C.J. Hicks is officially an Ohio State Buckeye.

Hicks, who verbally committed as a sophomore, is headed to Columbus after signing his letter of intent on Wednesday, the first of two signing days in the recruiting cycle.

Hicks, from Kettering Alter, is the highest-rated player in the Buckeyes 2022 recruiting class and according to 247Sports, is the second-best linebacker in the country.

Live: Who's signing with Ohio State football on National Signing Day

Hicks comes to Ohio State to play a position of need. The 6-foot-3-inch, 215-pounder is one of two highly ranked linebackers signing; the second being Gabe Powers.

Hicks is the No.12-ranked overall recruit in the country. He is the No.1 player in the state of Ohio.

It’s the fourth straight season Ohio State has landed the state’s top-ranked prospect.Jack Sawyer, from Pickerington North, played in 12 games as a true freshman and recorded three sacks. He was the top player in Ohio in the class of 2021.

C.J. Hicks is the second highest-rated linebacker to ever sign with OSU

Hicks is the 17th highest-rated recruit to sign with the Buckeyes since recruiting rankings began in the early 2000s. He is the second-highest rated linebacker to sign with the Buckeyes, behind Baron Browning of the 2017 class.

Your subscription to the Dispatch helps support local journalism. Stay connected with our daily stories, in-depth reporting and more by

clicking Subscribe

Browning, from Kennedale High School in Texas, was the No.1 outside linebacker and the No.4-ranked player from Texas, and No.11 in the class.

Browning was selected by the Denver Broncos with the 105th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.

The five highest-rated linebackers to ever sign with the Buckeyes

• Baron Browning, Kennedale (Texas) High School (2017)

• C.J. Hicks, Kettering Archbishop Alter (2022)

• Mike D’Andrea, Avon Lake High School (2002)

• Marco Cooper, Detroit Cass Technical (2000)

• Curtis Grant, Richmond (Va.) Hermitage High School (2011)

The 2022 Ohio State football recruiting class

• C.J. Hicks, LB

• Sonny Styles, S

• Gabe Powers, LB

• Terrance Brooks, CB

• Devin Brown, QB

• Caleb Burton, WR

• Kaleb Brown, WR

• Caden Curry, DL

• Kenyatta Jackson, DE

• Kyion Grayes, WR

• Tegra Tshabola, OT

• Kojo Antwi, WR

• Jyaire Brown, CB

• Dallan Hayden, RB

• George Fitzpatrick, OT

• Ryan Turner, CB

• Kye Stokes, S

• Bennett Christian, TE

• Avery Henry, OT

Where Ohio State’s 2022 recruiting class ranks

Ohio State entered December's early National Signing Day with the No.4-ranked recruiting class.

They trail Alabama, Georgia and Texas A&M. Those three programs plan to sign at least three five-star recruits each. Ohio State, with 17 commitments, has two five-star, 14 four-star and two two-star recruits.

When is the next National Signing Day?

In 2017, the NCAA brought back the early signing day for football. It went into effect in 2018. But before that, the first Wednesday of February was National Signing Day for football recruits.

The next signing will be Feb. 2.

However, recruits don’t have to sign that day. Last year, Ohio State signed J.T. Tuimoloau in the summer, for example.

Buckeyes continue to dominate Ohio in-state recruiting

With Hicks joining the Buckeyes, Ohio State has signed the highest-rated recruit from Ohio in four straight classes. The last top-rated recruit, according to 247 Sports composite rankings, to sign with another program was Jackson Carman of Fairfield High School in 2018, who chose Clemson. Carman was selected in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Buckeyes were likely to continue that streak in 2023 but after Styles reclassified, Mentor defensive lineman Brenan Vernon became the state's top 2023 recruit. He is committed to Notre Dame.

Who are the highest rated recruits ever from Ohio?

Here are the five highest-rated recruits since the early 2000s to come from Ohio:

1. Ted Ginn, Jr., Cleveland Glenville (2004), signed with Ohio State

2. Jack Sawyer, Pickerington North (2021), signed with Ohio State

3. Prescott Burgess, Warren G Harding (2003), signed with Michigan

4. Beanie Wells, Akron Garfield (2006), signed with Ohio State

5. Jordan Hicks, Lakota West (2010), sign with Texas

How does Ohio State's 2023 recruiting class look right now?

As of now, Ohio State has two commitments in its 2023 class after Styles reclassified a week before National Signing Day. Tight end Tyler Lockwood of Independence, Tenn. (four stasr) and Dayton Wayne standout lineman Joshua Padilla (four stars) have committed to Ohio State.

2023 Ohio State recruiting: Ohio State football adds first commitment of 2023 recruiting class from TE Ty Lockwood

The 10-highest rated recruits to sign with Ohio State

The recruiting ranking era began in the early 2000s. Here are the 10 highest-rated players to sign with Ohio State.

1. Quinn Ewers, QB, Southlake Carroll High School (2021)

2. Terrelle Pryor, QB, Jeannette High School, (2008)

3. Ted Ginn Jr., WR, Cleveland Glenville (2004)

4. J.T. Tuimoloau, DL, Sammamish (Wash.) Eastside Catholic (2021)

5. Jack Sawyer, DL, Pickerington North High School (2021)

6. Julian Fleming, WR, Catawissa (Pa.) Southern Columbia High School (2020)

7. Noah Spence, DE, Harrisburg (Pa.) Bishop McDevitt (2012)

8. Nick Bosa, DE, Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas (2016)

9. Beanie Wells, RB, Akron Garfield High School (2006)

10. Sam Maldonado, RB, Harrison (NY.) High School (2000)

Get more Ohio State football news by listening to our podcasts

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: CJ Hicks signs with Ohio State football on National Signing Day