high-upside Buckeye edge with pro frame, but limited early production
In 2025, Dominic Kirks was a 6-foot-4, 267-pound sophomore defensive end for Ohio State, a former top-250 recruit and top-35 defensive lineman who brought versatility and size to Larry Johnson’s room.[1][6] His high-school résumé was loud—86 tackles, 17 TFLs, 11 sacks—and Ohio State notes he was a scholar-athlete with a sport-industry major, which fits the “steady worker, high-ceiling” profile.[2][1] He never carved out a major rotation role in Columbus, appearing sparingly and then entering the transfer portal in January 2026 before committing to Northwestern, so the key question is less about box-score dominance and more about whether a new staff can unlock his length, athleticism, and developmental upside.[3][10]
