National Signing Day 2017: WR Brendon White already showcasing his versatility
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The early enrollee participated in Ohio State’s Fiesta Bowl practices.

Most high school students are counting down the days until they walk across the stage and receive their high school diploma. Not Brendon White.

The first member of Ohio State’s class of 2017 to suit up for the Buckeyes, White joined Urban Meyer’s football team as an early enrollee in December. Graduating early from Olentangy Liberty High School, White wasn’t allowed to travel to the Fiesta Bowl, but was able to help his new OSU teammates prepare for Clemson before their departure to Arizona.

College life sure comes at you fast. Not only did White have to make the transition from high school to college, he also had to learn a new playbook. At one time, he was rolling with the linebackers. Fast forward a few weeks, and the 6’2 200-pound White is now a member of Zach Smith’s wide receiver corps.


A jack of all trades on the high school level, White’s change of position shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. Even though he was pegged to play linebacker for the Buckeyes, the staff always felt White was talented enough to become a weapon for Zone 6 if needed.

Playing multiple positions for Olentangy Liberty, White, the son of former Buckeye and NFL defensive back William White, has shown he’s a threat with the ball in his hands. As a senior for the Patriots last season, he accounted for over 1,800 yards of total offense and 21 touchdowns while seeing time at quarterback, running back, and wide receiver.

White, who is considered the No. 3 athlete and 126th overall prospect in the class of 2017, according to the 247Sports Composite, earned offers from the coaching staffs of Boston College, Kentucky, Michigan State, and Notre Dame (to name a few) before ending his recruitment last October and never looking back.

With his attention now set towards seeing early playing time, it might be hard to keep White off the field next season. While he’ll get his chance at receiver in spring camp, he might have his best shot at having his name called through the Ohio Stadium speakers during the fall on special teams, as he isn’t afraid to lay the wood.

He’s going to enjoy playing football with his second family:

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National Signing Day 2017: CB Marcus Williamson already battling for a spot in the 2-deep
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Ohio State adds another talented corner to its stable.

Though most high school students are enjoying their last few months of their senior year, cornerback Marcus Williamson is already enrolled at Ohio State and is participating in winter conditioning.

The second commit in the 2017 class, Williamson joined the Buckeyes as an early enrollee on Jan. 9. Williamson graduated early from IMG Academy in Florida, but the 5’9 cornerback is originally from Ohio where he at one point attended Westerville South High School in Ohio before transferring.

The only knock on the four-star could be questions about his size. Though 5’9 isn’t ridiculously small, there are some bigger corners on the roster. However, over his career, Williamson has proved that size isn’t an issue. IMG Academy is notorious for playing one of the toughest high school schedules in the country and Williamson fared well playing against some of the top prep teams in the nation over the past couple seasons.

Playing both sides of the ball for IMG Academy, Williamson proved to be a threat with the ball in his hands too, even though he’s defense all the way in college. He also impressed at The Opening where he ran a 4.45 40, 4.09 shuttle run, and recorded a vertical jump of nearly 35 inches.


Williamson was considered the 195th overall prospect in the class of 2017, according to the 247Sports Composite, and his other notable offers included LSU, Michigan, Miami (FL), and Notre Dame.

By enrolling early, Williamson will have a shot at early playing time as Ohio State saw a max exodus with three defensive backs leaving for the NFL draft. With Denzel Ward expected to grab one of the starting cornerback spots, Williamson will work to earn playing time opposite of Ward or even at the nickelback spot next fall.

Aside from winning a starting spot, he’s ready to win championships:

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4-star DT Jay Tufele picks USC over Ohio State
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The best player in Utah will not join the Buckeyes today.

This may be Ohio State’s best recruiting class in school history, but that doesn’t mean they win every recruiting battle.

After fighting hard for Jay Tufele, the best player in the state of Utah, Tufele announced that he will be attending USC instead. He also strongly considered his hometown Utah Utes.

Landing Tufele out of Utah, where Urban Meyer used to coach and where the Buckeyes have been aggressive about pursuing elite talent as of late, would have been a nice feather in the cap of what’s been a superior recruiting class. Tufele, a high-four star rated as the third best defensive tackle in the country, and a top 50 player overall, would have addressed a position of need for the Buckeyes.

Fortunately, it’s not like the Buckeyes failed to address the interior of their defensive line in this recruiting class. They’ve added another high four-star defensive tackle from the west, Haskell Garrett from Las Vegas, along with Ohio’s own four-star, Jerron Cage. And Ohio State is still in the running for Marvin Wilson, a five-star and the top defensive tackle in the country, who will announce at 4 p.m. ET this afternoon, although landing him would be an upset at this point.

Congrats to Tufele.

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National Signing Day 2017: CB Jeffrey Okudah is next in line at Ohio State
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The nation’s top corner can continue a first-round legacy.

Ohio State’s biggest game of the year was also one of the biggest recruiting weekends of the year, as a flood of highly-coveted prospects packed into Ohio Stadium to watch the Buckeyes defeat rival Michigan. During a break in the action, a video montage flashed onto the enormous video board above the south stands, touting the school’s prowess at developing first-round cornerbacks such as Eli Apple and Bradley Roby, and posing the question “Who’s Next?”

Of all the prospects in attendance that fall afternoon, the video was particularly appropriate for the eyes of Jeffrey Okudah, an elite defensive back who was still uncommitted at the time. Okudah is now enrolled as a Buckeye, and is next in line to continue Ohio State’s legacy as a premier program for cornerbacks.

The 6-foot-1, 190 pound Okudah is considered a five-star talent by all of the major recruiting services, and is listed as the No. 1 cornerback and the seventh-best prospect in the country by the 247Sports Composite. The versatile prospect is listed as a safety or as an athlete by other recruiting services, but is expected to initially compete as a cornerback for the Buckeyes.


Ohio State entered the Okudah sweepstakes early, offering a scholarship to the blue-chip prospect in the summer of 2015, before he even began his junior season of football. Okudah named the Buckeyes as his favorite a few months later, and though he flirted with Oklahoma and Florida State throughout the dance toward his decision, Ohio State was generally thought to be the team to beat.

Okudah finally announced his commitment to the Buckeyes on January 7 during the U.S. Army All American Bowl, donning a scarlet Ohio State cap to affirm his decision on national television. Okudah cited Ohio State’s ability to prepare him for a career in the NFL, but also for life outside of football, when asked about his decision. Moments later he published a heartfelt and eloquent article on The Player’s Tribune, detailing his motivation to give his family a comfortable life, whether through the football field or a boardroom.


Ohio State’s class includes three of the top six prospects out of the state of Texas, with Okudah, four-star running back J.K. Dobbins, and five-star linebacker Baron Browning, whom Okudah was instrumental in recruiting to Columbus. The trio all began their collegiate careers by enrolling early this month.

For the second consecutive year Ohio State will have to replace three-fourths of its starting secondary, and Okudah will utilize his extra time in the program to compete for one of the two cornerback spots vacated by Marshon Lattimore and Gareon Conley, a pair of likely first-round selections. Okudah will have to overcome a number of more experienced players to crack the rotation, but if there’s one player on Ohio State’s roster with the pedigree to continue the school’s lineage of first-round defensive backs, Okudah might be the most likely candidate.

Okudah undoubtedly believes in the coaching staff to help him become just that:

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National Signing Day 2017: OL Josh Myers could start from Day 1 at Ohio State
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The four-star offensive lineman is already on campus under Mickey Marotti’s tutelage.

Due to lack of development from previous offensive line classes, Ohio State was forced to start Michael Jordan, a true freshman, at left guard in 2016.

The same thing could happen again in 2017 with the Buckeyes sporting at least one opening along the offensive line — though if history repeats itself, it won’t be because Urban Meyer & Co. failed to recruit at a high enough level. It’ll be because the true freshman is that good.

Enter Josh Myers, a four-star (recently downgraded from a five-star) offensive guard prospect from the Dayton suburb of Miamisburg. Ranked as the No. 1 player in Ohio, the No. 2 guard in the nation, and the 54th-best prospect in the country by the 247Sports Composite, the 6’6, 306-pound Myers is already a bit of a viral sensation, grabbing internet headlines for various feats of strength that include bench-pressing 435 pounds and cleaning 135 pounds with one arm. Eat your heart out, Mickey Marotti.

Myers has high-profile football in his blood. His brother, Zach, recently completed his career as an offensive lineman at Kentucky. Myers’ father, Brad, was an offensive lineman at Kentucky in the mid-1980s, and his mother, Julie, played basketball at Dayton. But even with extensive family ties to Lexington, Myers’ status as a Buckeye was never in doubt. Back in January 2015, Myers committed to Ohio State just 12 days after the Buckeyes felled Oregon to win the initial College Football Playoff. Meyer seemingly never had to worry about Myers seriously looking elsewhere.


With the graduation of center Pat Elflein and right guard Billy Price apparently sliding over from right guard to fill Elflein’s place, it’s probable Ohio State will have just one vacancy along its offensive line in 2017. However, an alternative line of thinking would suggest that due to the up-and-down play of the Buckeyes’ offensive line in 2016, the possibility exists that just Price, an All-American, and left tackle Jamarco Jones, an all-Big Ten selection, are the lone returnees assured of starting spots.

Myers begins his time in Columbus with a higher pedigree than Jordan enjoyed, so while it’s unlikely that Myers’ first game action for Ohio State will come as a starter, this scenario coming to fruition wouldn’t come as a shock. At the very least, Myers will see the field as a backup right away and will almost assuredly become a regular starter as a sophomore.

Selecting Ohio State for his future was just in his gut. That’s just fine with us:

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National Signing Day 2017: QB Tate Martell should be worth the wait for Ohio State
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The decorated signal-caller joins a crowded quarterback room.

With a high-caliber prospect like Tate Martell, the recruiting process is an exciting one to follow. For Martell, that process started in middle school. And despite dealing with football fame at an early age, Martell guided Las Vegas-based Bishop Gorman High School to three consecutive mythical national titles to close out his prep career.

Martell is a quarterback that every program in the country wanted in their 2017 class. Luckily for Ohio State, Martell is already enrolled, gaining valuable tools and experience that could help him be the next great quarterback for the Buckeyes.

Martell is a four-star prospect that caused some serious change in Ohio State’s 2017 recruiting class — and it was for the better. The second of two quarterback pledges in 2017, Martell’s visit to Ohio State as a Texas A&M commit helped him realize that Ohio State was the better fit. Eventually, Martell decommitted from the Aggies and gave his final pledge to the Buckeyes.


Shortly after his decision, Martell — ranked as the nation’s second-best dual threat quarterback by the 247Sports Composite — became Ohio State’s lone QB pledge when current Kentucky commit, Akron Hoban’s Danny Clark, decided it was in his best interest to decommit from Ohio State. Not long after committing, Martell became the voice of the Buckeyes’ next generation and hit the ground running as a recruiter himself.

Since his pledge to Ohio State, Martell acquired multiple player of the year awards and another state championship. His competitiveness and ability to lead from his position are just two of the reasons Meyer wanted Martell in this class. Though he’s not the tallest quarterback around at just 5’10, Martell can more than hold his own as an engineer of an offense. A master at running the read-option, Martell will be able to keep defenses guessing with his arm and his legs.

With senior J.T. Barrett entrenched as the starter and two other QBs already ahead of him on the depth chart in redshirt sophomore Joe Burrow and redshirt freshman Dwayne Haskins, Martell is looking at a redshirt season in 2017.

Though he’ll have to wait, he says the passion he has for the game will drive him in being a great Buckeye:

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National Signing Day 2017: RB J.K. Dobbins could see early playing time at Ohio State
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One of the best all-purpose backs in the country is already in Columbus.

With the departure of Curtis Samuel, Ohio State is looking to shore up its backfield in 2017. One of the earliest commits to the 2017 recruiting class, J.K. Dobbins, was an early-enrollee last month in an effort to get himself ready to compete for carries and catches in the fall. An all-purpose back projected to H-back at OSU, the La Grange, TX native is the second rated player at his position nationally and the 43rd player overall according to 247Sports Composite. Dobbins committed to continuing his academic and athletic careers in Columbus in March of 2016 and has been an outspoken Buckeye ever since.

Dobbins broke his right fibula on the first play of his senior season in high school, and while he was selected for the honor, he didn’t play in the Army All-American Game either. However, the 5’10, 200-pounder is fully participating in off-season activities on campus. In his junior season, Dobbins amassed 2,291 rushing yards on 232 carries.

Considered an ideal back for the spread offense, Dobbins possesses a low center of gravity, a quick burst, and exceptional elusiveness. He is also an above-average pass-catcher out of the backfield. His unique, explosive skill set, coupled with enrolling early, could have Dobbins in line for early playing time at the H-back position.


Before committing to the Buckeyes, Dobbins considered offers from most of the schools in his home state, including Texas, Texas A&M, TCU, Baylor, and Houston. He also received offers from Oklahoma, Notre Dame, Florida State, Stanford, Penn State, Wisconsin, and others.

Dobbins selected Ohio State because of his plans to win a few national championships, and we’d like to think that’s a great choice:

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Ohio State football | Buckeyes recruit exceptional class on Signing Day - Columbus Dispatch
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State football | Buckeyes recruit exceptional class on Signing Day
Columbus Dispatch
Whether the Buckeyes get any of the three, they're still going to have reason to cheer the class as a whole. Alabama is expected to have at least a 25-member class that also includes five five-stars from the 247sports composite, and it was considered ...
Men's volleyball: How the defending champion Buckeyes keep on top of the gameNCAA.com
Signed: The Buckeyes are Adding a Disruptive Force to the Middle as Cincinnati's Jerron Cage Elects to Stay HomeEleven Warriors
Ohio State National Signing Day tracker247Sports
Dayton Daily News -Landof10.com -Factory Of Sadness
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National Signing Day 2017: OLB Baron Browning adds to Ohio State’s loaded linebacking corps
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
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The nation’s top-ranked OLB is already plying his trade for the Buckeyes.

After committing in early December, five-star linebacker Baron Browning showed up in Columbus in January to participate in off-season activities and begin making a case to be a part of the LB rotation this fall. One of the most prized additions to the Buckeyes’ 2017 football recruiting class, the 6’2, 229-pound Kennedale, TX native is the top-ranked outside linebacker and 11th overall prospect in the country, according to the 247Sports Composite.

In choosing the Buckeyes, Browning spurned 35 other schools, including Michigan, Florida State, Alabama, Oklahoma, and more. A U.S. Army All-American, Browning accumulated nearly 150 tackles in his final two seasons at Kennedale High School after suffering a shoulder injury as a sophomore.

Browning will benefit from joining a position group loaded with experience; the current projected starters at linebacker include seniors Chris Worley and Dante Booker, and junior Jerome Baker. However, with his skill set and potential upside, a redshirt is unlikely for Browning.


An exceptional, raw athlete, Browning possesses elite-level speed, especially from the linebacker position. His strength is in the pass rush, where his athleticism is on full display. In moving to the Big Ten, Browning will need to improve his game as a run-stopper, but the potential is there for the incoming freshman to join the pantheon of Ohio State’s great linebackers.

That also just so happens to be in his plans, and a reason he selected Ohio State:

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National Signing Day 2017: OG Wyatt Davis signs with Ohio State
Bret Favachio via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
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The nation’s top-ranked guard is officially a Buckeye.

The slobs have just gotten a little bit bigger and a lot better for offensive line coach Greg Studrawa. Despite late rumors about him maybe staying in California for college, '17 OG Wyatt Davis put that gossip to rest when he officially signed his letter of intent to become a Buckeye today.

Davis finished his high school career at powerhouse St. John Bosco (CA) as a highly touted prospect — and for good reason. The U.S. Army All-American was a composite five-star recruit and the top-ranked offensive guard in the entire class, per the 247Sports Composite. From an overall prospective, Davis was the No. 24 player in the country and the fifth-best player from California. Davis would undoubtedly think otherwise to his standing in The Golden State, and his senior season would back his claims, as he finished with a state championship and earned Mr. Football honors in the state.

Despite the fact that the Buckeyes’ campus is well over 2,000 miles from where Davis has made a living on the football field, he ultimately decided what head coach Urban Meyer and the program offered was just too much to pass up. When he committed to the Scarlet and Gray back in June of last year, Davis did so over offers from Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Oregon, Stanford, Tennessee, UCLA, USC, Washington, and more.

Now, Davis will bring himself to Columbus, and he should come with the expectation to contribute early and often. Ohio State had moments last season when they struggled along the offensive line. Combine that with the fact that starting right guard Billy Price is sliding over to center to fill the vacancy that was opened by the NFL-bound Pat Elflein, and Davis could be in line to start if he does what he needs to do. It's also worth mentioning that Evan Lisle has transferred to Duke and Kyle Trout is off to Cincinnati; both were penciled in as backup right guards on the Buckeyes’ final depth chart for this past season.

With that being said, the mammoth 6’5, 310-pounder will surely still have some competition when it comes to earning that spot. The two big names that could battle it out with Davis are Matthew Burrell and Demetrius Knox, who were also blue-chip prospects before arriving at Ohio State.

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National Signing Day 2017: DL Haskell Garrett signs with Ohio State
Colton Denning via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
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Ohio State looks to Las Vegas for its next standout defensive tackle.

After being committed to Ohio State since February 2016, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, NV) defensive tackle Haskell Garrett signed his national letter of intent today, ending his recruitment, and becoming the latest highly touted prospect to officially join the Buckeyes’ stacked 2017 recruiting class.

The addition of Garrett gives Ohio State the nation’s 6th ranked defensive tackle (per 247Sports), and another top-100 recruit to help further bolster a position group already stocked with talent. He’s joined by Cincinnati, Ohio’s Jerron Cage, and Hyattsville, Maryland’s Chase Young as the next wave of contributors for the Buckeye defensive front in this class.

Most notably, Garrett will be the second Bishop Gorman product to become a Buckeye in 2017, reuniting with early enrollee quarterback Tate Martell. The signing of both not only gives the Buckeyes two excellent players, but will help establish a pipeline between Columbus and one of the best high school football programs in the country, as well as a recruiting presence in the western United States.

With nearly every defensive lineman from last year’s team set to return — including the injured Tracy Sprinkle — Garrett will have his work cut out for him to see the field in 2017, but the talent is certainly there to avoid a redshirt and become a contributor in certain defensive packages.

Before we get to what Garrett can do on the field, here he is belly-to-belly suplexing some poor running back for your enjoyment:


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Signing Day: Ohio State Buckeyes introduce stellar recruiting class - Dayton Daily News
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Signing Day: Ohio State Buckeyes introduce stellar recruiting class
Dayton Daily News
With Miamisburg's Josh Myers headlining, another great group of new Buckeyes is already on campus, but how will the final class look? We will have all the action as signatures come in and let you know if there are any surprises. Just keep it on this ...

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Joe Barksdale would be proud.

"...University of LSU."

National Signing Day 2017: WR Elijah Gardiner signs with Ohio State
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Ohio State completed the Missouri flip with another big pass-catching target.

The 2017 recruiting class for Ohio State is absolutely loaded with the bluest of blue-chip prospects, many of whom have been committed to Ohio State for months. But don’t sleep on a few of those more under-the-radar guys who joined the class later on in the process. They may end up contributing just as much, after all.

After the surprise decommitment of Tyjon Lindsey, who ended up with Nebraska, the Buckeyes had another opening for a wide receiver. After looking around, they found Elijah Gardiner, who flipped from Missouri to the Buckeyes on Monday, and today, makes it official. He’ll be joining the Scarlet and Gray.

Gardiner’s recruiting profile doesn’t pop off the page like many of the others in this class. He’s a consensus three-star recruit, (0.8352, per the 247Sports Composite), and didn’t have a robust offer sheet (think Houston and Texas Southern), but that changed late in his process.

The Buckeyes had to fend off a hard charge from Tom Herman and Texas in order to land him, so they weren’t the only big name program that saw possible elite potential in Gardiner. And there is one number that does pop off the page: six-foot-five. Plus, his high school coach says that “athletically, he’s off the charts.”

Gardiner will give Ohio State yet another big body to beef up a wideout corps that is transitioning away from smaller hybrid types that struggled a bit last season. He’s joined by four-star Trevon Grimes, four-star Jaylen Harris, and four-star Brendon White in Ohio State’s #Zone6 room.

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National Signing Day 2017: DL Jerron Cage signs with Ohio State
Colton Denning via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
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The Buckeyes go to Cincinnati for another talented defensive lineman.

After committing to Ohio State in July 2015, Winton Woods (Cincinnati, Ohio) defensive tackle Jerron Cage finally made it official today, signing his national letter of intent and becoming an Ohio State Buckeye.

Cage is ranked as the No. 236 prospect nationally in the 247Sports Composite, coming in at 14th among defensive tackles, and the 11th overall prospect in the state of Ohio for 2017. Cage’s signing gives the Buckeyes two defensive tackles in this class (joining Las Vegas, Nevada’s Haskell Garrett) and six of the top eleven rated players in Ohio, which includes four of the top five.

Despite being committed to Ohio State for a year and a half, Cage’s family ties added an extra sense of intrigue to his recruitment. Cage’s brother, Daniel, is a defensive tackle at Notre Dame, and (whether it was warranted or not) speculation was always present that Jerron might want to join his older brother in South Bend. Ultimately, the younger Cage chose to stick with his Ohio State pledge, and joins an already crowded (and extremely talented) defensive line room in Columbus.

The Buckeyes are not only adding another talented defensive lineman in Cage, but — as this blocked punt and scoop-and-score from his senior highlights showcases — a future contender for the Piesman Trophy:


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National Signing Day 2017: DE Chase Young signs with Ohio State
Charles Doss via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
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The papers are in for an excellent defensive lineman.

The Ohio State defensive line just officially got a whole lot better.

A verbal pledge to the Buckeyes since the summer, five-star defensive end Chase Young is the latest to fax over his national letter of intent to the OSU coaching staff, making the Hyattsville, Maryland native an Ohio State student-athlete.

Committing to Urban Meyer, Larry Johnson, and the rest of the Ohio State coaching staff while on the OSU campus for the Buckeyes’ annual Friday Night Lights camp last July, Young spurned programs such as Alabama and Maryland to bring his talents to Columbus.

Even though Young, a U.S. Army All-American selection, is one of the highest rated prospects in the Buckeyes’ class, he could walk away as the best in the class. With great speed off the edge, he’s the prototypical pass-rushing defensive end college coaches spend time searching the recruiting trail to bring into the fold.

Just like many of his soon-to-be Buckeye teammates, Young, the second weak-side defensive end and eighth overall prospect in the class of 2017 (per the 247Sports Composite), is more than used to winning on the football field. Playing for one for one of the top high school programs in the country, DeMatha Catholic, the 6’5, 250-pound standout was key in the Stags finishing the last two seasons off with an overall record of 23-1.

Leading DeMatha to an undefeated season and another championship title as a senior, Young put up some rather eye-popping numbers for the Stags. Fighting off double and triple teams, he reportedly finished his last year on the high school level with 118 total tackles, 19 quarterback sacks, 37 tackles for a loss, five forced fumbles, and scored two defensive touchdowns.

When it comes to cracking the Buckeyes’ lineup, Young has a solid chance to follow in the footsteps of players such as Joey Bosa, Jalyn Holmes, and Nick Bosa as defensive ends to see significant playing time very early on during their career. While it’s highly doubtful he starts a game, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Young running down ball carriers next season for the Buckeyes as a true freshman.

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BM5: 'I think he's going to be a Buckeye' - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


BM5: 'I think he's going to be a Buckeye'
247Sports
That is what Alex Gleitman had to say about offensive tackle recruit Thayer Munford on this special National Signing Day edition of the Bucknuts Morning 5. What does Alex think about Ohio State's chances of landing the No. 1 defensive tackle recruit in ...

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New Buckeye Amir Riep hand delivers his Letter of Intent - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


New Buckeye Amir Riep hand delivers his Letter of Intent
247Sports
The nation's 23rd-ranked cornerback according to the 247Sports Composite, Amir Riep, made the trip up to Columbus from Cincinnati to hand deliver his Letter of Intent to the Buckeyes on Wednesday morning and make sure nothing went wrong with the ...
National Signing Day 2017: DB Amir Riep signs with Ohio StateLand-Grant Holy Land
Ohio State CB commit Amir Riep hand delivers National Letter of Intent to ColumbusLandof10.com
Signed: A Nationally Sought After Talent From Cincinnati, Amir Riep Quickly Became a Must-Have Player for Ohio StateEleven Warriors

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National Signing Day 2017: WR Jaylen Harris signs with Ohio State
Bret Favachio via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
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From Cleveland to Columbus, Harris is officially a member of Zone 6.

Urban Meyer, wide receivers coach Zach Smith, and Ohio State have officially added a new weapon to Zone 6. '17 WR Jaylen Harris of Cleveland Heights (OH) has faxed in his national letter of intent to join the Buckeyes and he will now set his sights on helping the Scarlet and Gray this upcoming season.

Harris wound up receiving 20 offers from programs all across the country. Ultimately for the latest Ohio State signee, he would choose to stay home and become a Buckeye instead of becoming a student-athlete at Alabama, Michigan State, Penn State, or Tennessee — the other top contenders for the lengthy pass-catcher.

For Harris, the opportunity to suit up in The Horseshoe was a dream come true. It also isn't too farfetched for the Cleveland native to believe that he can make an impact for the Buckeyes as a true freshman. Make no mistake, playing right off the jump at a school like Ohio State will forever be a tall task. However, with the well-documented lack of production from wide receivers this past season and the fact that Noah Brown, Curtis Samuel, and Dontre Wilson — Ohio State's three top pass catchers last year — are NFL-bound, the door is certainly open.

As of now, Harris will have to open up eyes quickly when arriving on campus and make a positive impression over a handful of other receivers who are hoping to step up and fill the void. It will certainly be an uphill battle. Perhaps the best case Harris can make in the hope of helping in 2017 is as a red zone threat. Harris stands at a towering 6’5, 210 pounds, and could potentially give J.T. Barrett a nice jump ball weapon when on the door step of the opponents’ end zone.

Whether or not Harris can make noise early is up in the air and is definitely something to watch in the coming months, but the talent is certainly there with the four-star prospect. Harris will join the Buckeyes after being graded as the 184th overall player in the class, the 30th-best at his position, and the fifth highest graded recruit in the state of Ohio, per the 247Sports Composite.

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National Signing Day 2017: WR Trevon Grimes signs with Ohio State
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
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The nation’s fifth-ranked wideout joins Zone 6.

From the start, the recruiting saga for top Florida receiver Trevon Grimes seemed destined for Urban Meyer and Ohio State. Fast forward to Signing Day 2017, and it’s official for Grimes and the Buckeyes.

To land Grimes, Meyer went back to the well at St. Thomas Aquinas and continued developing his deep relationship with the Florida prep power. After landing both Joey and Nick Bosa from Aquinas, Grimes was a pass catcher the Buckeyes desperately wanted to bring to Columbus.

As the recruitment for the the country’s fifth-ranked wide receiver and No. 39 prospect (per the 247Sports Composite) began to rise, Ohio State seemed to be the clear-cut leader. While the Florida Gators and others tried their best to keep Grimes home, the relationships between Grimes, Meyer, and wide receivers coach Zach Smith was too strong for any program to overcome as he committed to the Buckeyes on August 22nd of 2016.

While Grimes’ final prep season at Aquinas was cut short due to an ACL injury, there was never a doubt in Ohio State’s mind that he wouldn’t make a full recovery and return back to form as easily one of the nation’s best receivers in the 2017 class. With a successful recovery up to this point, that looks to be the case as Grimes is working hard and getting stronger with each passing day as he plans to come in and be a difference maker for a receivers corps that lost most of its production due to early departures for the NFL Draft.

With his 6’3, 205-pound frame, Grimes will be able to come in and immediately bring the presence of an elite deep threat receiver that Ohio State desperately lacked in the 2016 season. A true talent, Grimes is the highest ranked receiver Ohio State brings in this year and Meyer’s highest ranked true receiver since he’s been at the helm of the Buckeye program.

With lofty expectations, Grimes has never backed down from a challenge and will look to come in and compete for playing time as soon as he reaches campus and makes a full ACL recovery. The sky is the limit for the Florida native and Ohio State certainly knows what it’s getting in Grimes as the two parties have a deep history.

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National Signing Day 2017: DB Amir Riep signs with Ohio State
Charles Doss via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
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The Cincinnati native is officially a Buckeye.

Ever since Urban Meyer and crew came to Columbus, the coaching staff has made sure to keep a close eye on top talent from the Queen City. This recruiting cycle was no different.

Plucking multiple prospects from the Cincinnati area in 2017, one of the biggest recruiting wins was landing a verbal pledge from four-star defensive back Amir Riep. Nearly seven months after choosing Ohio State over reported scholarship offers from programs such as Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, Michigan, Notre Dame, and Tennessee, the Colerain senior standout has signed his national letter of intent with the Buckeyes.

While he received over 45 scholarship offers throughout the process, Riep was always thought to be a Buckeye lean, and never blinked twice after making his decision to attend Ohio State last July.

A 5’11, 185-pound cornerback who is talented enough to make the step back to safety if needed, Riep is considered the 23rd cornerback and 183rd overall prospect in the class of 2017, according to the 247Sports Composite. While Riep was on the field for Cincinnati Colerain, most teams tried to stay clear of throwing in his direction. In limited action last season, he finished his year off with around 20 total tackles and four interceptions for the 11-1 Cardinals.

Even though the OSU defensive backfield has a few holes to fill with Marshon Lattimore, Gareon Conley, and Malik Hooker chasing their NFL dreams, Riep could still be one of the many incoming freshmen to redshirt during their first season with the program. After missing time as a senior with a nagging hamstring injury, taking a year off to get 100% healthy, get stronger, and learn the Buckeyes’ playbook might not be the worst thing to happen to him. Just ask the aforementioned Lattimore, Conley, and Hooker. It seemed to work out for the best for them, and many other former and current Silver Bullets.

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