Ohio State lands four-star 2027 defensive tackle Karlos May, boosting its interior front plans

Ohio State added another high-end piece to its recruiting board on Saturday, landing a commitment from four-star defensive tackle Karlos May. The prospect announced his decision to join the Buckeyes, turning the Rivals-and-247 chatter into a formal pledge as the 2027 cycle continues to shape up across college football.

May is a defensive lineman from Ramsay High School in Ramsay, Alabama. According to the 247Sports Composite, he is ranked as the No. 15 defensive lineman and the No. 135 overall prospect in the 2027 class. That combination places him among the more coveted interior defensive building blocks for teams trying to secure depth and upside on the defensive front early.

The commitment is particularly notable for Ohio State because recruiting along the defensive interior has become a recurring priority for programs that expect to rotate multiple linemen through different fronts. For the Buckeyes, a defensive tackle pledge of this tier adds another option for future defensive packages, whether the staff builds around one-gap pressure looks, two-gap structure, or more flexible personnel groupings.

The decision also reflects the broader reality of modern recruiting, where elite prospects weigh both immediate development and long-term fit. May’s announcement, reported by Yahoo Sports, frames Ohio State as one of the programs he ultimately preferred after considering other options. At this stage, the public information centers on the commitment itself and May’s baseline recruiting profile, rather than a detailed timeline of visits or positional plans.

Ohio State’s class-building momentum matters because the defensive line is a position group that is constantly in flux, with recruiting cycles often overlapping and needs changing as prospects graduate or move on. A 2027 commitment can help Ohio State manage that uncertainty by adding talent that can be tracked across seasons, especially as coaches evaluate how prospects progress in strength, technique, and consistency.

For fans watching the recruiting picture, the next question is how May’s pledge fits into Ohio State’s remaining needs on the defensive front and how the staff continues to evaluate other prospects at similar positions. As additional recruiting reports emerge and official confirmations (if published) become available, May’s role in the 2027 group should become clearer, including how the staff intends to develop him toward an expanded college impact.