tWYATT SMITH<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\tDE<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t6-6 \/ 235<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t78<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t11<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tSt. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, FL)<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tKELLEN WYMER<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\tOL<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t6-5 \/ 265<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t81<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t5<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tLiberty Center (Liberty Center, OH)<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tPRINCE GOLDSBY<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\tLB<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t6-3 \/ 205<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t93<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t6<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tBlue Springs South (Blue Springs, MO)<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tELI JOHNSON<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\tS<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t6-3 \/ 200<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t203<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t17<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tCibolo Steele (Cibolo, TX)<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tBRADY EDMUNDS<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\tQB<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t6-5 \/ 220<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t220<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t18<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tHuntington Beach (Huntington Beach, CA)<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tQUINTON CYPHER<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\tLB<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t6-2 \/ 220<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t248<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t20<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tMillbrook (Raleigh, NC)<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tDEONTAY MALONE<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\tCB<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t6-0 \/ 182<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t284<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t33<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tMassillon Washington (Massillon, OH)<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tBRODY MCNEEL<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\tOL<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t6-5 \/ 285<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t316<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t30<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tGodwin (Richmond, VA)<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tJIMMY KALIS<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\tOL<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t6-8 \/ 290<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t328<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t34<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tCentral Catholic (Pittsburgh, PA)<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tMASON WILT<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\tOL<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t6-5 \/ 295<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t362<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t18<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tSt. Clairsville (Saint Clairsville, OH)<\/p>\n