Justin Hill arrived for his official visit at Ohio State seeking clarity.

The 2025 Cincinnati four-star defensive end said he knows what the Buckeyes want him to be, recruiting him as a jack − defensive coordinator Jim Knowles’ hybrid end/linebacker that was a staple in the his scheme at Oklahoma State and Duke that has struggled to find its footing at Ohio State.

Hill, who is 6 feet 3 and 220 pounds, said Ohio State views him as the “prototype” jack in its defense. It’s a position Hill said would allow him to be “coached by almost the entire coaching staff,” learning Larry Johnson’s edge rushing techniques and James Laurinaitis’ tips on playing sideline-to-sideline as both a rushing linebacker and one that drops into coverage.

But use of the jack was where many of Hill’s questions stemmed from. Why had it not been used at Ohio State? What is the plan for the position moving forward?

“The reason why I wanted clarity was because they don’t run it. But I understand why,” Hill said.  “They've got two of the best two true D-ends in the country, duo wise. So it (doesn’t) make sense to do something like that when you got them type of guys off the edge already.”

With Jack Sawyer, who played a bit of the jack in Knowles’ first season at Ohio State in 2022, and J.T. Tuimoloau leaving after the 2024 season, Hill said Knowles is searching for the “archetype for that defense.” And Hill was told he fits the bill as the “first guy he recruited for that jack position.”

“Coach Knowles just (wants) to put me in the right position to make plays and (give) me the free hand to go do whatever I want to create havoc on the other side of the ball,” Hill said.

Winton Woods High coach Chad Murphy said it’s the role Hill fills in his defense with his size, length, speed, quickness and ability to change direction.

“His versatility is what makes him even more special because offenses can’t just predict where he’s going to line up, where he’s coming from to give them the matchup they want,” Murphy said. “I feel like his versatility allows us as a defense and us as a team, obviously, to scheme and bring Justin from multiple places and lining him up multiple places, asking him to play man, asking him to play zone.

“I really do believe he’s hands-down one of the best players – edge guys, hybrid guys – in the country.”

Hill is ranked as the No. 72 player and the No. 7 edge rusher in the 2025 recruiting class, per 247Sports’ composite rankings. As a junior, Hill made 36 tackles, 16 tackles-for-loss, 13 sacks and two forced fumbles according to 247Sports.

What's next for 2025 DE Justin Hill after Ohio State official visit

Ohio State is not the only school that is fighting for Hill.

The Buckeyes were the first of four official visits for Hill with trips to Southern California, Alabama and Oregon scheduled in June. In those visits, Hill said, his focus will be on what his role would be in each of their defenses, whether it would be as a “weapon” or “disruptor,” or simply as a scheme fit.

Hill has the chance to continue the Winton Woods-to-Ohio State pipeline like Miyan Williams and Jermaine Mathews Jr. did. But Hill said he’s feeling no pressure to remain in state.

“With those guys in front of me, they went through the recruiting process,” Hill said. “They’re not going to press me (like) ‘Oh, you've got to come here.’ They’re going to let me go wherever I want. If somewhere is better for me, better for my future than others, they’re going to understand that.”

Hill said Ohio State showed him more than just what he could do on defense.

With a July 3 decision date looming, Hill said he saw “how blessed it is to be a college athlete” in Columbus and that “everybody knows who you are.”

Sometimes visits get overhyped, Hill said. But leaving Ohio State, he said he now believes “the hype.”

“Ohio State really put it out there,” Hill said. “They rolled the carpet out for me. And they showed me that this could be a place, 100%.”

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: What 2025 DE Justin Hill learned about Ohio State on official visit