The 2019 Ohio State offensive line just picked up a huge addition.
Jonah Jackson, who was honorable mention all-Big Ten with Rutgers in 2018, will play for the Buckeyes this fall.
He announced his commitment to OSU via Twitter.
Jackson is a crucial addition to a unit that loses four starters this year.
He played both guard and center for the Scarlet Knights, but figures to be in contention for one of the starting guard spots with the Buckeyes this fall.
He should also provide some veteran leadership to what projects as a fairly young line. Jackson was a team captain for Rutgers last fall.
A native of Media, Penn., Jackson was a 3-star prospect coming out of high school.
He was also considering Oklahoma, Penn State, Virginia, Texas, Pitt, Iowa, and Maryland after announcing that he would transfer.
With the addition of Jackson, there is now strong competition for several spots along the line this fall.
Last year’s starting guards, Malcolm Pridgeon and Demetrius Knox, starting center Michael Jordan, and starting right guard Isaiah Prince all played their final seasons in 2018.
Junior Thayer Munford is the only returning starter in the unit, at left tackle.
Redshirt sophomore Josh Myers is the favorite to win the starting job at center.
Right tackle figures to be a battle between fifth-year senior Josh Alabi and highly-touted redshirt freshman Nicholas Petit-Frere. Alabi started the Rose Bowl after Munford suffered an injury.
Jackson will likely be in the battle for one of the guard positions. Redshirt sophomore Wyatt Davis and fifth-year senior Branden Bowen are the other two front-runners for those spots.
Davis started the 2018 Big Ten Championship Game and the Rose Bowl after senior Knox suffered a season-ending foot injury against Michigan.
Bowen was the Buckeyes’ starting right guard in 2017 before a broken leg cost him the second half of that season. He missed all of 2018 after suffering a setback during rehab.
With Jackson now in the picture, the Buckeyes have more veteran depth at those guard spots.
Jackson has only one year of eligibility remaining, so he’s not a long-term fix for the short-handed roster up front. But at least for this fall, he provides some critical depth at a position of significant need.