If you follow Ohio State recruiting, you know the drill. A kid from Cleveland Glenville gets an offer, the "pipeline" talk starts, and eventually, he puts on the scarlet and gray hat. It’s almost a tradition at this point. But the Cincere Johnson Ohio State commitment wasn't just another box being checked on a spreadsheet.
Honestly, this one had some teeth to it.
When Johnson finally went public with his decision on June 19, 2025, there was this collective exhale from the fan base. People weren't just happy to keep a local star at home; they were relieved to beat out Nick Saban’s successors at Alabama and James Franklin’s crew at Penn State. This wasn’t a "default" commitment. It was a statement.
The Glenville Factor and Why It Still Matters
People like to act like the Glenville-to-Columbus pipeline is a given. It isn't. Not anymore.
Sure, Ted Ginn Sr. has been sending legends like Troy Smith and Donte Whitner to the Buckeyes for decades. But in the modern NIL era, every high-profile recruit is a battle. Johnson is a 6-foot-3, 225-pound (though some scouts have him closer to 240 now) wrecking ball who could have easily gone south.
He didn't.
Instead, he followed his "best friend" and mentor, Arvell Reese. He saw what Reese was doing under James Laurinaitis and decided he wanted a piece of that development. It’s kinda cool, actually. You’ve got these kids who grew up together in Cleveland now looking to rebuild the "Silver Bullet" defense side-by-side.
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Breaking Down the Stats
If you want to know why the coaches were sweating this one, just look at the 2024 junior season. It’s ridiculous.
- 205 Total Tackles (That’s not a typo).
- 41 Tackles for Loss.
- 8.5 Sacks.
- 3 Forced Fumbles.
Basically, if the ball was moving, Cincere was hitting the person holding it. He ended up being named the MaxPreps Ohio Player of the Year and a finalist for Mr. Football. By the time he signed his Letter of Intent in December 2025, he had racked up over 500 career tackles.
Where Does He Actually Play?
This is the big debate among the recruiting nerds. Is he a linebacker? Is he an edge rusher?
If you ask James Laurinaitis, he’s a linebacker first. He has this weirdly fluid movement for a guy his size. He actually showed up to a camp in 2025 and covered receivers who were 60 pounds lighter than him without looking like a total fish out of water. That’s rare.
But then you see him pin his ears back and chase a quarterback. He’s got that "twitch" scouts talk about.
"You go to Ohio State to win and get developed. The amount of experience the coaching staff has in the league... they have 80 years from every coach in every aspect." — Cincere Johnson
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He’s smart enough to see the path. With Sonny Styles finishing up and Arvell Reese likely heading to the NFL after 2025, the depth chart is wide open. Payton Pierce and Riley Pettijohn are there, sure, but a guy with Johnson’s motor is going to find the field early. Even if it’s just on special teams or as a situational pass rusher initially.
The "Bama Threat" Was Real
We shouldn't gloss over how close this felt for a minute. Alabama didn't just send a flyer; they went hard. Johnson took an official visit to Tuscaloosa in late May 2025. For a week or two, the message boards were a mess. People were worried.
He also visited Penn State.
But when he showed up for his Columbus official visit on June 13, the vibe shifted. It was less about the "glitz" and more about the "brotherhood." That word gets thrown around a lot in recruiting, but for a kid from Glenville, it actually means something. He wants to be part of the legacy. He wants to be the next name mentioned alongside Marshon Lattimore.
What the Experts Say
The rankings reflect the hype. By the time the dust settled:
- On3 had him as the #1 player in Ohio and #39 nationally.
- 247Sports put him at #50 in the country.
- Rivals kept him in the top 100 as well.
He’s a consensus four-star, but if you watch the tape of the 2025 Division IV state championship game, he plays like a five-star. Glenville held Shelby to 27 total yards. Read that again. Twenty-seven yards in a state final. Johnson was the heart of that defense.
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Actionable Insights for the 2026 Season
If you're planning to follow Cincere's journey now that he's officially a Buckeye, here’s what to keep an eye on:
Watch the Spring Game weight. If he shows up on campus in June weighing 245 or 250, he’s probably moving to the edge permanently. If he stays around 230, he’s your future "Mike" or "Will" linebacker.
The "Perez" Connection. Keep an eye on his teammate Jamir Perez. Cincere has been vocal about wanting to keep the Glenville crew together in Columbus. Recruiting is a team sport, and Cincere is currently the lead recruiter for the Buckeyes in the 216 area code.
Special Teams Impact. Expect to see #8 (or whatever number he snags) on the kickoff coverage unit early. His tackling technique is too good to keep on the sidelines while he learns the playbook.
The Cincere Johnson Ohio State commitment wasn't just a win on the recruiting trail; it was a retention of Ohio's best defensive talent. In a world where the big programs are constantly raiding each other's backyards, keeping a "thumper" like Johnson at home is how you win championships.
To get ahead of the curve, start looking at the 2026 defensive depth chart. With the departures in the secondary and linebacker room, the transition period this spring will be the first real test for the next generation of the Silver Bullets.