Mathis, considered the overall No. 55 recruit, will need to make a choice on where to attend.
A majority of the 2025 recruiting class has committed and signed with their next school as National Signing Day has come and gone, but there are still a few key recruits to be had, starting with four-star edge rusher Zahir Mathis.
Considered the No. 55 recruit and the No. 4 edge rusher in the Class of 2025 by Rivals, the top recruit in the state of Pennsylvania was a one-time commit to the Ohio State Buckeyes before de-committing in November of 2024.
Accumulating 27 scholarship offers thus far, January is setting up to be a crucial month for Mathis as he nears a decision during the February signing period, with official visits coming up in the coming weeks.
With a month to go, Mathis is still open to every school, but has scheduled official visits with UCLA, Florida State, and Michigan, while talking with other suitors such as Ohio State and Penn State again.
“I didn’t really think [my recruitment] was going to have this type of outcome, but, you know, the atmosphere is wild,” Mathis said ahead of the Under Armour All-America game on January 2. “You know, you don’t really know what’s going to happen. So, all I can say is I keep my options open to everything that I got going on so far.”
Excited to be in Orlando tomorrow for the Under Armour All American game@DemetricDWarren @TheUCReport #UANEXT
— Zahir Mathis (@ZahirMathis5) December 28, 2024
Michigan seems to emerging as the frontrunner in the equation, as Mathis’s relationship with head coach Sherrone Moore and defensive line coach Lou Esposito has grown, especially since his de-commitment from Ohio State.
“Everything’s going good [with Coach Moore],” Mathis said. “He’s been real busy lately, so I haven’t been able to have like a long, in-depth conversation with him, but every time we talk, it’s real good.”
[With Coach Esposito], it’s amazing with him. You know, he hit me up every day. He actually just aspired to talk to my family and I would reach out more. Last time I seen him, we was good. Greetings and everything like that.
“Right after the de-commitment, even before the commitment [back in January of 2024] and everything like that, when I was making my big decision, they still was involved. They had a foot in the door, and it was like we had a bond so far just by those guys coming up to see me, and we talk about it every night now and again. So it was real good for me to keep them in the loop.”
Michigan’s edge development is a key factor for Mathis, especially when paired with the relationships he’s built thus far.
“I say with the edges that they got there and the edges that they had there, you know, they all developed well. You know, each guy has high explosion. Each guy has quick hands. Fast feet, just like myself, you know, And I’m able to have good experiences within that because Coach Esposito, he’s a good guy and everything like that. So I got a good bond with him. It’s all good.”
Ohio State still seems to be a part of the equation for Mathis, despite the de-commitment back in November.
“It’s still all love [for Ohio State]. All love,” Mathis said. “And I still love [defensive line] coach Larry Johnson the most. You know, we still have a bond and everything with my family, but it’s just about me opening up my recruitment, more decisions. I’m still open to Ohio [State].”
Penn State also has been factored into the mix, as they’ve had conversations with Mathis ahead of signing day on February 5th.
“I still talk to [Penn State defensive line coach] Deion [Barnes],” Mathis said. “He reached out to me. He reached out to me when he visited there. So, it was real good for him to reach out to me but that’s one of my alumni and I kind of looked at it like, ‘oh, it would be a good look for me,’ but I want to do the best thing that’s right for me.”
There are a number of options still on the table for the top uncommitted recruit in the Class of 2025, but Michigan appears to the favorite with a month away from signing day, as Mathis has a strong relationship with the coaching staff, led by defensive line coach Lou Esposito.
