Shortly after 2025 Florida four-star defensive lineman Jarquez Carter committed to Ohio State, OSU assistant defensive line coach LaAllan Clark did not waste any time before making a comparison. 

“Mike Hall 2.0,” Clark posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, minutes after Carter committed.

For Carter, that comparison to Michael Hall Jr. is nothing new. It’s the reason Carter was told he’s been at the top of Ohio State defensive line coach Larry Johnson’s wish list in the 2025 recruiting cycle. 

It’s the reason why Carter said he has spent much of the summer prior to his senior season at Newberry High School outside of Gainesville, Florida, watching film of the former Ohio State defensive tackle and analyzing Hall’s ability to get off the block and use his hands at the line of scrimmage. 

“We play just alike, honestly,” Carter said. 

And for Carter, it’s worked. Per MaxPreps, Carter finished his junior season with 67 tackles, 37 tackles-for-loss, 15 quarterback hits and nine sacks. 

“I’ve seen everything, legal and illegal, to try and stop him,” Newberry High School football coach Ed Johnson said, saying Carter has commanded double-teams and triple-teams, faced high-low cutblocks and has left the field with a ripped jersey after being held. 

“They got to do what they got to do to slow him down. But most of the time, he’s successful.” 

Carter is one of six defensive linemen currently committed to Ohio State’s 2025 class joining four-star defensive ends Zion Grady and Zahir Mathis, four-star defensive tackles Maxwell Roy and Trajen Odom, and four-star London Merritt, who can play both inside and outside. 

While he lined up both inside and outside for Newberry, Carter is seen by Ohio State as its future 3-technique lineman where he feels his quickness and flexibility would be put on display between guards and tackles. 

Ed Johnson feels the 3-technique position is where Carter will shine most at the next level with his rare combination of strength and speed at 6-foot-2, 284 pounds. 

And for Carter, the 3-technique position is why Ohio State was such an attractive option, having seen how Larry Johnson utilizes and develops the position for players who look like him. 

“Based on watching my film, it’s a lot that I do that the players like Michael Hall and the players he has do right now. And I’m at the high-school level,” Carter said. “Him being able to coach me, he’s going to bring my game to another level. He said he sees so much in me.” 

Why Jarquez Carter picked Ohio State  

While Larry Johnson’s development played a big factor in Carter’s decision, he said it was not finalized until his Ohio State official visit. 

While on his June official visit in Columbus, Carter said he was floored by everything current players had to say about the program, especially from defensive tackle Kayden McDonald. 

“Even though I’ll come in as the person to take his position, I’m coming to compete with him, he was still telling me how this (is the) school, this is the place, this a great place,” Carter said. “Some people don’t do that. Some people will probably try and change you, make you go to another school because they want to keep the position or they know competition (is) coming. But that wasn’t the case.” 

Carter does not feel he’s one to back down from competition. If anything, competition is what Carter loves. That competition at Ohio State is something Carter already has his sights set on. 

“I know I’m going to dominate my senior year,” Carter said. “So I’m really getting prepared for when I step on Ohio State campus.”

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