Cox's decision leaves Ohio State without a single defensive end in this year's recruiting class. And with Tyquan Lewis and Jalyn Holmes graduating and Sam Hubbard likely off to the NFL following the Cotton Bowl, it's a position of great need.
The staff planned to take two more defensive ends this cycle, with New Jersey four-star Jayson Oweh and Cleveland Heights four-star Tyreke Smith their top remaining targets. With Cox now out of the picture — and highly unlikely to take his official visit this weekend as previously planned — the staff will undoubtedly have to ramp up their respective recruitments.
Cox will take an official visit to Georgia on the weekend of Dec. 15, and then sign with his college of choice during the Early Signing Period one week later. All signs point toward the Bulldogs being the pick, but it appears the Crimson Tide made quite the impression last weekend, too.